This fall, took on the position of faculty director of the Office of Undergraduate Biology (OUB) and she has lots of plans for innovative ways to support students in the major.
Nicholson takes over from Professor Cole Gilbert, who served as the Hays and James M. Clark Director of Undergraduate Biology for seven years.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working to shift the culture within biological sciences from a competitive to a collaborative learning environment,鈥 said Nicholson, a professor of molecular biology and genetics. 鈥淭he stress that students are under, especially in their first year, is really unnecessary.鈥
One of Nicholson鈥檚 priorities is to help students who come from under-resourced high schools. 鈥淲e鈥檙e losing some amazing and brilliant students who just decide this doesn鈥檛 make sense for them and they switch to a different major. They say 鈥業 haven鈥檛 seen this material before and everybody else has, so I鈥檓 just going to go do something that feels more comfortable.鈥 鈥
The university already has excellent programs, supplemental courses and supports for students, including OUB鈥檚 Biology Scholars Program, she said, but more programs like that are needed. So, the office is adding a new position, focused half time on establishing additional learning communities for core biology courses.
鈥淗aving cohorts of students who are learning together, bringing their experiences and understandings into a safe space where they can share their vulnerabilities and challenges, will be the goal,鈥 Nicholson said. Each cohort will be led by an upper-class major and the hope is that the cohort could continue to meet throughout a student鈥檚 years at Cornell.
The Office of Undergraduate Biology supports majors from the 麻豆视频 and 麻豆视频 and the College of Agriculture and Life 麻豆视频, with 14 concentrations. OUB helps connect students with opportunities in study and research in almost every aspect of the biological sciences, and the office also sponsors a variety of summer and academic year workshops, seminars and special events for students with interests in life science research.
The office is focusing on strategic planning in areas that include new approaches to increase the number of undergrads doing research, such as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and increased visibility for climate change research that is happening on campus.
鈥淭he world is in trouble and biology is one of the sciences that can make a difference moving forward,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much research going on here about sustainability and climate change and how to adapt to climate change. I鈥檇 like to highlight that work, find out what鈥檚 going on in departments and generate some hope and positivity.鈥
Nicholson said her mission is to empower students and give them confidence to realize that the tools they are acquiring will enable them to make a difference in the world.
鈥淚 feel very blessed to be in this position,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 a gift.鈥
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