Dr. Laurie Stenberg Nichols is a native of Colman, South Dakota and received her B.S. in secondary education from South Dakota State University. Advanced degrees include a M.Ed. in adult education from Colorado State University and Ph.D. in Family & Consumer Sciences Education/Family Studies from Ohio State University.
Dr. Nichols has taught at the secondary and post-secondary levels in South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, Idaho and Iowa. She has received numerous teaching and research awards for her innovative teaching including her involvement in the creation of a 10-state, collaborative, on-line program called the Great Plains IDEA. From 1994-2009 she served as Dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at South Dakota State University. In this capacity Dr. Nichols provided campus leadership on several initiatives including diversity, academic advising, and strategic planning. She has secured numerous grants to collaborate with South Dakota tribal colleges in the areas of curriculum development, and articulation.
Dr. Nichols was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, class of 2006-2007 where she spent fall semester on the campus of California State University at Fresno under the mentorship of President John Welty. From August 1, 2008 through mid-June, 2009, Nichols served as Interim President at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. On June 22, 2009 she returned to her home campus at South Dakota State University as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and served in that capacity through May, 2016. On May 16, 2016, Provost Nichols became the 26th President of the University of Wyoming, and the first woman to hold this post. She served in this capacity until June 30, 2019. Currently, Dr. Nichols is serving as the 11th President at Black Hills State University.
Dr. Nichols is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. She is past-chair of South Dakota Voices for Children—a political and educational advocacy group. She was a founding member of the Board that created the Brookings Boys and Girls Club Board, served on the Brookings Chamber of Commerce Board, Brookings County Planning and Zoning Commission, and Ivinson Hospital (Laramie) Foundation Board.
Nichols is passionate about working with young people in solidifying educational and career goals and developing leadership skills. She is married to Dr. Timothy Nichols, Dean of the Davison Honors College at the University of Montana, and mother to two daughters, Jordan and Hannah.