Nicole Bolter

Dr. Nicole Bolter is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San Francisco State University, affiliated with the College of Health & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on how sport and physical activity promote growth in children and adolescents, emphasizing the roles of coaches, parents, and peers in shaping psychosocial development. She collaborates on evaluations of youth development programs like The First Tee, Girls on the Run, and Junior Giants, and co-designed the Social Justice Syllabus Design Tool for pedagogical interventions.

Her work bridges sport psychology and social justice, addressing issues such as weight bias reduction in pre-health education and inclusive curriculum design. She teaches advanced courses in sport and exercise psychology, research methods, and motivational frameworks. Dr. Bolter’s research highlights the importance of structuring physical activity contexts to maximize psychosocial benefits for youth, with a focus on equity and long-term engagement.

Her advising and mentoring involve office hours via Zoom or in-person, focusing on academic guidance for students in her courses. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on parental experiences with youth concussions and the impact of motivational climates on athlete well-being.