Cheryl Nicholls
University of South Alabama
Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
5721 USA Drive North, HAHN 3124
Mobile, AL 36688-0002
Office: (251) 445-9520
Education
1994
Bachelor of Arts, Major: Journalism; Minor: Public Relations
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
Professional Experience
July 2013 – Present
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Educational Outreach Specialist
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Coordinate underrepresented minority and disadvantaged student
outreach efforts to include, but not limited to
 Outreach to high schools, community colleges and universities
 Developing and fostering relationships with community partners
 Support students in identifying and utilizing resources that will help
aid in their academic, personal, cultural and career development
 Foster a collegial and collaborative work environment through
effective outreach and partnerships across identity groups and
administrative levels
 Develop and coordinate on-campus and external outreach activities
 Develop and foster team building and networking skills in
undergraduate students
 Host on-campus information sessions for secondary students and
parents in collaboration with Academic Services, Dean of Students
and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
 Creation of marketing materials and department newsletter
 Social media outlet administrator
Ensure goals of department mission and vision are met as these relate
to underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students
 Develop and assist in conducting assessments of the campus climate
and diverse/underrepresented students’ needs
Provide academic and career guidance to undergraduate and high
school students through such mechanisms as
 Oral presentations
 One-on-one meetings
 Phone calls and email
Participate in projects conducted by the department and college
 Composition of grant proposals
 Research grant opportunities
 Compilation of data for reports and surveys
 Identify and coordinate opportunities for service learning, interprofessional education experiences, and didactic student immersion
experiences with community members, organizations and faculty
members
Participate in:
 Committees within the department and external to the university
January 2012 – July 2013
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Clinical Assistant
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Provide guidance and assistance with the clinical year to include:
 Developing new clinical rotation sites
 Collaboration with IT personnel to update website
 Co-host and plan information sessions for underrepresented
minority students
 Maintain clinical site database
 Ensure students remained in compliance with university and
departmental regulations
 Maintain clinical year calendar to include student preceptorship
scheduling
January 2012 – July 2013
PRC Communications, Walled Lake, MI
Sole Proprietor/Public Relations/Freelance Writer
Researched, developed and wrote feature and human interest stories.
Client list:
 Mobile Press Register and Mobile Bay magazine
October 2006 – Sept. 2010
PRC Communications, Walled Lake, MI
Sole Proprietor/Public Relations/Freelance Writer
Researched, developed and wrote feature and human interest stories.
Client services to include:
 Media relations (news interviews, radio and television appearances,
news releases, new product placement)
 Editorial support and direction for client newsletters and annual
reports
 Create and design marketing materials
 Edit and proofread web-based documentation and websites
 Design, write and initial layout marketing materials to include:
o Brochures, newsletters and postcard mailers
Client list:
 Orchards Children’s Services
 Buttercream Bakeshop
 Wayne County Community College
 Mutual Mortgage
 Oakland Press
 Detroit Free Press
 African American Family Magazine
 Heritage Works
Grant Funding
Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Program Title: Health Promotion and Preparation for the Health Sciences: A Multipronged Approach
Project Program Title: Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)
PI: Dr. Diane Abercrombie
Project Role: Assistant PI
Funding Requested: 250,000.00 (Not Funded)
Funding Cycle: 05/13/15
Key objectives are to provide individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to develop
the skills needed to successfully compete for, enter, and graduate from health or allied health
professions schools.
Funding Agency: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
Program Title: Primary Care Training and Enhancement
Project Title: Physician Assistant Training in Primary Care
PI: Dr. Diane D. Abercrombie
Project Role: Educational Outreach Specialist
Funding Requested: 1,000,000.00
Date Submitted: May 8, 2012
Date Awarded: August 1, 2012
Funding Cycle: August 1, 2012 – July 31, 2017
The key objectives are to recruit, admit, support and retain graduate physician assistant students
interested in primary care medicine. . The ideal candidates come from underrepresented minority
(URM) groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, urban or rural medically underserved communities (MUAs),
and veterans.
Professional Development
February 15, 2016: Active Shooter Seminar
March 6, 2015: Introduction to the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act – Certificate awarded
November 2013, November 2014: Campus Security Authority online training - Certificate awarded
March 2012: Sakai Certification – Certificate awarded
National Professional Development
October 14-18, 2013: Physician Assistant Education Association Forum – Enhanced Clinical Coordinators
Certificate Program – Memphis, TN
October 2, 2014: Mobile Area Education Foundation: Graduate Ready Summit, Mobile, AL
July 18, 2014: The Academic Network Diversity "Strategies in Minority Graduate Student Recruitment" Workshop
– Miami, FL
University of South Alabama Initiatives
August 2013-August 2015: Founded and Advisor Pre-PA Society, a student run organization designed for those
interested in pursuing a career as a physician assistant.
October 2014: Founded JagROOTS, a university-wide mentoring and support service designed to promote
retention and completion of educational degree requirements for underrepresented minority (URM) and
disadvantaged freshman.
October 2014-Present: Co-founded Pre-PA Minority Health Scholars Association, a support service designed for
URM students desirous of persisting to professional graduate school programs.
April 2014 – Present: Mentor, Joseph Treadwell Scholarship Recipients.
University of South Alabama Committees and Advisory Boards
September 2014: Member, Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Committee
September 2014: Chair, Physician Assistant Studies Advisory Board
September 2015: Member, Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Committee Sub-Committee
External Committees and Advisory Boards
April 1, 2015-Present: Member, Bay Area Health Coalition
February 2015-Present: Member, Mobile County Public Schools (MCPSS) Career and Technical Education
Advisory Board
September 2014-Present: Member, MCPSS TL Faulkner and Bryant Career Technical Centers Health Science
Advisory Board
Community Service
October 2014: Plenary Participant, Operation People for Peace Conference, Pensacola, FL
 The Impact of Education and Healthcare
June 2013:
Mobile County Public Schools System Health and Science Explorers Camp
AY 2014/2015 Reading Buddy Partner, Mobile Area Education Foundation
Awards and Honors
October 2015:
June 2013:
February 2016:
Choctaw County Health Scholars Summit – Butler, AL – Certificate of Appreciation
Mobile County Public Schools System Health and Science Explorers Camp – Certificate of
Appreciation
Alabama Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) – Certificate of Participation
Presentations/Workshops/
August 2014
August 2014
September 2014
September 2014
September 2014
October 2014
October 2014
November 2014
November 2014
Goodwill Easter Seals Veterans Presentation
USA Get on Board Day – Recruitment
USA African American Student Association – Presentation
Job Corps, Montgomery, AL – College and Career Fair
USA Freshman Leadership Class – Presentation
Mobile County Public Schools System (MCPSS) Robbins Elementary School – PA Awareness
MCPSS Career and Technical Education Advisory Board Meeting - Attendee
Bay Area Health Coalition – Planning meeting (Health Occupations Career Fair February 2015)
Pre-PA Minority Health Scholars - Inaugural meeting
November 2014
Presentation
November 2014
November 2014
December 2014
December 2014
December 2014
December 2014
January 2015
January 2015
January 2015
February 2015
February 2015
February 2015
February 2015
March 2015
March 2015
March 2015
March 2015
March 2015
April 2015
March 2015
August 2015
September 2015
September 2015
September 2015
September 2015
October 2015
October 2015
October 2015
October 2015
October 2015
November 2015
November 2015
November 2015
January 2016
January 2016
January 2016
February 2016
February 2016
February 2016
February 2016
March 2016
April 2016
April 2016
April 2016
Hale County High School and West Central Area Health and Education Center (AHEC) at USA –
St. Luke’s Episcopal School at USA – Presentation
MCPSS Bryant Career Tech Health Science Class – Presentation
MCPSS Mattie T. Blount High School Health Science Class – Presentation
MCPSS TL Faulkner Career Tech Health Science Class - Presentation
MCPSS Baker High School – Presentation
MCPSS Mary G. Montgomery High School – Presentation
S.L. Jones Christian Academy, Pensacola, FL – Presentation
MCPSS Citronelle High School Health Science Class – Presentation
Mary G. Montgomery High School AP Biology Class – Presentation
Bay Area Health Coalition Health Occupations Career Fair – Education and Recruitment
MCPSS Bryant Career Tech Health Science Class – Presentation
Mobile Area Education Foundation Education Summit – Attendee
MCPSS Semmes Middle School Honors Students – PA Educational Awareness
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL – Presentation
Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA College and Career Fair – Recruitment
Excel High School and Monroe County High School – Presentation
MCPSS Bryant Career Tech Advisory Board – Meeting
USA ABK Honor Society – Presentation
USA Vietnamese Student Association – Presentation
South Mobile Fifth Grade College and Career Awareness Fair - Recruitment
MCPSS Health Sciences Education Advisory Board - Meeting
USA Underrepresented Minority Incoming Freshman - Pre-PA Information Session
USA Health Occupations Students of America - Presentation
Clarke County High School PA - Presentation
Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF) Education by the Numbers - Forum
USA First Year Experience Leadership Class - Presentation
Jefferson Davis Community College - Recruitment Event
MCPSS Lott Road Middle School - Native American Student Presentation
Choctaw County High School Health Summit - Panel Discussion
Mississippi Choctaw Central High School – Native American Tribal School Career Fair
Leroy and McIntosh High Schools – Presentation
University of West Alabama at USA – Presentation
MCPSS Forest Hill Elementary School – Career Day
MCPSS Bryant Career Technical Center Health Science Class – Presentation
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL – Presentation
Alabama A&M, Huntsville, AL – Presentation
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL – Presentation
Health Occupations Students of America State Conference – Recruitment
Health Occupations Career Fair – Education and Recruitment
MCPSS TL Faulkner Career Tech Center Health Science Class – Presentation
MCPSS Citronelle High School Health Science Class – Presentation
MCPSS Theodore High School Health Science Class – Presentation
USA at University of West Alabama – Presentation
Excel High School Health Science Class, Excel, AL – Presentation