Dr. Widian Nicola is a practitioner-scholar interested in narratives of the lived human experience, particularly those affected by social inequalities. Through the use of her own clinical work, Dr. Nicola is chiefly committed to building and strengthening the bridge between social work education and social work practice. Through the use of phenomenological inquiry, Dr. Nicola's scholarly aim is to contribute to better clinical practice and a more engaged social work profession. Her interests include mental health, social justice, and universal human rights.

In the classroom, Dr. Nicola invites students to bridge clinical theory to practice and practice to theory as a means of honoring the unique nature of individual and collective experience. By expanding traditional models of learning, Dr. Nicola employs innovative tools inside and outside the classroom, which have proven to profoundly enhance the connections students make to their work.

To unveil the often complex nature of the shared human condition, as well as to disseminate new knowledge that complement, challenge, or expand relevant studies in social work, Dr. Nicola created, produced, and published the Lived Experience Project, a narrative social work podcast show that explores unique and evocative stories rarely heard in mainstream media.