Her research interests include teasing and bullying in schools, childhood obesity, and body image concerns among youth. Following graduate school, Nicole worked in the nonprofit sector conducting research in the areas of substance abuse, education and poverty, childhood obesity, and school climate. Most recently, she served as director of Scholar Programs at the School for Advanced Research. Nicole holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, an MA in English from Texas A&M, and a BA in English from Texas State University.