Nicholas Horne serves as the Director of the TRIO Upward Bound Program at Missouri State University, where he leads with a vision rooted in equity, access, and student empowerment. Guided by a passion for forging pathways to success for first-generation and income-eligible students, he has transformed the program into a model of innovation and impact.
Since 2021, Nicholas has overseen extraordinary program growth — a 725% increase in participation, sustained 95%+ student retention, and creation of the TRIO ACCESS Scholarship. Under his leadership, Upward Bound has become known for pioneering initiatives like the Civic Engagement through Service Learning course — a five-week summer academy collaboration with MSU’s Service-Learning Department that empowers students to apply public affairs principles through community action. Through this course, TRIO students developed a district-wide tutoring initiative addressing 4th-grade academic achievement gaps, earning the program the 2025 Student Affairs “Innovation by a Team” Award.
Beyond program innovation, Nicholas is a leader and mentor within the TRIO and higher education communities. He was recently sworn in as the President-Elect for the MO-KAN-NE Chapter of the Educational Opportunity Association, after years of service as Missouri State Representative, Feasibility Taskforce Chair. At the regional level Nicholas has served as co-chair of the Legislation and Education committee for the past three years, during which he led one of the largest advocacy and outreach initiatives in the nation in Summer 2025, uniting professionals across ten states with an actionable framework for legislative engagement. His leadership extends nationally as Teaching Faculty for the Council for Opportunity in Education, where he designs and delivers professional development to TRIO professionals across the country.
Nicholas’s approach to leadership centers on relational connection and ethical advocacy. By cultivating partnerships across sectors, Nicholas annually secures nearly $50,000 in private donations to expand scholarships, enrichment programming, and college immersion opportunities for TRIO students. On campus, Nicholas serves as a RISE Mentor with the Division of Student Affairs, a Staff Senator part of the Bylaw Revision Team, and represents Missouri State through the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s College Student Task Force, advancing student engagement and workforce connections.
Holding a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies: Governance and Policy Frameworks in Educational Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy, Nicholas continues to model transformational leadership that bridges policy, practice, and purpose. His work stands as a testament to the belief that when access meets advocacy, every student has the opportunity to rise.