Meet Our Scholars

Jason Nichols was raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC. While he had an open-minded and supportive family, throughout his adolescence Jason struggled to find himself and a community within which he identified. At the age of 16, he seized the opportunity to study abroad in France for a year and was able to engage in the much needed self-discovery that allowed him to fully accept his sexuality as a gay man. Jason received a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, completing majors in women & gender studies and psychology through a desire to better understand himself and others. These studies broadened his understanding of how gender, sexuality, race, socio-economic status and other concepts of identity influence our lives and our world. The end result was a deeper appreciation for himself and his unique traits. For the past four years, Jason has worked as a professional in the PR, marketing and media industries in St. Louis. Serving two consecutive terms as the youngest member on the Board of Directors of PROMO, Missouri's statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization, he has become a leader within his community. He has utilized his passion for event-planning to bring the community together for social events that foster cohesion and promote the awareness of key LGBTQ-related issues. Through his work and volunteer efforts, he has been instrumental in creating sustainable fundraising opportunities and has helped fundraise over $150,000 to support PROMO. Jason received his MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business with specializations in luxury brand marketing, product management and strategy. He is currently an Associate Brand Manager at Unilever. His personal mission is to remain a vocal advocate for his community and to expand the opportunities for LGBTQs in business leadership positions.