Kayla Nichols named associate vice provost for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions
Kayla Nichols, a two-time Virginia Tech alumna, has been named associate vice provost for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions after serving in an interim capacity since December 2023.
Nichols succeeded Juan Espinoza, who was named vice provost for enrollment management in August 2024.
“The university is fortunate to have Kayla lead the admissions team,” said Espinoza. “She comes with an excellent track record of success and extensive background in the admission field. I am confident that her leadership will continue to capture key institutional goals and advance strategic initiatives.”
Nichols has been involved in admissions at Virginia Tech since her undergraduate years when she worked in the office mailroom. Upon graduation, she embarked on a career with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions that has spanned nearly 13 years. During that time, Nichols has served as an admissions advisor, assistant director, senior assistant director, associate director, senior associate director of operations, and most recently, deputy director.
“By holding so many roles within the office, I have a greater understanding of the amount of work and the level of care it takes for each admissions cycle to be successful,” said Nichols. “I’ve had the ability to work directly with prospective and current students, create and execute meaningful programming, and then led changes to our processing and operations that ultimately helped promote accessibility in the application process to Virginia Tech.”
A first-generation college student, Nichols didn’t follow the typical path for first-year students. Nichols was wait-listed in her first attempt at admission.
“My perspective has been shaped by that initial admission decision,” Nichols said. "I later transferred to Virginia Tech after earning an associate degree from a Virginia community college, so I embrace sharing my story with prospective students and letting them know other paths to Virginia Tech exist and they work.”
Nearly 58,000 students applied for admission to Virginia Tech for fall 2025, a historic high for Virginia Tech, surpassing last year’s total by more than 10 percent. The target enrollment for the first-year class remains unchanged from previous cycles at 7,085.
“The higher education landscape is becoming more competitive each year,” said Nichols. “Each cycle provides a unique challenge. By having a strong team of professionals in our office and great partners across Virginia Tech’s campus, we can help students, and their families navigate many of the questions they have throughout the college admissions process.”
Nichols said the application process can be overwhelming, but she encourages students and families to make time to enjoy senior year of high school and spend time doing the things that bring them joy to help them decompress throughout the process.
“Ultimately, I want the Virginia Tech application process to be straightforward and easy to navigate to allow students time to focus on school and extracurricular commitments whether that be part-time jobs, family responsibilities, sports, clubs, service to the community, or other opportunities outside of the classroom,” Nichols said.
Admitted students have until May 1 to secure their spot in the incoming class with a deposit.