About
Nicole (Reed) Drumheller ‘10, has been a Carroll trustee since 2021. Nicole is currently a Senior
Program Manager in Operations for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
I joined the Board of Trustees at Carroll College for much the same reason I chose to attend Carroll
for my bachelors degree – I was inspired by the institution's mission statement, "Not for school but
for life." This philosophy resonated deeply with me then, and can be seen in my own personal and
professional pursuits since graduating in 2010.
My life has been profoundly shaped by my time at Carroll – from meeting my husband, to building
lifelong friendships with fellow students, to the incredible education and advice I received from my professors. As I look back, there are two moments in my education that are arguably among the most impactful.
The first was at the end of my sophomore year when I realized that my current major was no longer
the path I wanted to pursue. I connected with a trusted professor, Murphy Fox, explaining that I did
not know what to do and was considering taking time off from school, when Murphy asked me "What
is your biggest fear?" to which I responded "public speaking," and Murphy came back with "that is
your major then. If nothing else you will come out of college with a new skill." I took his advice and
became a communication major, and have been grateful every day since – not only for the education
I received but also for the friendships I created with my fellow communications grads.
The second great moment of impact occurred during my time in the comms department, Professor
Brent Northup offered the sage advice that "jobs are much like marriage proposals; if you are good
enough to get one, you are good enough to get two." The statement might seem comical, but it has
helped bring levity to moments in my life that I have had to make big decisions and instilled in me a
confidence to say no to certain opportunities to make room for better ones.
These experiences have fueled my commitment to supporting Carroll College's mission and
ensuring that future students receive the same transformative guidance and education that I did. I
am so grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and hope to contribute to this amazing
community that has given me so much.~ Nicole (Reed) Drumheller ‘10, Trustee