From transfer scholar to mentor: Gabby Nicholas comes full circle

“To leave that safe space and go to a usually larger institution, it’s scary,” said Gabby Nicholas, a Seminole State College of Florida alumna. “I do think it is one of the bravest things a student can do.”

Nicholas would know. In 2014 she received the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and graduated from Seminole State College with her associate degree. She used her scholarship to transfer to the University of Florida (UF) and eventually earned her master's degree from Northwestern University. Now, she works for the very organization that gave her that opportunity, serving as the alumni engagement manager at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

The skill of getting involved

During her time at Seminole State, Nicholas was an active student, joining the Grindle Honors Institute, engaging with Student Life and even starting her own newspaper. Her interest in journalism continued as she transferred to UF and joined its College of Journalism and Communications.

“The biggest challenge was just not enough time,” Nicholas said. “As a transfer student, you get two to three years typically at your transfer institution.” Coming from Seminole State, she knew what to do and immediately sought out clubs and organizations. She joined the student ambassadors organization, Florida Cicerones, as well as the Asian-interest sorority, alpha Kappa Delta Phi, and the student newspaper, The Alligator.

“Having such a solid start by being involved with so many things early on when I first transferred definitely contributed to the success that I had,” said Nicholas. “I have Seminole State, specifically [Assistant Director of Student Life] Mo Garcia, to thank for this part.” She credits the leadership training Garcia taught her, the opportunities available at Seminole State and her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, with helping her make the most of her time after she transferred.

Through the honors institute, Nicholas took part in the Salzburg Seminar, traveling abroad for the first time. The students heard from speakers, global leaders and a concentration camp survivor during the trip. “The honors institute was absolutely instrumental in helping me define what I value, what I want to prioritize in my own academic and career life,” said Nicholas.  

Transferring her success

Unsure whether she wanted to pursue journalism full time, Nicholas sought advice from her Jack Kent Cooke network, including fellow Jack Kent Cooke scholar Larry Thi, and confessed while she had always been drawn to education, she didn’t see herself as a teacher. Thi opened her eyes to the wide variety of career paths within education and set her career in motion.

“I have Larry to thank for, one, steering me into education with a tangible next step to take,” said Nicholas. She worked for several nonprofits relating to education, including Bottom Line and the Pat Tillman Foundation. “I was just all in on education.”

She earned her master’s degree in higher education administration and policy from Northwestern University and worked for several universities before Thi connected her with an opportunity at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

“This is the most perfect, full-circle moment that I could have asked for,” Nicholas said. She now plans programming for the nearly 4,000 alumni who have gone through the Jack Kent Cooke program. Through her work, she builds the Cooke Scholar community that creates opportunities for connections and internships for program alumni. She organizes tours for scholars to see where alumni work, helping them envision themselves in those careers and showing them what is possible.

Passing on her knowledge

Many of the Cooke Scholars Nicholas works with have transferred schools, and as a former transfer student herself, she notes that while the experience can be challenging, it also prepares students in unique ways.

“Transfer students are so skilled in adapting to change and making the most of the opportunities despite any kind of time restriction,” she said. “It can be a little bit daunting when you first step on campus, but the wealth of knowledge and experiences that you’re able to bring into these spaces is immeasurable.”

She advises transfer students to make a point to get involved and encourages students to apply for scholarships, including the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Ultimately, she pushes students to make the most of the resources and support available to them: “Don’t do it alone.”