I wanted to touch base with everyone since I finally feel like I am setting off on a new life. I have accepted a job in Washington DC with a non-profit called "Women's Voices. Women Vote" as a Research Analyst. It's a fairly new position, so I can't highlight anything that my predecessor would have done. I can say that it will be based around my statistical analysis skills, building voter models that help to educate groups on how to better turn out historically underrepresented voters - mostly unmarried women - during elections.
Michelle and I will be moving up there for the next week and will settle in August 5th in Alexandria, Virginia. So, since the "DC Nix" are already taken - and we won't be technically from DC - Michelle and I will happily be labeled as the NOVA Nix (NOVA is the common abbreviation for northern Virginia). We think that our cats (Messina and Albus) will be excited to be settled into a new apartment (especially after 2 days in the car - but we're not too worried. The cats are EXCELLENT travelers.)
We are both very excited to start our life on the East Coast. Michelle will be a full time substitute teacher while she certifies herself in the DC/VA/MD area. (Even though she is certified in Texas, more experience was required to transfer the certification - so she has to take a bunch of tests that are inconveniently timed for her to become a full-time teacher this upcoming school year. However, this gives her an opportunity to sample the area's school districts and find which ones she likes, where she sees significant administrative support, and is easy to travel to.)
To help keep everyone in the loop without sending mass emails all over the country, Michelle and I decided to start a blog. We wanted to make sure that we would be able to keep everyone informed of what we were doing, be able to contact us easily, and share our adventures with our friends and family. As we get better and more consistent with the blog, we'll add pictures, videos, stories, and whatever else these things can show. Please bookmark and follow us here at: http://nickeson.blogspot.com
But for now, we must finish the grueling task of packing up our life here in College Station. Despite marriage, graduate school, and even a previous job - this town just keeps me in an undergraduate frame of mind. I love Aggieland, and it's been a good home to me for the past 8 years. But I welcome this next big step forward for our family.
We love you all and appreciate all your love and support. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we hit the road - we expect to be in Alexandria, VA on Wednesday.
