Fall 2012 - Cardinal Spellman High School

For the first time in Cardinal
Spellman High School’s his-
tory, someone other than Sister
Patricia Lynch will be welcoming
prospective students, this fall, as
the Director of Admissions and
he has a familiar name.
JT Nickley was hired as the new
Director of Admissions in June.
Nickley attended Spellman and
graduated in 2001, but his Spellman
roots reach far beyond just
being an alumnus of Cardinal
Spellman High School. He has
been around Spellman his entire
life because he is the son of
Deacon Joe Nickley ’75 and he
also has five aunts and uncles who
attended Spellman.
After Nickley graduated from
Spellman, he attended Stonehill
College. He received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Religious Studies in
2005 and he returned to Spellman
as an assistant football coach in
the fall. He made a couple stops,
teaching at other schools, before
he found his way into the Spell-
man classroom. Nickley joined the
Religion Department in 2007.
Spellman had a major impact on
Nickley’s life. “I chose to attend
Spellman because my family was
a part of Spellman and I chose to
come back and teach at Spellman
because Spellman became my
family,” Nickley said. “I enjoyed
my time here at Spellman spiritually,
socially, academically and athletically.
Spellman helped round
me into the man I am today.”
Nickley was still employed in the
Religion Department at Cardinal
Spellman when the Director of
Admissions position opened. After
interviewing several qualified
candidates, Nickley emerged as
the clear choice. “I loved teaching
Religion in the classroom,” Nickley
said. “However, when Sr. Pat
announced her retirement, I knew
instantly I would be applying for
the position. In the classroom, I
let the students know how much
I loved God and as Director of
Admissions, I want to let prospec-
happening on the hill
Spellman Hires New
Admissions Director
JT will incorporate his new ideas and style
while always being aware of Sr. Pat’s example
tive students know how much I
love Spellman. God’s love truly
permeates this place. “
Nickley is already developing
plans to expand the reach of the
Admissions Office. “I believe
Sr. Pat did an excellent job over
the past 18 years as Director of
Admissions here at Spellman,”
Nickley said. “I do not wish to
change much; only to continue to
build upon the foundation laid by
Sr. Pat and the other Sisters of St.
Joseph. One new step I plan to
include, going forward, is integrating
more technology into the
admissions process through
online applications, our iPad
initiative and social media.
The more ways a prospective
student can instantly reach us,
the better we can serve them.”
Spellman President Dr. John
McEwan is looking forward
to working with Nickley.
“I am confident JT
will continue
to provide great service to
students and parents looking to
become a part of the Spellman
family,” McEwan said. “He will
incorporate his new ideas and
style while always being aware of
Sr. Pat’s example.”
Nickley and his wife, Jackie, reside
in Abington. She is also a Spellman
graduate, class of 2000. They
met at Spellman and they‘ve been
together since. They have a oneyear-
old daughter named Brynn
and they are expecting a second
child in August.
tradition • Cardinal Spellman
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