Dedicated to making connections and the outdoors, Seattle native finds fulfillment guiding future holistic health leaders at NUNM.
The Admissions team at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) is dedicated to providing resources and guidance to students so they choose the right path in natural medicine.
In highlighting our Admissions team and their contributions to the NUNM community, we asked Nicole McGee, Associate Dean of Enrollment, to share more about their role:
Where’s home? And what did you like about living there?
I grew up in the Seattle area – specifically in Kitsap County. I loved that I was a boat ride away from a major city, but I got to grow up around remote forests and beaches. I also learned how to drive a boat before learning how to drive a car, which I think is very telling about a place. It’s not too far away from Portland, either. I love going home to my family’s farm and disconnecting for a while.
Where did you go to school? And what did you study?
I did my undergraduate at Portland State University and graduated with a BA in International Studies. After a year of having no idea what to do with my life, I went to graduate school at Concordia University to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching. If I could do it all again, I would definitely take more lab sciences.
What’s the best part of your job working in Admissions?
It’s tough to pick just one. I love people. Working in Admissions allows me to connect with people and play a small part in helping them pursue their dreams. Nothing makes me happier in this job than checking in with students throughout the year after we’ve worked through the application process together.
Why is NUNM in Portland a great place to be a student, or to study natural medicine?
The community in Portland lends itself to holistic medicine. You have everything you need around you and there are so many connections to be made! This might sound silly, but the amount of rain we get here is perfect for studying, too. During the academic year, you’re going to want to curl up with all your books and notes at a coffee shop while it’s raining outside.
What’s unique about the NUNM experience and community here?
The community here is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. No one gets here by mistake. The students, staff and faculty are here because they want to be, and they all have a fascination with holistic healthcare and medicine. Everyone genuinely cares for one another and supports each other here. The president will ask me about my family, and I’ll ask students about their pets. There’s a deep sense of connection
— Ashley Villarreal, Marketing Content Specialist