Nicki Mullins
Educational outreach specialist
Iowa PBS
Age: 27
Three words: Passionate, impatient, meticulous
What colleagues say: Nicki developed Iowa PBS’ Farmer’s Market program, an engagement initiative for Spanish-speaking families that was created through our Ready To Learn grant. The curricular materials support skills such as math, functional literacy, communication and map navigation. In developing these learning resources Nicki made new connections with more than 40 organizations and agencies serving Latino communities across the state. The program is so popular that we have shared the resources with other Iowa communities and PBS stations.
Most recently, Nicki worked with the Family Development and Self Sufficiency program within the Iowa Health and Human Services Department to provide educational kits for social workers to share during their home visits. This gets our resources into every county in Iowa and, more importantly, provides quality educational resources for low-income families.
What Nicki says
Decision to work in public media: I graduated with degrees in teaching and Spanish language, and taught for several years. When I began looking for a more creative position that aligned with my education, it felt serendipitous to be chosen by Iowa PBS to help with educational outreach.
Key accomplishments: I’m very proud of the bilingual activities created for families and children through Iowa PBS’ Farmers Market Program, including how contextually rich they are with real-world scenarios around farming, gardening, community and finances.
Each time I’m able to connect with a new organization and provide a resource, training or a service that they’ve voiced a need for, it feels like a huge accomplishment. I love the efficiency of interconnecting with other state departments to better serve the public.
Advice for young public media professionals: Don’t overthink your ideas. Create an enthusiastic and motivated network that supports you. Don’t be afraid to show up boldly and openly. Trust your intuition — the first time! Be sure to actively listen and learn from others.
Advice for public media leaders: Pivot with positivity, personality and curiosity. Change your mind. Encourage and value liveliness. Motivate with creative freedom and cheerful collaboration. Introduce yourself to young professionals, and try to find ways to work with them. Listen actively. Don’t forget that learning is a lifelong endeavor.
