Inga Musselman, UTD’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced June 23 that William Nichols would begin as the next dean of undergraduate education and associate provost effective Aug. 1.
Nichols spent the past 15 years in various faculty and administrative roles at Georgia State University, including a 13-year stint as an associate professor of Spanish cultural studies, six years as the department chair of world languages and cultures and most recently as the associate dean of GSU’s honors college. In that time, he has published two books, taught over 40 different courses and published articles in the Arizona Journal of Hispanic Cultural Studies and Tabla Redonda.
Nichols received his bachelor’s in Spanish and Iberian Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1992 and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Spanish Language and Literature in 1999.
Nichols’ arrival cements a continuation of new blood joining UTD following several administrators’ departure in recent years; notably President Richard Benson, whose term officially ends Aug. 1, and Dean of Undergraduate Education Jessica Murphy, who left in July 2024. Nichols will be replacing interim Dean of Undergraduate Education Courtney Brecheen, who has served in the position since mid-2024. Brecheen will continue in her role as senior associate dean of undergraduate education.
As dean, Nichols will oversee the Student Success Center, first-generation student programs, the Freshman Mentor Program and Comet Scholars. Additionally, UTD’s job posting for the position said that Nichols will perform miscellaneous tasks, from engaging in “fundraising and grant-writing activities,” being “responsible for the undergraduate catalog and undergraduate policies,” and “working to ensure the consistency of catalog, grading and degree requirements with student academic records.” Nichols will oversee the office of undergraduate education’s 17 programs and initiatives while answering directly to the provost.
Nichols did not reply to The Retrograde’s interview request.