Nicole Joy Frethem, District 1
For more than a decade, Nicole has worked to ensure children in Ramsey County and Minnesota have access to high-quality child care arrangements and parents are able to find healthy and safe child care so they can work. Nicole has previously worked as a child care administrator and early learning coach before transitioning to implementing, developing and analyzing statewide child care policy at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In her work, Nicole has seen the importance of all the systems that support families and people beyond the classroom. She is passionate about streamlining human services delivery, partnering with local and state governments to provide better services, and criminal justice reforms.
Nicole received her bachelor’s degree from Hamline University, a master’s degree in early childhood education from Concordia University St. Paul, a Juris Doctor degree and a certificate in Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and a graduate certificate in leadership and public policy from the University of St. Thomas. At MHSL, Nicole drafted a plan to transform Minnesota’s early care and education infrastructure.
Nicole lives in Shoreview with her family. She enjoys crafting of all kinds; nerdy TV, movies and books; Shakespeare and visiting Ramsey County parks.