Public health advocate Nickol receives education catalyst award 

Brenda Nickol, director of career services for the UNMC College of Public Health, received the 2025 Interprofessional Academy of Educators’ Catalyst for Education Award at a ceremony during UNMC’s Spotlight on Scholarship event. 

Nickol first discovered the importance of public health while living in Zimbabwe in 1999, where she saw firsthand the impact of HIV and AIDS on the community. Nickol’s passion for education and prevention in public health led her to UNMC in 2006 as a Centers for Disease Control field assignee to the CityMatCH program.  

She became an official UNMC employee in 2008 and knew that the expansion of the UNMC College of Public Health would bring new opportunities for career growth. Nickol transitioned her public health practice to a career services role, leveraging her extensive local, state, federal and global experience to coach public health graduates stepping into their careers. 

“Nothing makes me more excited than listening to a student describe their interests and passions and then helping them discover how those things align with specific jobs.” 

Nickol is at the forefront of developing strategies to ensure students are well-prepared for the public health workforce.  
 
“Knowing that I am a meaningful part of the educational process keeps me motivated, even on days when I miss the practice side,” she said. 
 
The Catalyst for Education Award recognizes an individual in an educational support role whose contributions have been integral to furthering the educational mission at UNMC. 

One student nominator said: “When I first met with Brenda, she offered thoughtful advice based on my nontraditional background and unique career goals. Her guidance has been invaluable to me as someone whose path to public health was not conventional.” 

A second external nominator agreed. “She has worked tirelessly to connect academia and practice, ensuring that students gain real-world experiences that help them further their academic experiences. Her ability to build partnerships with community organizations and public health agencies has created a pipeline of opportunities that benefit students and strengthen the public health workforce.”  

Nickol said the award is especially meaningful because of the caliber of dedicated staff who are nominated each year. 

“When I thanked my supervisor for nominating me, she said that every student and alumni she reached out to submitted something about how I made a difference for them,” Nickol said. “To hear how I have helped them and that they can see how my work has benefited them will stay with me for a long time.”