This year, an anonymous UW Bioengineering alumna generously donated the required funding to establish a new endowed scholarship in honor of Kelli Jayn Nichols. Nichols served the BioE department from October 2000, until her retirement in June 2016 as Director of Academic Services.
Nichols joined the department at a critical time, immediately following the establishment of the undergraduate bioengineering program. She oversaw the development of UW Bioengineering’s undergraduate curriculum, and its growth to become one of top biomedical engineering undergraduate programs in the nation. Meanwhile, she built the unit’s academic services from scratch.
Throughout her tenure, Nichols was a fierce advocate for students. She provided tools and resources to empower them to face challenges and meet goals. She repeatedly went above and beyond to solve problems and improve programs. She was also a trusted friend and advisor to the BioE faculty.
As BioE alumni launch successful careers after leaving the department, many of them remember Nichols as a key supporter throughout their academic journeys.
In this season of giving, we hope you will consider a gift to the fund in honor of Kelli Jayn Nichols’ legacy, and to support the next generation of Bioengineering leaders. The scholarship will support undergraduate students in the department and will be awarded based on merit and financial-need. Make your tax-deductible gift today.