Biography

Nicole currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Coastal Institute and is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Rhode Island. Here, she is the chair of the Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Environmental Monitoring Collaborative, the co-coordinator for Watershed Counts, and works to communicate ocean science and climate change for state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the general public.

Prior to her return to Rhode Island, Nicole was a NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Legislative Fellow in Washington, DC in the Office of Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). She then moved over the Hill and across the aisle as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-05). In each of these offices, Nicole handled ocean and coastal, environmental, energy, and agricultural issues for the office.

Nicole travels home to northwest Missouri to visit family several times a year. She also is an avid reader and is an administrator of an on-line reading group with almost 1500 members from around the world.  Nicole enjoys the great outdoors – or at least the fresh air – by relaxing on the beach, and touring local vineyards and wineries. She recently had a life-altering experience at the County Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, and won honors at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation shoot-out.