Nichols College welcomes new faculty

Nichols College has welcomed three new faculty members who support students across several academic programs.

Jennifer Carlson, Ph.D., and James Vuona, MPA, have joined Nichols from Anna Maria College as visiting professors of emergency management and fire science, respectively, two programs that have transitioned to Nichols. Their arrival provides continuity for students completing their education at Nichols following the closure of Anna Maria College.

Michelle Ledoux, Ed.D., LMHC, has joined Nichols as assistant professor of psychology and counseling and director of the clinical mental health counseling master’s program. A licensed mental health counselor with experience in outpatient and school-based counseling as well as graduate-level teaching, Ledoux leads the new master’s program, which welcomed its first students this fall.

“These faculty members bring substantial knowledge and experience in their fields, but just as important, they care deeply about the students and professions they serve,” said Interim Provost Jean Beaupre, Ed.D. “For our students who came from Anna Maria, having familiar faculty here provides valuable continuity during a time of change. At the same time, we are building a new mental health counseling program with faculty who understand what students need to be prepared for practice. We’re very pleased and proud to have all three at Nichols.”

The new faculty members, along with brief biographies, are listed below:

Jennifer Carlson, Ph.D., visiting professor of emergency management, earned her Ph.D. in public administration with a concentration in emergency management from Capella University in 2015. Her research focuses on the professionalization of emergency management, workforce development, crisis leadership and emergency management education. She has published multiple peer-reviewed articles, including a recently published article in the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and has presented her research at national and international conferences, including in Japan. She is editor of the forthcoming Advancing the Professionalization of Emergency Management: International Insights and Innovations for a Dynamic Profession from Palgrave Macmillan, slated for a January 2027 release. A certified emergency manager (CEM®) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), Carlson has extensive professional experience in emergency management and disaster-response leadership. She has held leadership positions with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, including serving as a director with responsibility for Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Her disaster-related experience includes leadership roles in response to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the Boston Marathon bombing and wildfires in California and British Columbia, among others. Carlson has held several teaching and training appointments in emergency management and related disciplines; prior to joining Nichols College, she taught in the emergency management program at Anna Maria College, where tenure was expected during the 2026-27 academic year prior to the college’s closure. She received an MSW from the University of Connecticut, with a concentration in community organization and a substantive area in local and international disaster relief services, and a B.S. from Elms College.

Michelle Ledoux, Ed.D., assistant professor of psychology and counseling and director of the clinical mental health counseling master’s program, earned her Ed.D. in educational psychology from American International College. A licensed mental health counselor, she brings more than a decade of professional experience in clinical and educational settings. She continues to practice as a mental health outpatient counselor with Thriveworks, and she previously served as a school counselor and 504 coordinator in the Tantasqua/Union 61 school district. Ledoux also previously taught graduate courses in developmental psychology, group counseling, family counseling, counseling theory and practice, and research methods as an adjunct professor at American International College. In addition to her Ed.D., she received an M.A. in educational psychology from American International College and a B.S. in psychology from Worcester State University.

James Vuona, MPA, visiting professor of fire science, brings more than 30 years of professional experience in fire service and emergency management. He served with the Shrewsbury Fire Department from 1993 to 2024, including 14 years as chief of department, after previously serving as a fire captain/EMT and firefighter/EMT. Vuona has also held numerous leadership roles with the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts (FCAM), serving as president and on its board of directors. He serves as co-coordinator of the association’s Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Mentoring Program. Before joining Nichols College, Vuona taught at Anna Maria College in its fire science program. He received an MPA in fire service management from Anna Maria College, a B.A. in history from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and an A.S. in fire science from Quinsigamond Community College.

Nichols College started the fall semester on August 24.