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Dr. Nikki Harris

@youngprof_at

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2x Doctor - PhD, DAT 😮‍💨| Athletic Trainer | Educator | Servant Leader | Scholarly Activist 🤓 MI ↘️ FL 🔁 AZ

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Honored to know that my work is making a difference.

Humbled to be recognized on a national level.

Excited to celebrate with everyone in Philly. ❤️🤍💙 by @youngprof_at

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4 months ago

It’s a rare thing to out do yourself, but here we are. 💁🏽‍♀️👑

Double Trouble.

For the last 4 years, I kept my head down and quietly finished a whole PhD in the background of school, work, and family. I officially finished in December, but putting on my faculty regalia for graduation this year helped drive the point home. 
I am really a two-time doctor. I now have a PhD in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Curriculum, Cultural, and Social Studies from Florida International University 🐾

#PawsUp #DATLife #PhDLife #DoubleTrouble by @youngprof_at

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4 months ago

Price going up...📈

#DATLife #athletictraining #NATA2024 #nationalawardwinner #BlackATsMatter taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @youngprof_at

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2 years ago

We talk a lot about compensation when discussing athletic trainer retention, and rightfully so. We are underpaid. But people do not stay for money alone.

Our newly published research highlights 5 additional factors shaping whether collegiate athletic trainers remain in their roles:

➡️ Engaged leadership ➡️ Adequate staffing and resources ➡️ Strong professional relationships ➡️ A healthy workplace culture ➡️ Meaningful opportunities for growth

The takeaway is simple but important: if we want athletic trainers to stay, we must create workplaces where they feel supported, valued, connected, and able to grow.

I’m excited to see how these findings can help leaders move the retention conversation toward meaningful organizational change.

#Athletictraining #ncaa #naia #collegesports #retention by @youngprof_at

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a month ago

I really enjoyed participating in NATA’s book club and reading The 6 Types of Working Genius. It gave me new language for understanding how I work, how others contribute, and why being capable of something is not always the same as being energized by it.

I figured out that my Working Geniuses are Discernment and Tenacity. I am a "Judicious Accomplisher...” which feels pretty accurate!

I naturally gravatate and enjoy evaluating whether an idea will work, identifying what may be missing, and staying focused on carrying the work across the finish line.

With that said, moving forward, I hope to delegate more intentionally, create space for others to lead from their strengths, and build teams where EVERY stage of the work is valued. I also want to ensure that my desire for clarity, quality, and completion strengthens collaboration...instead of causing me to step in too quickly or expect everyone to work as I do.

Grateful for the reflection, conversations, and a framework I can immediately apply as a colleague and leader. 🤍

#WorkingGenius #LeadershipDevelopment #Teamwork #AthleticTraining by @youngprof_at

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2 months ago

Some publications just add to the literature, but others challenge us to think differently.

If we’re serious about preparing the next generation of clinicians, we have to think beyond curriculum alone.

For years, we’ve talked about student success primarily through the lens of individual effort. This paper challenges us to also consider the broader social, structural, and institutional factors that shape learning. But most importantly, it helps us recognize the strengths, resilience, and assets students bring with them.

I’m incredibly excited to share our newly published concept paper introducing the Social Determinants of Learning (SDoL) framework to athletic training education.

And shoutout to the absolute ROCKSTAR team that helped bring this vision to life! 💪🏽💯 by @youngprof_at

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2 months ago

Networking isn't about collecting contacts. It's about building relationships.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend FWATA ACMS in beautiful Kona, Hawai'i. Like most conferences, there were great presentations, new ideas, and important conversations. But as I reflected on the experience during my flight home, I realized the most valuable part wasn't found in a lecture.

It was in the relationships.

Some of the people I spent time with are mentors. Some are mentees. Others are colleagues I've collaborated with for years. Some are people I only see once or twice a year. Yet every conversation reminded me that careers are built just as much on relationships as they are on résumés.

One lesson I've learned over the years is that networking isn't about meeting the most people. It's about investing in people.

Be curious. Be dependable. Celebrate other people's successes. Follow through on your commitments. Help others when there's nothing in it for you.
Those things don't just build a professional network, they build trust.

And trust has a way of opening doors that credentials alone often cannot.

Quite literally none of the opportunities I've been most grateful for came because I was the smartest person in the room. They came because someone knew my character, trusted my work, and believed I'd be a good person to collaborate with.

Career advancement isn't only about who knows your name.

It's about what comes to mind when your name comes up in a room you're not in. by @youngprof_at

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3 months ago

One of the most important career skills isn’t just finding the right job, it’s knowing how to evaluate it. Salary, benefits, mentorship, workload, flexibility, growth opportunities, and organizational culture all matter.

I hope this conversation gives athletic trainers the confidence to ask questions, negotiate, and advocate for themselves.

New NATA-Cast episode out now on all podcast platforms! #LinkInBio by @youngprof_at

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3 months ago

I wish I could have stayed longer, but as always, I’m leaving NATA with a full heart.

There’s something special about gathering with people who care deeply about the same profession. From catching up with friends and meeting new faces to committee work that moves our profession forward, these few days were a reminder of why this community means so much to me.

Congratulations to everyone who was recognized, presented, mentored, learned, and led this week. Proud to be part of it. ❤️🤍💙 #nata2026 taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @youngprof_at

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3 months ago

Recruitment has taught me that students rarely choose a program based on a curriculum alone. They choose people, relationships, and the belief that they can succeed.

The best recruitment isn’t about convincing someone to enroll; it’s about helping the right students see themselves thriving in your program.

Students are asking:
• Do I belong here?
• Can I see myself succeeding here?
• Will someone support me when things get hard?

Stories matter more than statistics. Connection matters more than marketing. And finding the right fit matters more than filling a seat.

When we shift from a sales mindset to a belonging-and-success mindset, recruitment becomes less about persuasion and more about helping students find the place where they can truly thrive.✨

#HigherEducation #StudentRecruitment #EnrollmentManagement #AthleticTraining #StudentSuccess by @youngprof_at

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4 months ago

🚨 We Need Your Help! 🚨
Are you an Athletic Director or Athletic Administrator? We want to hear from you!

Not an administrator? You can still help!
➡️ Tag an Athletic Director or Administrator
➡️ Share this post with your network
➡️ Forward it to anyone who may be eligible

Thank you for helping us support the future of collegiate athletic training! by @youngprof_at

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4 months ago

I've spent the last few years studying retention of ATs.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that retention is rarely about a single factor.

Compensation matters.
Work-life balance matters.
Professional growth matters.
Supportive leadership matters.

People stay in positions or with employers when enough of these things align to create a sustainable and meaningful career. So maybe instead of asking "Why are people leaving?" ... we should be asking "What makes people want to stay?" by @youngprof_at

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4 months ago