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Women of Distinction

Nicole Marquel

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Judith A. Habert

Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions

OHN WESLEY BELIEVED seeking a position in education if
Jthe following as a rule to live by: you lived in Los Angeles.
“Do all the good you can. By all the "My husband, Dustin, and I
means you can. In all the ways you started sending out resumes, and
can. In all the places you can. At all we made a pact that whoever ob-
the times you can. To all the people tained a job first, that is where we
you can. As long as ever you can.” would go. My husband won out,
It is this guiding principle and we made our way to Cleve-
that drew Nicole Marquel to her land, Ohio. We spent two years
current position at Wesley House there before Dustin was offered a
Student Residence. Nicole did not job in San Diego. We jumped at time, I want to make sure I'm
start her college career focused on the chance to get back to Califor- doing something that will have
working in the non-profit arena, nia. Shortly after relocating, I was a bigger impact on my students
but today, it is her passion. offered a job teaching in a high and their families, which is when
When Nicole made the deci- needs area of San Diego." I found my current position at
sion to go to college at Washing- Nicole loved her job but was Wesley House Student Residence
ton University in Saint Louis, her disappointed with the conditions in 2017. I started there as a part-
small Italian family in Brooklyn, at the school and the lack of time Grant Writer, just working
New York, were not happy. They programs in art, music, or dance. 10 hours a week and got promoted
had hoped that she would attend "There were no extracurricular to Grants Manager, then I was
school locally. After graduating, activities provided, and it sad- promoted to Director of Devel-
Nicole decided to head back to dened me since my happiest days opment and then raised enough
New York to attend Adelphi Uni- in high school were taking part in money to support a full-time
versity on Long Island to obtain these programs. I knew I had to position there. I've been full-time
her Master's Degree in Industri- do something, so I started writing at Wesley House for about a year.
al-Organizational Psychology. grants for my students and soon Wesley House is the only orga-
Her first position after getting her found that there were a lot of nization in San Diego County
Master’s was in Human Resources. amazing non-profits in San Diego, providing affordable below market
When she was laid off in 2008, specifically for the arts. I realized rate housing exclusively serving
Nicole made the decision to relo- that I was pretty good at grant low income and systemically mar-
cate to California. Nicole rented writing when we received grant ginalized college students. Right
an apartment in Santa Monica and money to assist our school in now we have one facility, just 30
earned her second Master’s Degree bringing the arts to our students." steps away from the campus of San
in Education at Pepperdine Uni- Although Nicole loved teach- Diego State University.”
versity. While earning her degree, ing, she felt that she could make Wesley House is available to
she met her husband, who was in a more significant contribution any student in town, whether they
the same Master’s program. by writing grants to not only help attend community colleges or any
Unfortunately, they graduated her students, but her talents could college in San Diego. If you qualify
the same year that the Los Angeles help earn funding for non-profits with your income and you are a
School District laid off over 5,000 in need. “I figured if I'm going to full-time college student you are
teachers, not a good time to be transition into non-profit full- qualified to live with us.”

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