About: Dr. Chet Nicklas

After earning his bachelor's in biology and master's in Secondary Education, Dr. Chet Nicklas kicked off his career by spending 11 years teaching classes like AP Biology and genetics at high schools in Meridian, Mississippi. Not one to leave his passion for education in the classroom, he also served as a football coach and bus driver. In 2021, he earned his Doctor of Education in Rural Education and Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of West Alabama. His aptitude for science and talent for community engagement brought him back to UWA in 2022 where he now serves as the Black Belt STEM Institute's Director and as an Adjunct Professor.

Recent Posts by Dr. Chet Nicklas

Rural STEM Education: Inside Alabama’s Black Belt STEM Institute

Yellow school bus on a rural two-lane road passing a School Bus Stop Ahead warning sign
Rural STEM education struggles less from a lack of student interest than from a lack of infrastructure: certified teachers, equipment, and travel budgets. In Alabama’s Black Belt, the University of West Alabama’s Black Belt STEM Institute answers that with coaching, credentialed training, and loaned equipment, staffed largely by people who grew up in the region.…
Read more

Recent Comments by Dr. Chet Nicklas

No comments by Dr. Chet Nicklas yet.