Black Belt STEM Institute Director
Chester Nicklas
cnicklas@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3481

Chester M. Nicklas, Jr. (Chet), Ed.D is an alumnus of Mississippi’s State University and The University of West Alabama.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of West Alabama (2011), a Master of Education degree (2012) and Specialist in Educational Leadership (2015) from Mississippi State University, and a Doctor of Education, Rural Education/Organizational Change from the University of West Alabama (2021).  Chet’s dissertation was entitled “The Impact of Inequitable Broadband and the Digital Landscape Within Rural Schools.”

After serving as a teacher, coach, and bus driver for over ten years in Meridian, MS, Dr. Nicklas is now the Director of the UWA Black Belt STEM Education Institute, which serves as the hub organization for professional development and student engagement in the Alabama Black Belt and beyond through a collective impact approach.  The institute partners with K-12, higher education, business, and industry partners to increase student skills and achievement, student and teacher STEM opportunities, and teacher recruitment and retention.

In his free time, Dr. Nicklas enjoys working out, spending time with his family, including his wife of nearly 15 years, Janna, his 13 year-old son, Bearon, and his 11 year-old son, Colston.  This family time mostly consists of year-round ball games and competitions, but the rare relaxation time is his favorite.  In 2020, he was recognized as the Mississippi State Games Overall Male Athlete of the year.

Dr. Nicklas considers one of his greatest strengths to be his energy and his charisma. The growth of the UWA Black Belt STEM Education Institute is due in part to the relationships made since its creation.  The networking opportunities include partnerships with many STEM Leaders across the state of Alabama and the nation. For example, relationships with NSTA (National Science Teacher’s Assocation), Alabama Space Grant Consortium, VEX Robotics and S.C.O.R.E. (Southeastern Center of Robotics Education), Teton Science Schools, and If I Had A Hammer, ALEX (Alabama Learning Exchange), among others, STIIX has resulted in a  AMSTI Affiliate status in the state of Alabama.  The corresponding professional development offerings have resulted in many learning opportunities for teachers and students and also created many valuable relationships in the K-12 schools. The number of counties visited by Dr. Nicklas through the institute now exceeds 30, and many of these counties represent teachers that have attended at least one Professional Development Session, either virtually or face to face.  His story underscores the importance of relationship building, the importance of educational opportunities and highlights successes possible through positive attitude and hard work.

Black Belt STEM Institute Math Coach
Reggie Holifield
rholifield@uwa.edu

Reggie R. Holifield, Ed.D. is an alumnus of the University of Montevallo, where he participated in TRIO Upward Bound, Student Support Services, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement programs, and Undergraduate Research. He received a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry (Biochemistry concentration) in 2018, and a Master of Education in Secondary Education (General Science) in 2020, all from the University of Montevallo. He received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi (’24). Reggie’s research focuses on the impact of asynchronous and synchronous learning modalities on the success and retention of African American students.