Emily Nicholson is the Executive Director for the Land of Sky P20 Council, serving the Counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania in Western NC. Formed in 2021, the Land of Sky P20 Council facilitates collaboration between stakeholders in education, community, government, and business to ensure Western North Carolina’s students and jobseekers are getting the knowledge, skills, credentials, and support they need to be successful in the region’s most high-demand jobs. The P20 Council has been awarded with over $4 million in grants in the past five years from local, state and federal sources which has helped increase credential attainment in the region in partnership with our higher education institutions. Guided by the focus area of four committees within P20, Emily works to increase student knowledge of local career opportunities through efforts like #worklocal posters and she has embedded student voice into the Council endeavors through the 30+ students from high schools and colleges. Emily thrives at the intersection of innovation and collaboration, pushing beyond “the way things have always been done” while helping partners build on existing momentum to create lasting, community-centered solutions. Emily earned her Bachelor of Political Science from NC State University and her Masters of Adult Education from East Carolina University. Among other professional development, she has added a credential from Harvard in Innovative Leadership and a Certified Workforce Development Leadership recognition from the NC State Institute for Emerging Issues & NC Association of Workforce Development Boards. Emily’s creed parallels with one quote from Benjamin Franklin in that “Well done is better than well said.” Her and her husband are proud parents to three daughters of ages 14, 10 and 6 where they share a passion for kayaking, reading and volunteering in the community. Emily is a former Workforce Board director for a 10-county region in Northeastern NC, a former high school teacher, Community College ESL instructor and NC legislative candidate and has hosted a scholarship award at her hometown alma mater high school (Edenton, NC) for the past five years for first generation college-bound students.