Associate Vice Provost for Online Education

Michael B. Nichol is the Associate Vice Provost for Online Education. His responsibilities include working with deans and academic leaders to make recommendations about the future positioning of online education at the university, to assure the integrity of online programs, and to assess online program outcomes.

Professor Nichol is Professor of Public Policy and Pharmacy, with a joint appointment in the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Prior to his present appointment, he served as Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Sol Price School of Public Policy, and had responsibility for the development, implementation, and management of online programs at the School. Professor Nichol was President of the USC Faculty during the 2008-2009 academic year. Prior to receiving his doctoral degree, Professor Nichol directed a health policy program in Oregon.

Professor Nichol maintains an active research program focused on health policy, health management, and health care cost-effectiveness. His research includes conceptual areas of patient preference and health utility, patient treatment alternatives, and treatment costs and spans several important chronic disease populations, including those with cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and cancer. His current emphasis is on inherited blood disorders, such as hemophilia and sickle cell disease.