Nicole Watkins, Communications Manager, combines her design experience, passion for amplifying voices, and desire to make an impact. Nicole specializes in curating innovative advocacy and communications strategies for environmental, gun violence prevention, election security, and criminal justice issues. She works to provide effectual messaging that provokes action and change. She knows how to reach the right audiences for maximum impact. Whether it’s securing national coverage in outlets like The Associated Press, NPR and CNN, placing op-eds in issue-focused publications such as Democracy Docket, or getting quotes in local media that speak directly to the communities most affected.

Before joining New Heights, Nicole was a Reggio-inspired early childhood educator and successfully fought for better benefits and resources for educators as a school board member. Previously, she worked as an intern and consultant on the American Red Cross Media Team. With the Red Cross, Nicole supported communicators during natural disasters, worked on national campaigns, and wrote stories covering humanitarian crises abroad. Nicole holds a BA in Public Relations and Strategic Communications from American University.