Nicole Hankins is the Director of Character Development Programs at the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, a role she assumed in September 2024. Nicole first joined the organization as Program Coordinator in August 2023, bringing a deep commitment to youth empowerment and leadership. During her initial tenure, she led the student leadership teams for all civic engagement conferences, including the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) and the Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA), as well as one character development program, Y-Corps. Nicole played a pivotal role in recruiting and overseeing the organization’s volunteer network, and helped establish the KY YMCA’s inaugural alumni network. Her contributions spanned logistics, conference support, conference intent processing, and special program management (KUNA’s Security Council Program).

In her current position as Director of Character Development Programs, Nicole coordinates and directs all character development initiatives, including Go For It (GFI), the Leadership Training Conference (LTC), and Y-Corps. She is passionate about providing opportunities that empower and support young Kentuckians, fostering environments where they can thrive and grow.

Originally from Bristol, Virginia, Nicole moved to Lexington, Kentucky in August 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism with a concentration in Tourism and Special Events from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Nicole is driven by the mission and core values of the YMCA, striving to offer spaces where Kentucky students can flourish, discover their passions, create lasting connections, and authentically express themselves.

Click here to connect with Nicole on LinkedIn, or here to schedule a meeting.