Nichole Dawsey is the Executive Director of PreventEd, formerly known as NCADA (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse).
Nichole was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and like many native St. Louisans, developed a fondness for the close-knit communities, quaint neighborhoods, and unique history of the area. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC, Nichole found her professional passion in the field of education. As she worked in the classroom to help her middle school students grow intellectually, she realized the equal importance of supporting young people’s mental health, wellness, and development of life skills. To become an even more effective, knowledgeable, and helping professional, Nichole chose to earn her Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University. It was during graduate school that Nichole was introduced to NCADA, when she found a part-time position there as a Prevention Educator.
After five years, Nichole was promoted to Director of Prevention Education, and served in that role for five years. During that time, Nichole oversaw the significant expansion of the prevention education program, increasing students served by 15% and department staff capacity by 25%. Nichole was appointed as Executive Director in 2018. Under her leadership, NCADA is now PreventEd. The organization has become known for its supportive workplace culture and has been honored as a Top Workplace by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Presentation(s):
It’s Complicated – A Peer Taught Cannabis Prevention Program