Nicole Kendall Cush
Catalyst
Professional and Civic Leadership
2026 Recipient of Rosa Parks the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville Buncombe County
2025 AI In the Classroom Nicole Cush writes for the Urban News
2025-Present LEAF Global Arts Executive Board Whip and Catalyst
2024-Present Founder and Executive Director of The Glitter Sisters Inc., Educational and Leadership Development Retreat coordinator and facilitator.
2024 Presenter at Western Carolina University's Equity In Education Summit Sparking Joy in Teaching and Learning and Sparking Joy in Student Leadership Creating Equitable Spaces and the Power of Affinity Groups with Asheville High/SILSA Racial Ambassador Program (REAP) Scholars
2023 Presenter at the Dudley Flood Center's Color of Education Summit: Creating Equitable Spaces and the Power of Affinity Groups - Sponsored by the Public School Forum of North Carolina
2023 Presenter to Governor Roy Cooper's DRIVE Task Force with Asheville City Schools Foundation
2023 Negotiated, mentored and executed the development Racial Equity Ambassador Program to support students to establish the Asheville 6 - the six areas students will train adults on their most pressing diversity, equity and inclusion concerns since 2020. Leading to multiple in and out of state Professional Development opportunities for youth to train executives and teachers
2022 Featured Leader in Asheville City Schools Foundation End of Year Report
2022 Glitter Sisters Featured in The Urban News Again!
2021-2023 Advisory Board Member (2 Year Term) The Public School Forum of North Carolina
2021-2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion State Liaison North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA)
2021-2025 Board Member YWCA Asheville
2021-Present Board Member Cougars Lacrosse Alliance
2020 Serve as a Panel Moderator for OLLI Virtual Series on Education Racial Disparity
2020 Thought Leader behind the SILSA Labyrinth
2020 Contributing Thought Leader for Lenoir-Rhyne University Equity and Diversity Institute's Folding Chair Series
2020-2021 Board Member Roots Foundation
Founder and Developer of the Black Angel Breath Network
2019-2020 Thought leader behind the Mentor Program between SILSA/AHS Students and the Asheville Primary School
2019-2021 Board Member Delta House
Featured Staff Writer for the Urban News Keeping It Real and Asheville High Lacrosse Gains Popularity
2019-2021 Board Member Open Doors of Asheville
2019 Social Problem Solving Leadership Recognized on WLOS's Never Stop Learning
2019 Founder of the Glitter Sisters a high school mentoring group featured in The Urban News
2018 Life Coach and Public Speaker with emphasis on Youth Leadership Development and Coaching Educators
2018 Social Problem Solving Expert and Founder of the Glitter Sisters SILSA and AHS
2018-2019 Volunteer with Chosen, Asheville, NC
2018 Ordained Minister Universal Life Church
2018 Emcee/Host Staircase Stage Stage NC Museum of History African American Cultural Celebration
2018-2019 Agent /Financial Literacy Trainer with Financial Education Services
2017-2018 Co-Lead Assistant Principal Leader Network (APLN) for Wake County Public Schools
2017-2018 Serve as Community Education Equity Ambassador for the Town of Cary Police Department
2016-2018 Sub Committee Member NC Museum of History African American Cultural Celebration
2015-2018 Member and Web Developer NCDPAP Leadership Committee
2011- 2013 Project Based Learning Team Leader for the Arts Department at SRMHS
2012-2014 Volunteer Web Developer: The Flood Group
2011-2013 Chair of Ways and Means Committee and Board Member: Apex Strings Booster Club
2009-2010 Parent Coordinator: The Philharmonic Association’s Triangle Youth Strings Orchestra
2010 Board Member and Secretary: The African American Dance Ensemble
2007-2010 Board Member, Restaurant Committee: Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities
2006-2007 Volunteer: Cary Family YMCA We Build People Campaign
2001-2002 Member of the Revision Committee: NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career and Technical Education
1992-1993 Videographer and Trainer for Rutgers University's Social Problem Solving (SEL) Program
Completed Trainings
2024 Courageous Conversations Beyond Diversity Training (Second Time)
2023 Anti Racist Leadership Institute with Dr. Tracey A Benson
2022, 2021, 2019 and 2016 Racial Equity Institute Phase I
2021 Equity and Engagement Academy
2020 Restorative Circles Training
2020 The Equity Collaborative Asheville High/SILSA Racial Equity Ambassador Program Training
2019 2019 Brene Brown's Dare to Lead
2018 BB&T Leadership Academy
2018 Courageous Conversations Beyond Diversity Training
2017 Co-Heart Equity Training with Tru Access
2015 7 Habits of Highly Productive People
2014 Facilitative Leadership and Crucial Conversations
2012 New Tech and Project Based Learning
2009 SIOP Training
2008 DuFour PLC Leadership and Nova NET
Awards and Honors
2026 Recipient of Rosa Parks the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville Buncombe County
2023 Winner of a Dogwood Trust Grant for Innovative Programming in Black Asheville for the Glitter Sisters
2022 Centerfold - Featured Leader in Asheville City School's Foundation End of Year Report
2020 Winner of a Dogwood Trust Grant for Innovative Programming in Black Asheville for the Glitter Sisters
2019 Founder of the Glitter Sisters a mentoring group featured in The Urban News
2019 SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Leadership Recognized on WLOS's Never Stop Learning
2008-2009 Nominated Teacher of the Year: Holly Springs High School
2006 Named one of the Top 10 Language Arts Teachers in Wake County Based on 2006 EOG Residuals
2003-2004 Distinguished Lecturer: Northeastern University Leadership Education Growth Opportunity Program
2001-2002 Awarded Advisor of the Year by the Parent Association: Snyder High School, Jersey City, NJ
1997-1998 Nominated Teacher of the Year: Linden High School
1994 Geraldine R. Dodge Fellow: Outstanding New Teacher Award and Grant
1993 Guest Lecturer: Rutgers University Black Art’s Festival; talk on film A Different Image
1993 Co-Curator and Featured Artist: Manhattan Community College Gallery
1992 and 1993 Featured Artist: Women on Women Film and Video Festival, NY, NY; for short film Why Is Black Love Feared?
1992 Elected Rutgers University's Graduate Student Association's Chair of Lectures and Productions Committee
1992 Featured Artist: Big Muddy Film Festival, Chicago, IL; for short film Why Is Black Love Feared?