Maria Nicholas

Maria Nicholas is the Executive Director of UX and Digital Product Design at Kaplan Test Prep, a role she has held since 2014. With over two decades of experience in user experience and product design, she has a strong reputation for her design vision and collaborative approach. At Kaplan, she led a significant overhaul of the educational platform, implementing dual-track Agile practices that enhanced product development processes and earned her a Continuous Transformation Award for her contributions.1

Before her tenure at Kaplan, Nicholas served as the Director of User Experience at Moody’s Analytics, where she managed a global team focused on subscription-based web applications. She has also held leadership positions at Skillsoft, where she directed UX design and research teams to improve product experiences.1

In addition to her professional roles, Nicholas is dedicated to mentoring emerging talent in the design field. She teaches part-time at General Assembly and participates in the NN/g UX-Certified Mentorship Program, reflecting her commitment to fostering the next generation of UX professionals.1