Nicole Terrizzi has devoted her career to expanding equitable access to opportunity, bringing together a background in journalism, teaching, and nonprofit leadership to advance mission-driven work in communities across the country. She began her professional life as a teacher in Kansas City, MO, and then in Oakland, CA, where she taught elementary and middle school English and deepened her belief that every student deserves rigorous instruction, meaningful mentorship, and rich experiences that nurture their passions both inside and beyond the classroom.

With a background in journalism, Nicole has worked for the Associated Press, C-SPAN, and multiple community-based newspapers where she wrote weekly feature articles. She continues to draw on her reporting and storytelling background to elevate community voices and articulate organizational impact. Over the past decade, she has led development strategy for regional, national, and global organizations, building high-impact philanthropic partnerships and guiding teams in securing resources that expand educational and economic opportunity.

Originally from rural Iowa, Nicole holds a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism/mass communications from Simpson College (IA). She is the author of the memoir Learning in Freefall and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her partner and two children.