Dr. Heather Nickel, Ed.D., is Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Schiller International University and a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience in academic administration, assessment, accreditation, compliance, and student success. She holds a EdD in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Grand Canyon University, as well as a master's degree in education specializing in Curriculum and Technology from the University of Phoenix.

Throughout her career, Dr. Nickel has held senior leadership positions at institutions including Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Keiser University, and Pinnacle Career Institute. Her experience spans academic affairs, institutional effectiveness, strategic planning, curriculum development, enrollment management, and regulatory compliance.

As an experienced accreditation and quality assurance professional, she has led numerous institutional and programmatic accreditation reviews, developed assessment frameworks and continuous improvement strategies, and worked closely with faculty and academic leaders to strengthen educational quality, support student achievement, and ensure compliance with accreditation standards. At Schiller International University, Dr. Nickel oversees institutional effectiveness initiatives that advance the university's mission and commitment to academic excellence.