Professor helps bring diversity
John K. Nicholson, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning at Utah State University, is an educated and experienced professional whose influence stretches beyond USU’s campus to include other major issues throughout Utah.
Nicholson is originally from Lawrence, Kan., and received his college education at the University of Kansas. Before becoming a professor at USU, Nicholson worked as a landscape architect in both Casper, Wyo., and Salt Lake City. He said this gave him valuable experience which has been put to good use at USU.
“I wanted to share my knowledge and experience with students who can then go out into the world and put the information to use,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson has taught at USU for the past 21 years, although he may not be seen around campus lately because he is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Nicholson said the time away from USU is well-spent for he will soon be on his way to Germany to teach at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Nicholson will teach an entire summer semester there, which spans from April to July.
The university brings in students from all countries and although German is the predominant language, Nicholson will be teaching his course in English. Such experiences can be beneficial to the university in that a professor may gain practical and diverse experiences, bringing those attributes back to Utah State, Nicholson said.
Nicholson has not only played an influential role at this university but in the state as a whole.
Nicholson was one of three people who initiated the preliminary steps and groundwork for the Salt Lake Olympic bid. Along with Brad Barber, an economist who works for the Governor’s Office, and Mike Allegra of the Utah Transit Authority, Nicholson worked out a presentation to express the idea of bringing the Olympics to Salt Lake.
first presented the bid to Gov. Scott Milne Matheson and then to the mayor of Salt Lake City. Both officials were in support of at least looking into the idea and so the small group of three began researching and looking into what benefits and problems the Olympics may bring, Nicholson said.
As a part of his Olympic research, Nicholson visited such previous Olympic sites as Sarajevo and Lake Placid in order to obtain an idea on the effects of the Games.
“The hope is to have the Games and then perhaps 20 years later be able to see the benefits come forth,” Nicholson said.
He said in 1984 the group was surprised to learn Matheson would not be running for re-election. With the entrance of Gov. Norman Bangerter to office, new leadership was composed for the Olympic project. The preliminary groundwork, which Nicholson helped lay, grew into a bid that was accepted in 1996 and brought the Olympics to Utah.
Through the years, Nicholson said he has enjoyed working at Utah State University because of the atmosphere of his department.
“The department I work for is really very friendly. It’s small enough that the students know the instructors and the instructors know the students. We are able to interact on a more personal level, which can be very beneficial,” Nicholson said.