Grambling Alum Nicholas Love Inspires Change

Imagine getting a second chance at your dreams. That’s exactly what Grambling State University offered Nicholas Love, a Michigan native who arrived with a less-than-stellar GPA but a heart full of potential. Now, Love is paying it forward, creating a vital space where industry leaders and aspiring change-makers can connect and grow.

A Serendipitous Path to Grambling

Love’s journey to Grambling State University was almost fated. After graduating high school with a 2.17 GPA, he found himself drawn to the HBCU through a series of coincidences. A magazine featuring Grambling and ESPN—which would later become his first employer—caught his eye. Later, a BET segment spotlighted the university again. “It was just a lot of synergy for me,” Love shared.

Grambling truly opened doors for Love. His involvement with the university’s band led to a scholarship, a memorable appearance on “Jeopardy!,” and a six-month internship with NBC Sports. After interning with ESPN in 2006, he secured a full-time role, solidifying his career path. “Grambling for me represented a second chance,” he expressed, feeling forever indebted to the institution where he earned his mass communications degree in 2006, becoming a first-generation college graduate.

Merging Industry Expertise with Academia

As Love’s career flourished, he remained committed to giving back. He climbed the ranks at G&S Business Communications, moving from Director of Social Media to VP of Digital Marketing, where he built a digital center of excellence and served on the diversity task force. He even negotiated a potential $250,000 donation and pro bono marketing services for Grambling, though the deal didn’t materialize after he moved to Hotwire as VP of Global Marketing.

His dedication didn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, Grambling’s mass communications department offered him an adjunct faculty position. That same year, he joined The Kulur Group, eventually becoming CEO. In the classroom, Love focused on merging real-world industry experience with academic learning. He guided students in reporting, podcast creation, and commercial development, significantly boosting their portfolios and career readiness.

In 2024, the College of Business at Grambling invited him to teach principles of advertising, international marketing, and marketing management. He leveraged his network to offer students free certifications and brought in his team members to lecture on emerging topics like AI. “Those type of learnings typically aren’t happening at HBCUs, and if they are, it’s only at a select few,” Love noted, emphasizing his goal to make students highly competitive upon graduation.

Launching the ‘Dope Thinkers Only Conference’

Building on his passion for connection and growth, Love is launching the inaugural “Dope Thinkers Only Conference” at Grambling State University from September 11-12. This event aims to engage the next generation of change-makers, offering tracks in marketing, communications, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Notable speakers include Luke Cooper, Kris Wright (VP of Jordan Brand Footwear), and Tina Davis (President of EMPIRE and a Grambling alumna).

Love envisions the conference expanding to three other HBCU campuses and eventually reaching Ghana. His ultimate goal is to foster “a facilitator of global relationships and global partnerships, collectively with HBCUs,” moving away from what he perceives as a “siloed crab in a bucket mentality.”