Originally from Shelby County, Whitney Miller Nichols now calls the Montgomery area home, where she lives with her husband and their two children. A proud two-time graduate of The University of Alabama, Whitney holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UA. Her graduate degree set her on the path that led to her current role as Director of Governmental Relations for the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS).
Her career began in the classroom—first teaching in Shelby County and later teaching eighth-grade language arts at a magnet middle school in Montgomery. From there, she transitioned into association work, eventually moving into education advocacy, where she champions resources and support for Alabama’s public schools.
Whitney joined the Blackburn Advisory Board as a way to give back to the organization that has poured into her life for two decades. Her fondest Blackburn memories aren’t tied to one event, but rather to the “late nights” she shared with fellow Student Fellows and Advisory Board members in the 2000s. Those evenings of candid, passionate conversations about Alabama’s challenges remain a defining part of her Blackburn experience.
Her passion for education shines through both professionally and personally. Whitney advocates for motivated educators to serve all corners of the state and believes deeply in the importance of community stakeholders investing time and expertise into their local schools.
To today’s students, Whitney offers encouragement: lean into the opportunities Blackburn provides, engage with sincerity, and don’t shy away from mistakes or misunderstandings. “Our ships weren’t made to stay in the harbor,” she reminds us. “Failure occurs when we don’t come together to ameliorate misunderstandings for the betterment of our communities.”
Whitney is proud of all that Blackburn students have already achieved and is eager to see the ways future Fellows will shape Alabama’s future.