Rev. Dr. Reginald Nichols’ wealth of experience in education, strategic planning, capacity building, servant leadership and fund development has led him to organizations and leaders in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and South Africa, implementing leadership strategies. He’s worked with communities in Southern Africa, Latin America and the United States in the areas of sustainable development, collaborative networks, and diversity, and on an international project to increase philanthropy, charitable giving worldwide and civic leadership.

Born in Belgium and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Nichols is the fourth President of The Piney Woods School, Piney Woods, MS. Celebrating 100 years it is the largest of the four remaining historically African American boarding schools in the United States.

He has been involved in education and community service as an elementary and middle school principal, marriage and family counselor, executive director, consultant and faculty member for 24 years in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C. and Texas. Nichols has also traveled the world as a W.K. Kellogg International Leadership Fellow and a Salzburg Seminar Fellow, where he has led youth projects and seminars and worked with Caribbean, Latin American and South African leaders to increase leadership and organizational effectives and diversity of youth. 

Nichols is a fund development professional, having raised millions of dollars for schools and non-profit groups across the country.  He was ordained in 1983 and has worked as a youth coordinator at Easter Hill United Methodist Church, Richmond, CA; pastor of Hillside Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA, and associate minister at Jefferson United Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX and St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX.

Nichols received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He holds a Master of Divinity degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and a Doctor of Education degree in Organization and Leadership and International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco.