Nichols, a native of Belmont, Mississippi, is a 1987 graduate of Belmont High School. He received an A.A.S. degree in Computer Programming Technology from Northeast Mississippi Community College in 1990. From there, he transferred to the University of North Alabama where he received a B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems in 1992. In 1994, he completed his studies at the University of Mississippi where he was awarded a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Nichols returned to Northeast in 1997 as a Computer Programming Instructor. He teaches classes in Microsoft Office, Network Fundamentals, Web Design and Development, C++, XML, and ASP.net Programming. In addition to his teaching duties, Nichols serves as one of the advisors to Phi Beta Lambda. As an advisor he has had the opportunity to interact with students by serving as an event coordinator at competitions at both the State and National levels.