Remembering Tom Nickolai, longtime director of Advising

The Webster University community mourns the passing of Tom Nickolai, former longtime director of Academic Advising. Tom initially "retired" from that role in 2015, but continued consulting part-time for Academic Affairs until 2018, when he announced his full retirement after what he called "a good thirty years."

Tom was known as a tremendous colleague who possessed a breadth of knowledge in many fields, as well as a detailed understanding of the academic catalog. His encyclopedic answers to student and advisors' questions from across the network about credits, course sequences, programs and transfer agreements were legend; he was able to advocate for students and uphold academic integrity while guiding many on the path to a Webster University degree.

Between advising students and teaching as an adjunct faculty member, Tom's connection to Webster dates back to 1981, when he first taught part-time at Webster. He became a daily fixture on campus in 1988, when he was hired to work in the Sverdrup Complex as it first opened. 

The Nickolai family has planned a private service, with a celebration of life to come at a later date. The online obituary and guest book can be found here.