Cody Nicholls, PhD

Cody Nicholls is Associate Director of National Security Programs at the University of Arizona. In this role, he supports faculty in pursuit of external funding (federal, foundation, industry) for fundamental research programs supporting national security topics, issues and challenges, Defense, Intelligence and Homeland Security-related discovery and innovation. Previously he served for just under 9 years as the Assistant Dean of Students for Military and Veteran Engagement at the University of Arizona. Cody is a nine-and-a-half-year veteran of the Army Reserves and Wyoming National Guard. During his tenure in the Reserves he completed two deployments to the Middle East, Iraq (2004-2005) & Kuwait (2008-2009) and one stateside mobilization, in the National Guard, immediately following 9/11 (2001-2002). Cody currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance. Additionally, he currently serves on Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s veteran advisory council. Cody previously served on retired U.S. Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick and U.S. Senator Jeff Flake’s (AZ) military and veteran advisory councils.  Cody previously served as the Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Tucson Committee on Foreign Relations. Cody served as the National Co-Chair for the NASPA Veterans Knowledge Community with his term of service March 2018 – March 2020. Cody received the “Super Et Ultra” Award from the Veterans Knowledge Community for going “above and beyond'' in his service to his fellow veterans in February of 2019. Cody earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education with a major concentration in Organization & Administration from the College of Education and a minor concentration in Entrepreneurship from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.