Dr. Nicole H. Gahagan is a high-performing, solutions-oriented student success strategist and employee engagement expert committed to equity in higher education. Skilled at developing relationships and building alignment and motivation among stakeholder groups to accelerate change and produce meaningful outcomes, she has achieved substantial success in transforming institutions. Nicole has extensive experience in strategic planning and organizational change. She has a proven record of identifying systemic issues, responding with well-executed action plans, and attaining targeted outcomes that enhance the student and employee experience.

As a first-generation college student, Nicole understands the transformational effect higher education has, and she has made it her life’s work to help more students earn a meaningful postsecondary credential in a cost- and time-sensitive manner. To do this, she believes her greatest impact can be made by helping colleges and universities redesign themselves as institutions responsive to 21st-century student needs and employers committed to the well-being of their faculty, staff, and administrators. Nicole excels at creating a culture of change and unlocking the collective potential of stakeholders. With unapologetic human-centeredness, she puts her strengths as a future-focused leader to work with her relationship-building and project management skills to activate and sustain postsecondary innovation.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a Master of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette University, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from St. Cloud State University. Throughout her 20-year career, she has provided direct services and senior leadership to a comprehensive range of departments delivering enrollment and retention support to students. Nicole has progressively advanced as an administrator and has taught at various postsecondary institutions at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her favorite work involves collaboratively leading organizational transformation projects, including building and embedding student success frameworks, facilitating enterprise resource planning (ERP) system changes, and reforming the delivery of postsecondary instruction and support services.

Nicole is a postsecondary education practitioner at an institution in Wisconsin and is also the founder of Higher Edgineer, a comprehensive change management firm focused solely on serving colleges and universities. Outside work, Nicole cherishes family time with her partner and children, volunteers in the community, loves being outdoors, and enjoys completing DIY house projects.