Nicolle Hamm was raised in Mead, Washington, and had an interest in sustainability before finding ceramics. She earned a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Montana. Hamm is the Lead Visitor Engagement and Security Officer at Missoula Art Museum and a member of the NCECA Green Task Force, and conducts research on the environmental impact of clay mining. Hamm has presented her research on Raw Material Routes at NCECA in 2021 and with NCECA for National Clay Week.