Nicky has been a leader for racial and social justice for decades. His first job out of college was transcribing depositions in the civil suit against the Chicago Police Department for the murder of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. At UC Berkeley he was arrested in the Dean's office to integrate the law school's faculty. He fought for poor families and children of color at Legal Aid and then at Marin Fair Housing and then at the Asian Law Caucus. And for three decades as a teacher and leader in California's community colleges he has taught and mentored thousands of students of color and allies in core anti-racist principles. A lifetime of work has prepared him to be the right person to lead in this moment. 

—Aimee Allison

Nicky has the uncommon ability to synthesize complex and interrelated academic, economic, and social issues, and then do the hard work to collaboratively implement viable solutions that meet the needs of our students. For example, Nicky has consistently pushed for bigger investments to expand enrollment. He has championed a “growth mindset” when it comes to meeting the fiscal challenges of the district as well as the educational needs of our students. And he does it all with a spirit of optimism and graciousness which brings people together and fosters engagement, which is so critical for Peralta at this time. Nicky is the right person at the right time, as he has been for 20 years!

Lowell Bennett

“I have real gratitude for the way Nicky's teaching and leadership modeled respect, compassion and warmth to me as a Black student even two decades ago. I learned so much about equitable teaching practices and how to engage students in their own learning. I saw him raise up students to lead each other and then model for them how leaders could care for and support other leaders. All this to say, that I'm very grateful for all the ways that I was exposed to non-traditional, equitable and culturally appreciative education.”

— Adrienne Hypolite

“As the chair of the counseling department at Berkeley City College I have been very appreciative of how Nicky has supported our students, and in particular those being served by our Undocumented Community Resource Center. As a board member he worked with college and district leaders to seek out funds to support these students, but more important, he has worked with these vulnerable students to find a voice for themselves. It is rare to find elected officials so in touch with the constituents they serve and willing and eager to make their voices and perspectives central to institutional decision-making.”

— Gabriel Martinez

I have always found Nicky very approachable and, most importantly, willing to give his time. He is always receptive to meeting with classified workers and hearing their concerns. Nicky has consistently fought to include classified employees and students in the decision-making process at Peralta, sincerely believing the District will arrive at better answers by giving the aforementioned groups a “seat at the table.”

—Terrence Fischer

“Promoting environmental justice and environmental sustainability has been at the core of Nicky’s work for decades- as a trustee, community organizer and educator. He integrates these themes into virtually every class he teaches at De Anza, even as he works to integrate them into Peralta’s policies and practices. I try hard to center racial justice as a core principle in all of my work as an environmental leader at the Bicycle Coalition, the League of Conservation Voters, and elsewhere. I owe much of this perspective to the foundational education I received from instructors like Nicky and to our ongoing conversations in the many years since.”

— Shiloh Ballard

“Nicky's work in the community college system has contributed a whole generation of community leaders who rose through student leadership. You can literally point to whole institutions in the Bay Area that are being shaped by some of his former students.

We learned that taking ourselves seriously and making a positive difference means focusing on real impacts and being accountable to the well-being of real people in our everyday lives.

He models a different way of being with students, and a different way of being a leader. I’m a better teacher and outspoken citizen because of Nicky.”

— Jack Lin

I've seen Nicky's work as board member, teacher and community leader. There is no one on the Peralta Board with a stronger record of fighting to eliminate racism and expand social justice. As the Laney College Umoja co-director, I regularly bring my Laney College students to participate in and help lead the annual social justice and civic engagement training program Nicky founded at De Anza College decades ago. I love the way he raises up their work and lets them shine.

—Kimberly king

"Nicky is not only a leader at Peralta, he comes from the labor movement. And to come from the labor movement means to be of service to others, not just to oneself. He understands the real value of classified professionals at Peralta and recognizes that we've always been essential workers. He knows that classified workers have the best understanding of what's working and what's not, and respects that we have the knowledge and expertise to make things better."

—Richard Thoele

For 15 years Nicky has faithfully represented real East Bay values on the Peralta Board-- ‘Students first! Honor Labor and the working people who educate and serve these students. Protect and promote the most vulnerable among us. Serve the community.’ Nicky's work is a model of effective elected representation.

—Jesse Arreguin