Dr. Nicole Woods

Dr. Woods is the managing director of the University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy and previously served as the chief of staff to the dean of the University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. She brings more than 20 years of strategic planning experience from the realms of higher education, nonprofits, and information technology firms.

Throughout her career, Dr. Woods has specialized in diversity and inclusion strategy, strategic planning, organizational strategy, facilitation, change management, and data analytics.

Prior to UVA, Dr. Woods was a director in the American Council on Education’s (ACE) learning and engagement division and focused on strategic planning and operations management, and director of faculty diversity initiatives at the University of Chicago.

Her work in higher education, nonprofit, and corporate organizations also includes posts with Mattersight Corporation, YMCA of the USA, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Bard College.

Dr. Woods completed her doctorate of education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds a master’s degree in education from James Madison University and a bachelor of business administration from William & Mary.