Managing Director
For over 20 years, Nikki Godfrey has built a reputation as a respected and accomplished leader in both the public and private sectors. She has a wealth of experience developing and implementing successful strategies in strategic communication, higher education, event production, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and other sectors and disciplines.
At Emergent Method, Nikki is responsible for leading and supporting various client engagements that leverage her significant communication and leadership expertise, deep knowledge of the Louisiana community, and experience leading and managing complex projects that often involve diverse audiences and creative outreach and engagement strategies. She is certified in both the Hogan Assessments and Everything DiSC® professional development tools. Recently, Nikki received her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida.
Nikki previously served as assistant commissioner for public affairs for the Louisiana Board of Regents, where she developed and executed communication campaigns on policies and higher education initiatives that fostered engagement among institutions, students, legislative personnel, and stakeholders. She also served as the director of promotions and event management at Louisiana State University. Prior to that, Nikki worked at ESPN for 11 years, where, in addition to serving as a member of the diversity recruiting task force, she led the production of major NCAA and professional sporting events and ceremonies, including Heisman Trophy presentations and NFL drafts.
Nikki is a graduate of Southern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University, where she earned a Master of Science in Broadcast Journalism, with a concentration in African American Studies. Additionally, Nikki earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Research with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University.
She is a graduate of Leadership Baton Rouge and Leadership Louisiana and is active in the community, including serving as an assistant chair in the Junior League of Baton Rouge and a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Special Education Advisory Council. Nikki sits on the boards of directors for the Brace B. Godfrey Foundation, the Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana, and the Charles W. Lamar YMCA.
