Every year, graduates from the College of Letters & Science enter the workforce and begin to contribute thousands of dollars to their local, state, and national economies. They bring the skills and knowledge they gained at UW-Milwaukee to their jobs, along with their ambitions and fresh perspectives.
In this new article series, we will highlight some of the recent Letters & Science alumni who have found fulfilling roles in their chosen fields.
Name: Ysel Nicholson
Graduation Year: 2021
Major: Communication
Job: Community Partnerships Manager at City Year Milwaukee
Ysel Nicholson knew she wanted to work with young people in her career but quickly discovered that a major in early childhood education wasn’t the right fit.
“I wanted to have a steady career in the professional world, but I realized business wasn’t for me either,” she said.
A turning point came when she enrolled in a professional communications class.
“I really enjoyed learning how to communicate with other people and the many methods of communication,” she said. “I changed my major to communication because I felt like it was broad enough for me to be able to find (career), but also gain good skills that I could take anywhere, regardless of what I decided I wanted to do.”
Now, as the Community Partnerships Manager at City Year Milwaukee, Nicholson puts those skills to use as she recruits young people to serve as AmeriCorps members and helps grow the nonprofit’s presence in the community.
“When I’m recruiting, I’m talking to all different types of people: high school graduates, college graduates, or folks who may not have pursued higher education,” she said. “I tailor my approach depending on the audience – whether it’s through visuals, presentations, or the way I frame the conversation. My communication background helps me think critically about how to connect with people.”
City Year, with locations in 29 cities around the country including Milwaukee, is an AmeriCorps program that partners with schools to help students reach their academic goals. AmeriCorps volunteers, often recent graduates who are taking a gap or service year, assist with academic and social skills while developing their own leadership and workforce skills.
Using her talents in service of others has always been one of Nicholson’s core values. During her senior year at UWM, she worked with Public Allies Wisconsin in an after-school student support program. After graduating, she became a recruiter for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She later joined City Year as an Impact Manager before stepping into her current role.
On any given day, Nicholson can be found connecting with City Year’s school and community partners, collaborating with other AmeriCorps organizations, or overseeing aspects of City Year Milwaukee’s social media to grow brand awareness.
One of her proudest accomplishments has been leading Corps Collab, a joint event with Public Allies Wisconsin and College Possible Wisconsin. Volunteers from each group met for networking and professional development opportunities.
“We first collaborated on the event last year, bringing AmeriCorps members from across organizations together for learning and community building,” Nicholson said. “This year, I had the opportunity to lead the programming. It was a space to reflect, connect, and celebrate the powerful work these young people are doing.”
Her advice to students approaching graduation is to keep an open mind about service.
“Service years are incredibly valuable,” Nicholson said. “They give you the chance to slow down, connect with your community, and learn alongside other young people who share your passion. It’s an experience that shapes you for whatever comes next.”
And if any of those students are interested in City Year, she’ll be more than happy to communicate with them.
By Sarah Vickery, College of Letters & Science