Nicole Whitner

Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students

• EdD, University of Southern California, Organizational Change and Leadership
  
• MS, Capella University, Higher Education Leadership
  
• BA, University of California, Berkeley, Architecture

Dr. Nicole Whitner is a San Diego native, and has served as the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at the University of San Diego since 2022. The Dean of Students portfolio includes areas such as Residential Life, the Center for Student Success, the Commuter Commons, the Torero Hub, and the Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices. 

Dr. Whitner has over 15 years of experience working in higher education, having previously served as the Dean of Students at Holy Names University in Oakland, CA, as Assistant Dean of Students at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA, and various student-support positions in student affairs and admissions. Her journey as a first-generation college student at the University of California, Berkeley inspired her to venture into a career in higher education, and continues to motivate her as an advocate for the student experience.

Nicole’s professional journey includes service in various leadership roles with regional and national professional organizations. She is currently serving as Chair of the ACPA Nominations and Elections Council. Her past leadership experiences include service on ACPA’s (former) Governing Board as Assembly Coordinator for State & Regional Chapters, as President of California College Personnel Association, and as Faculty for the Phillis L. Mabel Emerging Leaders Institute. 

Dr. Whitner’s service has earned her various awards and recognition both locally and nationally. In 2023 the ACPA Foundation honored her with the Diamond Honoree Award for outstanding contributions to the field. In 2025, Dr. Whitner was recognized twice by the San Diego Business Journal as a Black Leader of Influence and also as one of SD 500 Most Influential People. In the same year, her collaborative work on USD’s Civil Discourse Initiative earned the inaugural Gail F. Baker Outstanding Unit Award for Inclusive Excellence in Programming awarded by the Center for Inclusion and Diversity. Nicole was also the keynote speaker and honorary inductee into the 2025 class of the Judy Lewis Logue Alcala Chapter of the Mortar Board National College Honor Society.

In her free time, Dr. Whitner enjoys good food, music, travel, visiting Disney parks, various artistic endeavors, and spending time with her family and friends!