Nicole's passion developed from a unique perspective gained from her personal experiences. As a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston, she interned for law enforcement groups until her world flipped upside down after a tragic car accident. She spent 5 years incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where she learned first hand the degradation of women in TDCJ. It was there that Nicole decided to fight against the false narratives of those who villified women by treating them as second-class citizens. A month before her release, Nicole's family and herself suffered through a crime committed against a close family member. This experience gave her another opportunity to understand the complexity of the criminal justice system. Nicole is determined to use her intimate knowledge of TDCJ to inspire hope, dignity and change.