Professor Nix graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School where she earned her Doctorate of Law degree. She earned her B.A. degree in Government/Political Science at Franklin and Marshall College. Professor Nix has been an attorney for approximately 33 years, practicing primarily in the criminal law area. Specifically, she began her legal career in the Iowa State Legislature helping to draft that state’s first major criminal code revision in 100 years. During the following three years she prosecuted major felony cases in the Prosecutor’s Office in Des Moines, Iowa. After ten years away from home, she moved back to Indiana where she established herself in the Prosecutor’s Office in South Bend. For the next 17 years she handled numerous felony jury trials, worked closely with judges, police officers, and various correctional personnel, and was the senior member of the NOVA Drug Task Force. Now, Valpo students benefit from Professor Nix’s experience “on the inside” of the American Criminal Justice System.

Professor Nix was a “Visiting Expert” at the United Nation’s 91st International Training Course held in Tokyo, Japan and sponsored by the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute (UNAFEI). She represented the University of Notre Dame Law School at that International Training Course. She researched, prepared, and delivered two major papers on subjects dealing with alternatives to prison for convicted criminal offenders. Both of her papers have been published.

During Olympic Summer 2008, Professor Nix traveled to Beijing where she taught a graduate course ( SOC690 Law & Society: American Perspective) to Chinese students. These students are now at Valparaiso University continuing their graduate work. Ms. Nix pioneered the new Beijing teaching component of a program that partners VU and a private Chinese educational consulting company.

Professor Nix is an advocate for the environment.