Benjamin Nichols (1920 – November 24, 2007) was a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University and mayor of Ithaca, New York.
Nichols's family was active in union organizing and supporting the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War.
He vocally championed the social justice vision of the University and was closely allied with the nascent Africana Studies department.
As mayor, Nichols was able to convince Cornell University (whose campus is tax-exempt) to increase their voluntary monetary contribution to the city in order to help pay for fire and emergency services which are normally supported only through property taxes.
He worked for the Cornell Institute for African Development and was cited for protesting the construction of a parking lot over an area of Redbud trees.