Prior to joining Alabama Law, Nichols served as interim dean of University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN) from 2022-2024 after serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2013-2022. He is a Senior Fellow at Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Nichols’ work focuses on the intersection of law and religion, especially in family law, First Amendment law, and human rights. Nichols clerked for Judge Tjoflat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, practiced complex civil litigation in Washington, D.C., and taught at Pepperdine Law School before moving to St. Thomas. He has served in leadership roles for several sections of the American Association of Law Schools, including as chair of the AALS Section on Associate Deans; participated on accreditation site teams for the American Bar Association; and has worked closely with state and local bar organizations and the Board of Law Examiners.