diff --git a/tjdests/apps/authentication/admin.py b/tjdests/apps/authentication/admin.py
index a6d50e3..c5050e4 100644
--- a/tjdests/apps/authentication/admin.py
+++ b/tjdests/apps/authentication/admin.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class UserAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
                     "email",
                     "password",
                     "accepted_terms",
+                    "use_nickname",
                     "is_staff",
                     "is_superuser",
                     "is_senior",
diff --git a/tjdests/apps/authentication/models.py b/tjdests/apps/authentication/models.py
index 02ec2a3..7d98f64 100644
--- a/tjdests/apps/authentication/models.py
+++ b/tjdests/apps/authentication/models.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
 
     nickname = models.CharField(max_length=30, blank=True)
     use_nickname = models.BooleanField(
-        default=(nickname is not None),
+        default=False,
         verbose_name="Use nickname instead of first name",
         help_text="If this is set, your nickname will be used to identify you across the site.",
     )
diff --git a/tjdests/apps/profile/tests.py b/tjdests/apps/profile/tests.py
index fcea528..9c787bb 100644
--- a/tjdests/apps/profile/tests.py
+++ b/tjdests/apps/profile/tests.py
@@ -130,6 +130,17 @@ class ProfileTest(TJDestsTestCase):
             ).count(),
         )
 
+        # Test nickname/preferred name feature
+        user = self.login(accept_tos=True, make_student=True)
+        user.first_name = "Dank"
+        user.nickname = "Memer"
+        # Should use nickname ("Memer") if option set
+        user.use_nickname = True
+        self.assertEqual("Memer", user.preferred_name)
+        # Should use first name ("Dank") if option not set
+        user.use_nickname = False
+        self.assertEqual("Dank", user.preferred_name)
+
     def test_testscore_create(self):
         """Tests creating test scores."""