Football
Orono, ME – From being a captain of the football team to holding leadership positions in various school clubs and organizations, Malik Nichols ’02 learned what it takes to be a leader at the
University of Maine.
Malik Nichols is a notable football alum who played from 1997-2001 and was a team captain his senior season. Nichols graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. While at Maine, he also was the president of the Black Student Union and a co-chair of the Student Heritage Alliance Center.
During his time on the field, Nichols looked to those around him and picked up skills from his teammates that not only helped him during his time at Maine, but also in everyday life now.
“Listening and learning from my older teammates,” says Nichols. “They taught me the importance of trying to build a legacy and how to pay it forward, which is something I try to still do in my life today.”
Straight out of college Nichols was able to get a job as a sales representative at Pfizer where he stayed for four years. From there, he got a job at Medtronic (Medical Equipment Manufacturing) where he has been for the last 17 years. During his time at Medtronic, Nichols has been able to work his way through the company and has earned the chance to be in many different roles. He is currently a Senior Director at the company for Commercial Capabilities / Surgical Operating Unit.
Having the ability to work his way through the company and become a minority leader is something that Nichols is very proud of. Within the Black community, Nichols looks to many different role models that have also helped push him into gaining the minority leadership role that he has today.
“I believe I can learn from all of those who have come before me and implement those various beliefs and how they went about their lives,” added Nichols. “Martin Luther King Jr., for example, had a vision that was much bigger and greater than his time. You could list athletes, politicians and so many different people that have blazed different trails and I just have a great deal of respect for them all.”
With February being Black History Month, Nichols also touched on what this month means to him and how special of a time it is for him. With having immense respect for the Black leaders
and role models that came before him, Nichols believes this month is about not only acknowledging all of these leaders during this time, but finding a way to acknowledge them for longer.
“We need to look at how you can continue to acknowledge and celebrate those individuals who sacrificed for us well beyond the month of February.”
Nichols is appreciative of everyone who has helped him get to the point where he is today. The connections he was able to make during his time at Maine are ones that have stuck with him and Nichols describes them as being something special.
“The Maine brotherhood and connection I experienced I get chills just talking about it. I have
much respect for the University in how it shaped me both professionally and personally.”
-UMaine-
