Nicole Newsome

West Chester, Ohio | Media & Culture and Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Double Major

Nicole Newsome, as one nominator wrote, “is committed to providing an inclusive and safe environment for all the patrons within the Center [for Student Diversity & Inclusion] (CSDI) and all students they come into contact with at Miami.” They were hired as a CSDI intern their sophomore year, a rare occurrence that speaks to Nicole’s abilities. In this role, they consistently create programs for students, and, possibly more importantly, are instrumental to the daily functioning of the Center and the culture built within.

Nicole has impacted our campus and community in multiple ways, large and small. They were a founder and co-leader of Black Lives Matter (BLM) Oxford and organized a coalition of community members, students, and staff to peacefully protest for racial justice. Nicole founded Colored Lens, an intersectional LGBTQ+ media student organization that examines the impact of media representation society’s perception of the queer community. They are also completing their term as president of Spectrum, Miami’s largest LGBTQ+ student organization. Nicole served as a MADE@Miami peer leader, a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), and an undergraduate associate for UNV 101. The common thread through all of these experiences is Nicole’s “commitment to making higher education a more equitable place for all students to thrive.”