Nicole Geller has two speeds: stop and go. This mentality has brought her through life, from playing sports to teaching, parenting, playing more sports, and now getting her Ph.D. in Youth Development and Family Sciences.
As a child, Nicole was always active. With her parents as role models, she excelled in sports like soccer, swimming, and gymnastics. An active learner, Nicole pursued her MBA after receiving her bachelor’s degree in Education. Nicole then earned a master’s degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences with a concentration in Nonprofit Development in 2021, and a Sports Management certificate in 2023.
Youth Development Through Athletics
Much of Nicole’s professional work involves community athletics. She previously worked for the IRONMAN Group as a program manager for IRONKIDS in Florida, a modified athletic event that lets kids experience parts of the famous IRONMAN triathlon. Through her personal and professional experiences with athletics, Nicole observed how physical activity positively affects people, particularly youth. To her, sports help young people grow socially, cognitively, and physically.
According to Nicole, sports give young people an environment to connect with peers, mentors, coaches, and family. They also challenge young people, building resilience and confidence. Nicole wants to work with emerging adults with a history of sports and physical activity to learn about how their experiences in sports affected them from youth to adulthood.
“[There are] so many life lessons you can learn from sports,” Nicole says.
Now a first-year Ph.D. student in Youth Development and Family Sciences, Nicole wants to focus her research on how physical activity and sports affect youth development. She is currently interested in investigating how sports affect development through Youth Participatory Action Research, which invites young people to join in the research process.
As she progresses through the program, Nicole will continue refining her focus and eventually begin work on her dissertation. Outside the classroom, she keeps a full pace both mentally and physically. Through managing community athletic events such as the St. Pete Run Fest’s VEG PeliPAWS Dog Walk and embracing lifelong learning, Nicole proves she is never one to sit still.
7
