A new Nickerson Conference Room will be unveiled in Centennial Student Union Wednesday.
The unveiling will include a ceremony with comments from the room’s namesake, former MSU President James F. Nickerson.
The larger Nickerson room, in CSU 238, will be the primary meeting space for the Student Senate and the President’s Extended Cabinet.
The event begins at 3 p.m. In addition to Nickerson, guest speakers will include current President Richard Davenport and Mehr Shahidi, student body president during Nickerson’s administration.
Nickerson was president of then-Mankato State College from 1966 to 1973. Under his leadership the college reached a record enrollment of 14,000 students; sixth-year programs were authorized; the first specialist degrees were awarded; and Trafton Science Center and an addition to the Centennial Student Union were completed.
In 1973 Nickerson was asked by the Pentagon to establish the four-year Servicemen’s Opportunity Colleges consortium. He became permanent director of the consortium, remaining in that position until 1982. The organization influenced major policy changes on college campuses throughout the nation to better accommodate service members.
In 1981 Nickerson was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for outstanding public service. That year the American Association of State Colleges and Universities established the James F. Nickerson Medal of Merit, awarded to public leaders, educators and armed services representatives who advocate voluntary education opportunities for military personnel.
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