Lesley Nichols will start as the executive director of professional studies and special programs on Dec. 7, according to an email from Jan Roberts-Breslin, interim dean of graduate students.

Her position entails overseeing summer and online courses, workshops, and pre-college and professional programs, according to an advertisement for the position online.

Current programs include traditional summer school, online courses, pre-college/high school programs, professional certificate programs, and workshops.

Nichols currently serves both as the director of continuing services and as the interim director of distance education and summer school at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, according to the email.

She has a bachelor’s degree in photographic design from University of Georgia and a master’s degree in business administration with a focus in marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Nichols is a member of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, a group for education professionals. She serves as national chair of the Marketing, Enrollment and Student Services Network within the UPCEA.