Lauren Mae Nikkel
Updated April 2012
Higher Education Maven, Hoplessly Nerdy.

I love.  A lot of things.

I love my students (both the graduate ones and the dancing ones), I love lindy hop, I love geekery, I love literature. I love learning. 

Input.  Learner. Restorative. Intellection. Empathy.

Those are my strengths. 

Timeline

Graduate Program Representative

  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Mar 1, 2010 - Current
  • Advise students through admissions process from inquiry to acceptance. Work with Program Directors to recruit high caliber students. Represent Fresno Pacific University at community events. Build bridges between the School of Business, traditional undergraduate and adult students, regional centers, and service offices on campus. Maintain a social media presence (Facebook, Twitter), provide assistance to applicants via social media.

Social Media Manager/Staff Writer

  • The Married Gamers
  • Jul 1, 2010 - May 1, 2011
  • Social media administrator, author of the Adventures of a Vicarious Gamer series.

Grants & Fund Development Manager

  • ReadFresno
  • May 1, 2009 - Apr 1, 2010
  • Continually researched literacy rates, test scores, and socioeconomic factors in the county ReadFresno operated our programming. Researched prospective funding opportunities. Wrote funding proposals to local grant-making organizations; secured participation in First 5 Fresno County's Sustainability Project. Administered, collected, and submitted reports from program staff to maintain compliance with granted proposals.

Program Staff

  • Community Youth Ministries
  • Jan 1, 2009 - Jun 1, 2009
  • Prepared weekly lesson plans . Tutored middle school-aged students one-on-one in math, English, and history. Lead drama/improvisation activities focussed on building communication skills. Lead program for girls focusing on building healthy relationships.

Supervisor/Writing Tutor

  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Aug 1, 2007 - Dec 1, 2008
  • Coordinated all functions of tutoring including proofreading, editing, proctoring and filing of exams. Supervised fellow tutors.

Resident Assistant

  • UC Merced - Center for Education Partnerships
  • Jun 1, 2008 - Aug 1, 2008
  • Lived with low-income, low-achieving students from local Fresno high schools for intensive summer program. Lead extracurricular activities, including team building exercises. Counseled and supervised students, monitored academy policies.

Resident Assistant

  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Aug 1, 2006 - May 1, 2008
  • Mediated conflicts between residents, facilitate community atmosphere. Coordinated all functions related to residential living, including cleaning schedules, module activity nights, and move-in/check-out procedures. Effectively communicated and implemented campus policies and regulations. Planned campus-wide events with other Resident Assistants in conjunction with several other university departments.

Lindy Hop Instructor

  • Studio 65/Fresno Swing Dance
  • May 1, 2011 - Current
  • I teach beginning lindy hop to students on a walk-in basis every Wednesday night!
Vital Stats
5
Cohorts Recruited
3
Years Taken to Complete College
24
Years on This Planet
6
Papers Written Exclusively About Hamlet
Pastimes
Job Duties

Education
'08
Fresno Pacific University
English
Summa Cum Laude
Skill Proficiency
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