Jan 31, 2017

Dr. Warren Nichols was named College of the Mainland’s next president in a unanimous vote by the college board of trustees Jan. 30. He will start at COM Feb. 13.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Nichols on board because he brings a vast amount of experience to COM. He’s been the president of a community college and supervised presidents of community colleges in Tennessee. He has a great deal of political acumen and he’s worked with a state legislature in establishing programs. He’s the right guy at the right time,” said Wayne Miles, COM board of trustees chair.

Nichols previously served as the vice chancellor of community colleges for the Tennessee Board of Regents, which leads the 13 community colleges in Tennessee. 

Partnering with the community, staff and students will be a priority, Nichols said.

“I’m a big proponent of getting the community to view the college as a meeting place and resource,” said Nichols.

He has worked with establishing innovative programs for students. As president of Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, he collaborated with local bankers to create a short-term bank-teller program that was highlighted in the Wall Street Journal. In an effort to improve college preparedness among high school students, he expanded the college’s dual enrollment offerings to serve more than 1,200 students in 12 counties. He launched international and diversity initiatives, which resulted in an increase in graduation rates for African-American and Hispanic students.

"I’m a first generation-college student. You go to graduation and see people walking up the stage of all ages and you see the possibilities created for them. What’s not to be proud of?” said Nichols. “I need to spend my time working with the class valedictorian and with the student who never imagined going to college and help them find a path.”

Nichols grew Volunteer State Community College to a record student enrollment of nearly 9,000 students. He also led the college through an $8 million rebuilding and renovation project of 13 buildings damaged by a tornado in 2006.

A native of Fort Worth, Nichols holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Houston. He graduated with his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington and began college at Tarrant County Junior College in Hurst, Texas. He started his career a police officer in Arlington, Texas, and later transitioned to the field of higher education.

Nichols is listed in the International Who's Who of Professionals. He serves on the board of directors for the Gallatin Economic Development Agency. He is a Rotarian and a two-time Paul Harris Fellow.