Nicelma King has been Director of the North Central Region of the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources since 1988. In addition to supervising the delivery of research-based Cooperative Extension programs, enhancing relationships between county-based advisors and campus staff of the Division, and assuring that the Division's programs serve a cross-section of the population of the region, she has continued to conduct public policy analysis and program evaluation. In Los Angeles, she served as local Director of the University of California's non-formal, non-credit public service education program from 1981-1988. She oversaw the provision of many innovative programs involving 4-H ASAP, an after-school activities program in public housing communities and Gardening Angels, a volunteer-based gardening and community improvement program focused on low income areas of the city. A special effort to document and conserve the history of the city through its trees was developed during her tenure as County Director.
She has been actively involved in numerous organizations including serving as Co-Chair of the Black Leadership Coalition on Education. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica YWCA where she was named its 1978 Woman of the Year.