Nicole Villacrés-Reyes

nvillacr@bates.edu | she/he/they
Assistant Dean of Admission

Nicole was born in Quito, Ecuador, and spent much of her upbringing in Northwest Arkansas. After high school, Nicole continued her migration north to Mount Holyoke College, a journey marked by some unexpected twists and turns. Nicole originally planned to matriculate to a different institution as a biomedical engineering major, but challenges with her financial aid offer prompted an unexpected gap year. Undergoing a second round of college applications, the added exploration exposed her to the liberal arts and led Nicole to reevaluate her decision to major in engineering as a fast track to medical school. 

At Mount Holyoke, Nicole had countless experiences and opportunities she had never dreamed of, including walking onto the rowing team and co-teaching a class with her favorite professor. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in gender studies, minor in Latino studies and certificate in reproductive health rights and justice.

As a student, Nicole developed a keen interest in housing justice, reproductive justice, immigration justice, and college access. Nicole’s educational background in feminist pedagogies and intersectionality sparked her interest in increasing access to higher education and creating vibrant learning communities. As a first-generation college student, Nicole seeks to mentor students not only on their college searches, but throughout their college journeys.

When not working, Nicole can be found swimming at the beach with her dog or honing her pinball skills at the arcade.