Nicole Ortiz

Nicole Ortiz is an arts administrator, educator, and musician whose work centers on building accessible, community-rooted arts programs.

As the Summer & Special Programs Manager at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Nicole oversees a portfolio of music, dance, and theatre programs that support creative learning across varied educational settings. Nicole also serves as Program Director for Lives United: Music, Arts, and Community, a community-based arts initiative that connects artists, students, and neighborhood partners through collaborative programming and performance. In her spare time, Nicole maintains a private lesson studio in Northern Kentucky training the next generation of clarinetists. 

In November 2025, Nicole became a Fellow with the Sphinx Organization as part of Cohort 8 for SphinxLEAD. Sphinx LEAD is a 2-year leadership program designed to evolve the industry landscape by empowering the next generation of executive arts leaders. Sphinx LEAD transforms lives through empowerment, networking, collective learning, and addressing the systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities. 

With a strong track record in grant writing, Nicole has secured funding from the Ohio Arts Council, ArtsWave, the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and other regional funders committed to arts access and equity for various projects and programs.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Music in Woodwind Performance from Northern Kentucky University, as well as master’s degrees in Arts Administration and Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati, providing a foundation that blends performance, pedagogy, and leadership in the arts.

Master of Arts in Arts Administration: University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music

Master of Business Administration : University of Cincinnati, Carl H. Lindner College of Business

Bachelor of Music in Woodwind Performance: Northern Kentucky University

Invited Presentations

Nicole Ortiz, Dr. Joyce Chan Grabell, Spring Pillow (05-14-2026. ) (In Press. ) Arts Partnerships that Work in Schools .Arts Impact Ohio: Ohio Arts Council , Cincinnati, OH. Conference. . Level:State