Meet Nichelle

I am a public school educator; former classroom paraprofessional in the Los Angeles Unified School District and CSEA member, a former sixth grade classroom teacher in the Compton Unified School District and CEA/NEA member and currently a Lecturer faculty and teacher educator with a teacher preparation program at Fresno State University. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Los Angeles and a Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis in Elementary Teaching from Chapman University.

Active in the background of Los Angeles County politics, I was elected in 2016 as a delegate to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) where I have served as co-Chair of the Credential's Committee since 2018. In 2019, I was recommended by labor and duly appointed as a labor representative to the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission (QPC), where I am the commission's Immediate Past Chair. As a California State University faculty Lecturer, I am a member of the California Faculty Association (CFA/SEIU1983); an active member of the Statewide Representation Committee since 2019, Chair of the Faculty Rights Team 2016 -2018, member of the statewide Negotiations Team in 2020 and a delegate to the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (LA Fed) 2015-2019. I am the Los Angeles Community College District representative to the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association (LACSTA) where I hold the position of Vice President, immediate past Secretary/Treasurer and former Director.  In 2020, I was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board (LACCD) of Trustees and am the Immediate Past Chair of the Board and past chair of the Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success Committee (IESS).

The oldest of three children, I was born and raised in the county of Los Angeles by hardworking parents that were union members. My mother, a licensed vocational nurse and member of SEIU and my father, an automotive mechanic and member of AFSCME, instilled in me a strong work ethic, the value of compassion and the fortitude to stand firmly for what I believe in and to be unapologetic in making myself seen and heard in the places that I take space. 

I reside in the city of Gardena with my husband, Councilman Mark Henderson.  We have four adult children and three grandchildren. I attended West Athens Elementary School, St. Francis X. Cabrini School, and Henry Clay Junior High School and St. Mary's Academy. I enjoy reading, logic games and spoiling my grandchildren. I still feel small standing by the ocean and when given the choice, I will definitely dance. I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.