Sandra C. Nichols, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Department in the College of Education at the University of Memphis. Sandra’s research and scholarship primarily relates to the intersectionality of poverty, education, race, and opportunity. She has expertise in special education teacher education and in rural and urban education. Thus, she has a keen interest in overlaps and distinctions among successful programs within these geographic areas. She consults with school districts and state education agencies on topics such as underrepresentation, overrepresentation, access, addressing the opportunity gap, and special education teacher education. Sandra has been awarded multiple federal, state, and foundation sponsored grants/contracts. She has also conducted numerous professional presentations and publications at the international, national, regional, and local levels. Sandra is a servant leader and is passionate about positively impacting systems that greatly affect children and children’s services.