Andrew Simoncelli is an associate professor of Mass communication at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He started with the school in 1999 when it began its distance education office. Under his leadership, distance learning grew at Nicholls State from offering correspondence courses to multiple online courses and degrees. Nicholls Online has been named to multiple rankings lists for either the best or affordable online programs in the country. In 2020 Simoncelli was awarded the Academic Affairs Award for Teaching Excellence at Nicholls State University for his work with faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic.