Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters
Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters serves as the Founding Dean of the Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies at the University of St. Thomas and is also an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. As a leadership professor, her research agenda includes developing leaders to embrace servant and moral leadership, social philanthropy, and integrating culture and language to support academic achievement in historically underserved, marginalized students. Her academic work has been published in the Women, Gender, and Families of Color Journal, the International Journal of Educational Reform, Wisconsin English Journal, Gifted Child Today, and School Leadership Review. She is a co-editor of a book entitled Gumbo for the Soul II: Liberating Memoirs and Stories to Inspire Females of Color. Dr. Walters has been awarded Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Child Care Council of Greater Houston, Outstanding UH College of Education Award by the University of Houston, the Excellence in Education Award by Texas Southern University, Founders’ Day Award by Spelman College, and has been recognized by Houston Magazine as one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women. Dr. Walters holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston, and a Masters and Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Texas Southern University.