ICYMI this summer, Lexington native Morgan Nichols was crowned Miss South Carolina 2019 during the annual competition in Columbia.
A graduate of Clemson University (formerly Miss Clemson) with a Genetics degree, Morgan is an advocate for STEM education and career development. Her initiative, “Stronger With STEM,” allows her to speak to children + young adults across S.C. about entering 21st century STEM careers.
During college, Morgan interned at West Columbia-based, woman-owned Nephron Pharmaceuticals, a global leader in the STEM industry specializing in sterile manufacturing of generic respiratory medications, and later worked for SCBIO, a statewide nonprofit economic development association for the Life Sciences.
We sat down for a Q+A with Morgan to learn more about STEM in S.C., her experience in the industry, the best piece of advice she’s received from Lou Kennedy, President and CEO of Nephron, + more.
Q+A with Morgan Nichols, Miss South Carolina + STEM advocate
1. What made you get involved with STEM education/career development?
“In addition to my own passion for science with my Genetics degree, one of the main catalysts was just seeing the immense need and realizing the true impact it could have. We are dawning upon an era of science and technology and so much innovation and life-saving capabilities are resulting. However, the STEM skills gap and workforce void are capping that optimal growth.
As our economy is greatly evolving, the skillsets needed in our workforce is also evolving – and increasingly, a larger portion of those skills fall into the STEM category – no matter what career path one is taking. It is said 65% of kindergartners will have jobs that aren’t even created yet. I started my initiative of Stronger With STEM, which is all about 21st century STEM workforce development, to ensure that our future workforce isn’t only surviving, but thriving.”
2. Tell us about your experience in the industry. Is it different being in the industry as a woman, and as a South Carolinian? How so?
“My life science experience started as a Genetics major at Clemson’s College of Science and as a Quality and Sales Intern for Nephron. With those experiences, I went on to do Investor Relations for SCBIO, a non-profit economic development association for the Life Sciences, where Lou [Kennedy, President and CEO of Nephron Pharmaceuticals] is actually the board chairman. I’ve developed relationships with various life science companies in our state. I’ve been able to see all facets and interworking parts of the industry and what is needed for it to further thrive in South Carolina.
What a time to be a woman in the life sciences in South Carolina! Throughout my career and education, many strong women leaders have been and are role models for me in the science community. I saw so many women sitting around the board room table and was inspired not only for myself, but to go share that this was actually happening to inspire others as well! As Miss South Carolina, I’ve been wanting to pay that forward for other young women – that they, too, can make a seismic impact as leaders.”
Morgan Nichols, Miss South Carolina 2019 and STEM education advocate | photo provided
3. Tell us about working at Nephron Pharmaceuticals – a leading woman-owned company in the STEM industry.
“As someone who liked science growing up, I assumed the only way I could utilize those skills in a career path was through becoming a clinician or nurse, as that was the only time I saw a woman doing science. I then worked for Nephron for two years and saw a multitude of careers in STEM I never knew existed.”
4. How has your career path intersected with pageants – and now being Miss South Carolina?
“We are entering into this incredible women empowerment era. Just as women have evolved in the past 20 years, the Miss America Organization has also evolved. They are focusing more on the multi-dimensionality of today’s women by offering more opportunities to showcase how your skillset allows you to accel with the 365-day job of Miss SC or Miss America. They’ve gone from an annual spotlight event to a year-round women’s empowerment organization. I entered Miss South Carolina because I had a passion for STEM workforce development that I wanted to showcase that started from my career and education. I actually won on my first time competing in Miss South Carolina, and accredit that to my accomplishments and skillet extracted from my career.
Scholarships have become an increased focus over the years – I received a $67,000 scholarship that has allowed me to dream larger than I ever thought possible in my career! It’s still about being glamorous… but being glamorous AND being taken seriously. Who says women can’t do both?”
5. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from Lou Kennedy, President and CEO of Nephron?
“The first day I officially met Lou in my interview for an internship, she told me “there is nothing stronger than a strong, southern woman who can get things done with a smile on her face.” I’ve channeled that quote in many facets of my life since… and especially working at Nephron, you see its validity!”
6. What advice would you pass along to children, high-schoolers or young adults looking at careers in STEM?
“STEM changes the world as we know it – our economy, our quality of life. It is truly all backed by science, technology, engineering and math. In addition to increased job security and high wages, if you pursue a career in STEM you are directly impacting the world around you. There is also such a wide variety of STEM careers… even right here in South Carolina! I always advise STEM students to explore their options, obtain real-world experiences, and find out what they are passionate about.”
Morgan Nichols, Miss South Carolina 2019 and STEM education advocate | photo provided
Watch Morgan represent South Carolina in the 2020 Miss America Competition, airing Thurs., December 19 on NBC. Ⓟ
