Dr. Nicolle Boujaber-Diederichs is a professor, dean, and global consultant with extensive experience in community development, public policy, leadership, and education across international, national, and local contexts. She has served on city and non-profit boards, HOA committees, and was elected chair, reflecting her commitment to civic engagement and collaborative governance. She is deeply attuned to cross-cultural contexts and brings a global lens to her teaching, research, organizational development, and facilitation.
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For nearly two decades, Nicolle has taught political science at Valencia College, designing and delivering courses in international politics, U.S. government, and state and local government both online and face-to-face. She is recognized for her innovative curriculum design, mentoring, and integration of service learning and critical thinking projects. In parallel, she has served as an educator in Orange and Osceola Counties in Florida for over 20 years as a dean, teacher, instructional coach, and mentor, where she has led curriculum development for over 20 high schools, implemented restorative justice practices, and coached educators to improve instructional outcomes. Before becoming an educator, Nicolle worked in the field of international community development at various organizations including a South African social investment fund, a community development research center and community development finance lab, and a community development organization focused on initiatives in Harlem and Morningside Heights in New York City.
Her global leadership work includes consulting and serving as a board member of the National Congress of Neighborhood Women and the Huairou Commission, a grassroots women’s network, where she managed multimillion-dollar partnerships and grants across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, strengthening organizational capacity and amplifying grassroots women’s voices in global policymaking. She has presented at major conferences including the Global Education Forum, the National Council for the Social Studies, iEARN International Conferences, and the Celebration of Teaching & Learning Conference in New York City.
Nicolle’s academic journey reflects her deep commitment to leadership and development. She earned her Doctor of Education in Leadership from the American College of Education in 2023, with a dissertation exploring the lived experiences of grassroots women leaders globally. She also holds a Master of Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Public and Urban Policy from The New School, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of International Studies from the School for International Training. Her fieldwork has taken her to South Africa, Morocco, Namibia, Germany, Mexico, and beyond.
Her contributions have been recognized through numerous fellowships and honors, including a Fulbright Fellowship in Namibia, a Development Capital Fund Research Fellowship in South Africa, and a Moroccan Association for Solidarity & Development Fellowship. She was named Teacher of the Year, served as an Adobe Youth Voices Lead Educator, and was honored as an iEARN Global Ambassador and Master Trainer.
Across her career, Nicolle has blended academic rigor with practical leadership, building partnerships, advancing policy advocacy, and empowering communities. Whether in the classroom, on international stages, or within grassroots networks, she is dedicated to cultivating transformative leadership and fostering sustainable community development.
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