Nichole was born and raised in St. Marys, Kansas. A basic nutrition class at Washburn University piqued her interest and was the catalyst for a change in career direction from food service management to dietetics. After graduating from Kansas State University, Nichole accepted management positions in Hutchison and McPherson at long-term care facilities. She was offered a position in community nutrition education at the University of Nebraska and found she really enjoyed that aspect of nutrition. The University of Nebraska also offered Nichole the opportunity to go back and get her Masters. Her area of expertise was Leadership Education, with an emphasis in teaching and learning and a minor in curriculum and instruction. Upon completing her Masters, Nichole was promoted to NEP Project Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension. Nichole began her tenure as the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for Johnson County Extension July of 2004.