| Donald Nickerson was an administrator, faculty member, counselor, and advocate for minority rights within the College of Education and throughout the university for almost 30 years. A university leader in anti-discrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action work, he served as a role model for both colleagues and students.
Dr. Nickerson joined the faculty of the Elementary and Special Education Department in 1966 and earlier served MSU in a Grand Rapids elementary intern program. In addition to faculty responsibilities, he worked with Head Start programs, managed students affairs functions for undergraduate and graduate students, supervised a learning service center, and coordinated scheduling for lifelong education programs. Dr. Nickerson was acting dean of Urban Affairs Programs for more than a year at a critical juncture in that unit’s development and also served as acting chair of the Teacher Education Department.
An MSU alumnus, Dr. Nickerson received his Ed.D. degree, with specialization in elementary curriculum and language arts, in 1966. He held a master’s in educational administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s from Calvin College.
Dr. Nickerson belonged to Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, the NAACP, and represented MSU in state and national teacher education associations.
He is survived by his wife Jacquelyn, a retired faculty member of the Department of Teacher Education, son, Jeff, and daughter Susie and their families.
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