SAMMY NICKALLS ’14

Age 27

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Freelance writer with bylines in Esquire, Elle, Vice, and Teen Vogue

Social media personality and mental health advocate 

New York City, N.Y.

Finding Confidence and Courage

Since freshman year, Dr. Michael Dwyer gave me the confidence I needed to foster my work and the courage I needed to pitch to magazines and apply for editorial jobs. He encouraged me to get involved with the University’s publications and gave me incredibly poignant advice about tricky career issues I experienced after graduation. 

The Best of Times

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Arcadia and the surrounding area lost power for several days. I was living in Oak Summit Apartments with several good friends. We made a cozy little fort-like setup out of couches and mattresses. We treated the whole thing like a spooky sleepover party, and when the hallways regained power, we camped out in the hall with other students and RAs, and we made a great time out of what could have been a scary situation. That’s what it was like for me at Arcadia—the people I met there always made everything so much fun. 

Next Up

I’d love to publish a book. Cue my blessedly patient agent screaming, “Then do it!”