Anaya Wilson
A. Nicole Wilson (she/her) is a dynamic political science scholar, educator, and mentor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently a PhD candidate at Georgia State University, she specializes in justice, institutions, and political behavior, with a particular focus on American government and foreign policy. Nicole began her academic journey after graduating from Georgia State University in 2019, working on Capitol Hill in the office of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Her experiences in policy and public service inspired her to pursue graduate studies, leading her to complete her master’s degree and secure a full assistantship in her current doctoral program. Alongside her research, she actively teaches American government, emphasizing student-centered, inclusive pedagogy and fostering engagement across a diverse student body.
Nicole has cultivated a strong presence in higher education through her roles as an adjunct professor at Georgia Military College, Georgia State University, and Chattahoochee Technical College. She brings a practical, applied approach to her teaching, integrating her research into the classroom while mentoring students at all stages of their academic and professional journeys. Passionate about representation in academia, she operates under her Profess Her brand, highlighting mentorship and serving as a role model for young Black women pursuing advanced study. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating spaces where students can engage critically with political institutions, civil liberties, and contemporary policy issues, while feeling empowered to pursue their own paths in public service and scholarship.
Beyond the classroom, Nicole is deeply engaged in public scholarship and community-building initiatives. She serves as a mentor with Ambition In Motion and maintains memberships with organizations such as Foreign Policy for America NextGen and the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, working to foster informed dialogue on global affairs and domestic policy. Her research projects include international justice initiatives, such as her ongoing work on the Emmett Till case, and explorations of political consciousness in the “Stay Woke” era. Through teaching, research, and mentorship, Nicole continues to build bridges between academia, policy, and community engagement, dedicated to producing work that is rigorous, accessible, and socially impactful.
• SoGA - GA@WORK Manage My Learning
• SoGA - GA@WORK Employee Self-Service
• Tier One Enhanced
• SoGA - GA@WORK Basic Navigation Training
• Learning How to Increase Learner Engagement
• Creating Inclusive Learning Experiences
• Increasing Learning Engagement: A Skills-First Approach
• Conflict of Interest in Research
• Community-Engaged Research
• Research Security Training
• Human Subjects Research – Social & Behavioral
• Responsible Conduct of Research
• Georgia State University- Ph.D.
• Georgia State University- M.A.
• Georgia State University- Bachelor's
• Foreign Policy for America : NextGen
• World Affairs Council: Atlanta
• Black Graduate Student Association
• Student Alumni Association
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
• Golden Key International Honor Society
• National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars
• March of Dimes
• Decatur Cooperative Ministries (Hagar's House)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc
What do you attribute your success to?
For me, success comes down to time management and organization - as cliche as it sounds, you have got to maximize your time management and organize almost 24 hours of that day. There are so many moving parts and so many different opportunities that you get exposed to, and you still want you time. You cannot let work consume you, because as hard-working women, especially as influential women, we tend to do that. We put our everything, 110%, into everything - if we're in business, we're going $1,000, if we're raising kids, we're doing a thousand. You have to compartmentalize and space it out, being like yes, I am in academia, I'm a candidate professor, but also I'm someone's best friend, I'm someone's daughter, I'm a dog mom, I'm someone that still likes to read and sit on my porch. You have to compartmentalize and get time management together on whatever path you choose. You also can't internalize the no's a lot of the times - if the political dynamic changes or something doesn't work out, you made the decisions with the hands that you were dealt with, you just gotta adapt. My biggest motivator is knowing that one day, unfortunately, our parents move on to greater things, and that drives me forward. When I get this PhD next May, that will become my greatest accomplishment, but for now, earning my master's degree stands as my proudest moment because it was one of the first memories I did not get to share with my stepfather, who passed away the day I got into grad school.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay organized and manage my time wisely, compartmentalizing responsibilities so I can maintain balance between my professional and personal life.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice, as cliche as it sounds, is that you have got to maximize your time management. You have got to organize almost 24 hours of that day. That right there is one of the best pieces of advice, because there are so many moving parts and so many different opportunities that you get exposed to, and you still want you time. You cannot let work consume you, because as hard-working women, especially as influential women, we tend to do that - we put our everything, like 110%, into everything. If we're in business, we're going $1,000, if we're raising kids, we're doing a thousand. So you have to compartmentalize and space it out, being like yes, I am in academia, I'm a candidate professor, but also I'm someone's best friend, I'm someone's daughter, I'm a dog mom, someone that still likes to read and sit on my porch. You have to compartmentalize and get time management together on whatever path you choose, whether it's Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw - you have to adapt to that. You also can't internalize the no's a lot of the times. If you go to apply for something and it doesn't work out, or if the political dynamic changes and you wish you would have done something different, you made the decisions with the hands that you were dealt with. You just gotta adapt.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in political science academia is that it remains male-dominated, with limited visible representation for women, especially Black women. At the same time, this creates an opportunity to increase visibility, mentor the next generation, and use teaching and local political engagement to make a tangible impact in our communities.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are representation, mentorship, effective time management, adaptability, and dedicated service to my students.