Bob Nicholson

He is Associate Dean of Undergraduate Business Programs and Associate Professor of Economics at the Robins School of Business. He is Dr. Robert Nicholson, or simply, Bob. After over three decades at the University of Richmond, he is known widely as a dedicated educator, mentor and friend. 

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Nicholson earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Delaware. Shortly thereafter, he headed south to earn his master's degree in Agricultural Economics from North Carolina State University where by 1972, he would also earn his doctoral degree in Economics.

While working towards his doctorate, Nicholson began working alongside food scientists and nutritionists as a researcher studying food delivery systems for major institutions. "I worked more with actual food products, distribution and institutional food service," said Nicholson.

After earning his doctorate, Nicholson moved to Richmond. "I had the choice to stay at N.C. State to do research or come to the University of Richmond," said Nicholson. "I decided to come here because of the teaching focus. At the time Richmond was primarily a teaching institution. Over the years I primarily taught statistics.”

Over the course of his time here, Nicholson has witnessed many changes at the business school. "Several years after I arrived, the business school became the Robins School of Business," Nicholson mentioned. "The curriculum used to be very structured. About 15 years ago we started to emphasize research, but not at the expense of teaching. It's a tough mix to balance, but I feel the University of Richmond has succeeded. Some excellent researchers make up the faculty here."

In recent years, the Robins School has changed physically with the unveiling of Queally Hall in 2011. Nicholson noted other changes including, "the breadth of the business school – it's grown incredibly, including the geographic and ethnic diversity of the student body. We have quite a few international students. We used to be considered a state or even a regional school but now we're really a global institution. Most importantly, the number of students has changed. It used to be restricted to 175 students per year, and then it was only juniors and seniors and predominantly male. Now we're almost at 900 with about 56 percent male and 44 percent female. Overall, the quality of the school has improved – the classrooms, the international program, the economics capstone – and the student body's academics have really improved."

Nicholson commends the students' academic proficiency, their admirable motivation and appreciates the friendliness that has always existed between the students and faculty.

Nicholson is not only a seasoned educator but also a dog lover. "I've owned Shetland Sheepdogs since 1979. They're very obedient. They almost know what you want them to do. They're active but happy to adapt." 

Besides being a loving caretaker to his dogs, Nicholson is an avid reader. "The classics are wonderful. Faulkner. Woolf. Austen. I like biographies. Carl Sandberg's biography of Lincoln is one of the best. His written description of Lincoln's assassination makes you feel like you're watching it happen. Now my favorite book is probably 'All The King's Men,'" a political novel by Robert Penn Warren. "It's one of the few books I've ever read twice. It's incredible the way power goes to the characters' heads. These people aren't perfect."

In conclusion, Nicholson described his experience within the Robins School as "close-knit."

"I've been able to have close contact with the students. And the connection with the faculty and staff. I've made a lot of good friends over the years."