ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is pleased to announce that Quienton L. Nichols, PhD, MSW, BSW, has been named the organization’s Vice President of Education, following a national search.
Dr. Nichols previously served as Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Social Work in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Fayetteville State University (FSU), where he provided academic leadership across eight academic units and two military-affiliated programs. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Nichols has spent more than twenty years building a career that spans clinical social work practice, faculty teaching and scholarship, and senior academic administration—with a particular focus on advancing student success, faculty development, and equity-centered institutional transformation at public and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“Quienton has been devoted to the mission of CSWE since the beginning of his academic career as a student and subsequently, as an educator,” said CSWE President and CEO Dr. Halaevalu Vakalahi, PhD, MEd, MSW. “His enthusiasm for the organization and for social work education is unmatched, and his fresh perspective and strong work ethics will be transformational for our education and research team”.
Dr. Nichols earned his PhD in Social Work Policy, Planning, Administration and Social Science from Clark Atlanta University, along with a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Georgia. His academic career began at Kennesaw State University, where he directed the university's MSW Field Education Program and Child Welfare Scholars Program before moving into full-time faculty and program leadership. He joined Fayetteville State University in 2013.
“I am honored to join CSWE at such an important moment for social work education. Throughout my career, I have been inspired by the power of education to transform lives, strengthen communities, and prepare the next generation of social work leaders. I look forward to working alongside CSWE’s executive team, members, staff, partners, and great university partners to advance excellence, innovation, and equity in social work education nationwide,” said Dr. Nichols.
Under his leadership, Dr. Nichols has secured major external funding to advance workforce development and research, including a significant grant from the U.S. Department of Education to build a pipeline of school-based mental health professionals and a $200,000 North Carolina Collaboratory grant examining the role of xylazine in the opioid crisis. He recently concluded a three-year term on the CSWE Board of Directors as the Graduate Program Representative.
Prior to his academic career, Dr. Nichols built an extensive clinical practice background, including work as a medical social worker, child protective services caseworker, Social Security claims representative, and pastoral counselor directing a large-scale counseling ministry. He is the author of two books on social work core competencies and a prolific contributor to peer-reviewed journals and national conferences on topics including HIV/AIDS prevention, social and emotional learning, HBCU student success, and faculty mentorship.