Professional & Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor of Special Education: UMass Global

University, Irvine, Santa Maria, Modesto, Visalia

Special Education Instructor

August 2011-Present
At UMass Global I teach courses on-campus as well as online.
These courses include the following: Teaching in Inclusive
Settings, Advanced Assessment for Special Educators, Advanced
Positive Behavior Supports, and core courses in the Master’s of
Special Education program. In 2017-2918, Dr. Anne Spillane and
myself re-wrote the Autism Added Authorization program for
students in need of their added Autism authorization. I also serve
as course custodian for EDUU-602, EDUU-655, EDUU-676 and
EDUU-677.

Dr. Nicole Nicholson Educational Therapy and

and Educational Psychology: San Luis Obispo, CA
AET #2342

Private Practitioner
January 2014-Present
Since 2014, I have been assisting local students at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels meet educational
goals. I provide academic assessment, educational consulting, IEP/504 document review, career and major support
services, and educational therapy. In addition, I provide academic remediation services and executive functions
interventions for students with learning and/or attention needs.

Concordia University, Irvine & Oxnard (Online/Remote)

Adjunct Instructor (on-campus and online)

October 2014 – 2016
At Concordia University, I taught both online and on-campus courses at the graduate level. Students in my courses were
working on a Master’s in Education either with an emphasis in Administration or Curriculum and Instruction. Courses
taught included, Brain-Based Teaching and Learning, Coping with Stress and Violence, and Educational Research.

University of California, Los Angeles Extension Studies Education Department: Los Angeles, CA & University of California,
San Diego Extension Studies Education Departments

Instructor, Course Developer, Student Support Provider/Advisor

Aug 2012 – 2016

For the University of California Extension Studies at UCLA, and UCSD, I designed and taught online courses in culturally
inclusive positive behavior supports and assessment for general education instructors (K-12). I was also an instructor of
the following online courses: Pre-Service A & B (English Learner Instruction, Educational Foundations, Advanced
Assessment, and Culturally Behavior Support. I assisted students in meeting the requirements for certificate programs in
behavior as well as special and general education credentials. I also served as the only virtual support provider for
students pursuing Education Specialist credentials at UCLA Extension. I observed students teach live, create lessons and
behavior plans via Skype and Zoom.us, listened in on Individual Education Plan meetings, and provided professional
support to K-12 Education Specialists across the United States, Dubai, and South Korea.

Lucia Mar Unified School District: Arroyo Grande, CA

Education Specialist & Science Instructor

Jan 2005 - June 2013

For Lucia Mar, I was a full-time Education Specialist at Dana Elementary and Nipomo High School in Nipomo, CA. Here I
developed and taught the following courses: Mathematics Concepts, Pre-Algebra, Science Concepts, Life Science,
Human Body and Learning Center. Remediation in reading and mathematics was also given to students with learning and
language needs. In addition to teaching, I possessed a caseload of approximately 25 students possessing learning and/or
language needs. For these students I developed Individualized Education Plans, Transition Plans, and Behavior Support
Plans. I created academic, social, and behavior goals tailored to the needs of each student. These goals were designed
to be academically and linguistically appropriate.

Professional Development/Trainings Given

In the spring of 2009, I facilitated a training for teachers at Nipomo High School in preparation for the CTEL exam. This
exam added CLAD authorization to the credentials of veteran teachers. I also delivered a workshop at Granada Hills
Charter school in July of 2014 to prepare their instructors for the CTEL exam.

Research & Laboratory Experience

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo: Undergraduate and Master’s Research-
2000-2002: Reproductive hormone therapy in rodents; in-vitro fertilization
2007-2008: The use of dopamine agonists and antagonists to create an animal model of ADHD
2007-2008: M.A. Research: The effects of Inquiry-Based Instruction on High School Biology Students with ADHD
University of Southern California: Doctoral Research-
2009-2012: The Executive and Academic Functioning of Stimulant-Medicated and Non-Stimulant Medicated
Adult College Students with ADHD: A Neuropsychological Perspective

Visiting Fellowships: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

7/2011: The MIND Research Center in Albuquerque, NM: Introduction to fMRI Course.
10/2011: Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Cambridge MA: Visiting fMRI Fellowship

● California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Authorizations in CLAD and Autism.

● Researcher and practitioner specializing in the learning patterns of diverse learners.
● Curriculum design specialist with expertise in modifications for students with learning and language needs.
● Experience working with adult students in a virtual environment in the development of individualized, complex
documents and portfolios relevant to education and psychology.
● Active quantitative researcher in the social/behavioral sciences.
● Experience collaborating with members of doctoral dissertation committees and faculty members across
disciplines.
● Author of a master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation with substantial research, writing, and editing skills.
● Course creator of classes at the K-12 and post-secondary levels.
● Online education course creator via Blackboard platform.
● Encouraging instructor with ample experience applying research into practice in multiple education
contexts.
● Ability to multitask and meet student needs even with a full instructor course load and high call and email
volume.
● Hands-on experience conducting research in both the life and behavioral sciences.
● Active participant in introductory experimentation using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
● Well trained in the use of both academic and brief neuropsychological assessments.

Publications
 Nicholson, N. (in press). Lessons from the trenches: Special education service delivery and instruction amidst the
COVID-19 health crisis in California schools. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education
Professionals.

Nicholson, N. (in press). Chapter 13: Fostering relationships and communicating effectively: Technological tools
necessary to support undergraduate research in virtual environments. Undergraduate research in online
courses. Stylus Publishing.

Nicholson, N. (2020). Rank and representation: A quantitative analysis of female representation among entry level
faculty positions. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(12), 202-208.

Nicholson, N. (2018). Thriving, not just surviving as a female STEM major with ADHD: A quantitative analysis of
cumulative G.P.A. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 8(11), 830-833.

Nicholson, N. (2013). The executive and academic functioning of medicated and non-medicated adult college
students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. ADHD: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
Disorders Official Journal of the World Federation of ADHD, 5(2), 240-241.

Peer-Reviewed Presentations

Nicholson, N. (2019, March). Rank and representation: A quantitative analysis of female representation among entry
level faculty positions at credential granting institutions in California. Accepted paper presentation.
International Social Sciences and Behavioral Research Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana

Nicholson, N. (2018, March). Thriving, not just surviving as a female STEM major with ADHD: A quantitative
analysis of cumulative G.P.A. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 8(11), 830-833.
Accepted paper presentation, International Conference on Information and Educational Technology, St. Anne’s
College, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Nicholson, N. (2017, December). Thriving, not just surviving as a female STEM major with ADHD: A quantitative
analysis of cumulative G.P.A. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 8(11), 830-833.
Accepted paper presentation, London International Conference on Education, Churchill College, Cambridge,
United Kingdom.

Nicholson, N. (2013, September). The executive and academic functioning of stimulant-medicated and
non-stimulant medicated adult college students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. Accepted
paper presentation, Clute International Academic Conference-Education Track in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Poster Presentations
Nicholson, N. (2013, June). The executive and academic functioning of stimulant-medicated and non-stimulant
medicated adult college students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. Accepted poster
presentation, 4th World Congress on ADHD, Milan Italy.

Nicholson, N. (2012, July). The executive and academic functioning of stimulant-medicated and non-stimulant
medicated adult college students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. Accepted poster
presentation, Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) in New Orleans, LA.

Nicholson, N. (2012, May). The executive and academic functioning of stimulant-medicated and non-stimulant
medicated adult college students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. Accepted poster
presentation, University of Southern California Assessment Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Nicholson, N. (2012, November). The executive and academic functioning of stimulant-medicated and
non-stimulant medicated adult college students with ADHD: A neuropsychological perspective. Accepted
poster presentation, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Conference in San Francisco, CA.

● 2019 International Organization of Social Science and Behavioral Research “Best Paper in Session” award
winner, New Orleans, LA
● 2013 Clute International Conference on Education “Best Paper in Session” award winner, Las Vegas, NV
● 2013 Nipomo High School Teacher of the Year Nominee
● 2009-2012 Rossier School of Education, USC Dean’s List
● 2010, 2011 Rossier School of Education Scholarship Recipient
● 2013 Nipomo High School Teacher of the Year Nominee

● American Psychological Association

● USC Alumni Association
● Association of Educational Therapists
● Council for Exceptional Children
● National Association of Special Education Teachers
 ● Proficient speaker, reader, and writer of Spanish
● Western horsemanship and showmanship
● Organic Cattle Ranching
● Animal Genetics
● Intermediate Tennis Player
● Intermediate Cross-Country Skier

Anne Spillane, PhD

Associate Dean and Professor Special Education
16355 Laguna Canyon Rd, Irvine, CA 92618
spillane@umassglobal.edu
(925) 930-2000

Lynn Larsen, PhD

Professor Special Education
16355 Laguna Canyon Rd, Irvine, CA 92618
larsen@umassglobal.edu
951-697-0111

Sue Yockelson
Associate Professor of Special Education and Early Childhood
16355 Laguna Canyon Rd, Irvine, CA 92618
yockelso@umassglobal.edu
619.296.8660