Board Member
Dr. Nicole R. Christopher is a seasoned education leader, strategist, and leadership coach with more than 25 years of experience supporting instructional excellence, leadership development, and community-centered initiatives in large urban education systems. Her work reflects a deep belief in the power of education and the arts to cultivate voice, belonging, and opportunity.
Throughout her career, Dr. Christopher has served in a range of high-impact roles, including classroom teacher, literacy coach, principal, and leadership advisor. She was the founding principal of Future Leaders Elementary School (P.S. 74), where she led for 13 years and built a thriving school community grounded in academic excellence, creativity, and strong personal leadership.
In addition to her public-sector leadership experience, Dr. Christopher is the founder of Rise and Shine Leading, LLC, a coaching and consulting practice that supports women leaders in navigating complexity, leading with purpose, and sustaining impact under pressure. Her coaching and facilitation work centers on clarity, resilience, and values-aligned leadership.
Dr. Christopher brings a strong commitment to community engagement and believes deeply in the arts as a catalyst for learning, expression, and connection. She is passionate about expanding access to creative and educational spaces that uplift historically marginalized voices and strengthen communities.
She holds a Doctorate in Executive Leadership (Ed.D.) from St. John Fisher University, along with advanced degrees and certifications in education leadership.
