Nicole Nidea, Program Director for SODA: Student Organ Donation Advocates, is a national leader in youth engagement and education in organ donation. At just 27 years old and with a decade of service to the field, she has helped build a powerful grassroots movement that equips students across the country to become lifelong advocates for saving and healing lives.
She was nominated for The Alliance 40 Under 40 by Erin Kupferman, Board President of SODA. “Nicole’s dedication to mentorship, inclusivity, and mission-driven leadership has been transformational,” wrote Kupferman. “Under her guidance, our student-led chapters have grown dramatically in both size and impact. She is the engine behind SODA’s success and a visionary for where it can go.”
Nicole began her work in organ donation advocacy as a high school student and has since become the professional face of a growing national network. As Program Director, she oversees the development, training, and support of student leaders who launch and sustain SODA chapters on college and high school campuses. Her work includes designing educational materials, providing one-on-one coaching, and creating scalable systems that help chapters thrive.
Nidea is known for her values-based leadership, her deep commitment to community-building, and her ability to inspire action through empathy and storytelling. Her own journey from student advocate to national program leader serves as a model for what it means to empower young people to lead boldly and ethically.
Nicole Nidea is shaping the future of donation advocacy through the next generation. Her work ensures that organ donation is not only understood but championed by tomorrow’s leaders — starting in classrooms, clubs, and campus communities across the country.
