PICS Class of 2020 Senior Story – Josh Nichols

Josh Nichols, a double major in International Studies and Spanish with a German minor, had his work cut out for him from the beginning. Thankfully, Nichols said his International Studies and Spanish classes both overlapped and gave him a more holistic understanding of the language and Latin America.

“My International Studies classes were so interdisciplinary and many of those classes fit with my Spanish major. I improved my Spanish while also learning about Latin America. Most of my Spanish classes were about colonial history or the 80s and 90s drug trade but my International Studies courses gave me the perspective of modern Latin America,” Nichols said.

Nichols said his International Studies 401 course on human trafficking and the amount of group participation stood out to him as a highpoint in his program.

“Before Dr. Uehling would start class, she’d pass out articles for us to read in small groups. Even before lecture, we’d talk about our personal understanding of class concepts. It was much more collaborative than my other classes,” Nichols said.

While at the University, Nicholas was a member of the Varsity Cheerleading Team, Men’s Glee Club, and Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity. He was also a Barger Leadership Institute Fellow, a Campus Day Leader, and a Freshman Orientation Leader. After graduation, Nichols will be working for United Airlines in Chicago as an associate analyst on the Loyalty Team.