Nicole Collins (she/her/hers) serves as the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and College Diversity Officer for Mesa Community College. In addition to being a licensed and board-certified clinical counselor, she has 20 years of experience creating, educating, and promoting DEI efforts for various industries. She has also taught MCC students for a decade.

As MCC’s first College Diversity Officer, Nicole serves on the President’s team and Thunderbird Leadership Team; provides leadership to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council; builds DEI-focused relationships with community, businesses, and government stakeholders; created the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) framework; led development and implementation of equity and inclusion training for hiring committees; co-led inclusive hiring practices assessment; provided strategic leadership recreating the DEI Council 2.0; serves as the SENDAS Grant Cultural Responsiveness Project Lead; and is a member of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Team.

Nicole led efforts to launch the YouBelong@MCC initiative, winner of the 2022 Diversity Advisory Council’s Award for Excellence, to help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the college. In addition, she serves as a member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, National Board of Certified Counselors, The Conference Board, Community Engagement Advisory Board, and other professional and service organizations.

Nicole earned her certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University, her Master of Science degree in Clinical Counseling from the Rosalind Franklin University School of Medicine and Science, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Sciences from Purdue University.