Michelle Nickens

Senior Vice President

Director, Center for Justice and Technology Integration and Exchange (CJTIX)

Michelle Nickens is a senior vice president of the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and the director of IIR’s Center for Justice and Technology Integration and Exchange (CJTIX), which includes the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) program, the National Sexual Offender Public Website (NSOPW), the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Exchange Portal, and the National Ashanti Alert Network. Ms. Nickens provides oversight of project development and implementation, strategic guidance, resource management, and portfolio coordination.

Previously, Ms. Nickens served as the director overseeing the Office on Violence Against Women Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance (LETTTAC) Consortium and the Grants to Improve Criminal Justice Responses (ICJR) TTA program. Ms. Nickens also served as the RISS Program TA senior manager and has supported the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global), the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council, the Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange, and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative. In 2006, IIR honored Ms. Nickens with the IIR Chairman’s Award. In 2013, she received an IIR Superior Team Performance Award.

Before joining IIR, Ms. Nickens worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Her first role was as an operations and management consultant supervising the Criminal History Accounting section, responsible for processing more than $24 million. She also worked in the Investigations and Forensic Science Program, with responsibilities including developing and implementing policy, supporting domestic security initiatives, strategic planning, creating and monitoring performance measures, reviewing budget and resource allocations, and serving as lead on numerous projects. Ms. Nickens served on the team that drafted the Florida Domestic Security Plan after 9/11. Her last position with FDLE was as a policy and systems administrator, supervising the above activities as well as the Florida Analyst Academy, information systems, and accreditation. Ms. Nickens received the Ritchie Grant Values Award at FDLE in 1997 and was honored with a Program and Department Award for Performance in 1999 and 2000.

Ms. Nickens graduated from FDLE’s Foundational Leadership Program in 1999 and Leadership Tallahassee in 2002. She was nominated for the 2002 Pacesetter of the Year at the Tallahassee Distinguished Leadership Awards, receiving a Proclamation from the mayor for her contributions to the community. In 2015, Ms. Nickens was one of 55 individuals selected statewide for Leadership Florida Class XXXIV. Ms. Nickens has held several leadership positions in the community, currently serving as the Theatre Tallahassee board president. Most recently, Ms. Nickens was selected as one of the Tallahassee Democrat’s 2025 25 Women You Need to Know.

Ms. Nickens has acted in or directed many productions, receiving awards in both capacities, and is an accomplished artisan and published author. Her novel Precious little Secrets was named one of Tallahassee’s Best Beach Reads. Her play Wild Refuge received the Audience Award at the 2006 National PlayFest. Ms. Nickens has written and published more than 50 articles and is working on a second novel, Color-Blinded. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in business from Florida State University. She is currently a doctoral student at Euclid University, an international university accredited by the United Nations, pursuing a degree in mediation and conflict resolution.