Education
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, University of California, Davis
MA in Therapeutic Recreation, Central Michigan University
BA in Communications, Michigan State University
Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Nisbett has more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and over 200 professional presentations. Her early scholarly pursuits focused on inclusive recreation and ethics education and have, over time, transitioned into three distinct lines: (1) accessible tourism, (2) interprofessional education, and (3) mentoring. Much of Dr. Nisbett's scholarly work is collaborative in nature, strengthening connections with other disciplines.
Featured Publications
Gilbert, M., Moore, S. D., Leon, R. C. Y., Nisbett, N., Leiva, M., & Sailor, S. R. (2025). Tackling the opioid epidemic: a virtual interprofessional workshop. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2025.2515460
Nisbett, N. & Moore, S. (2022). Developing IPC Skills and Knowledge for both Students and Professionals. In Lankford, S. & Hironaka-Juteau (Eds.) Interprofessional Collaboration in Parks, Recreation and Human Services: Theory and Cases. Champaign, IL: Sagamore-Venture Publishing.
Leadership & Professional Service
Dr. Nisbett is stepping into the role of President of the ATRA Board of Directors and was previously a Member-at-Large. Prior roles include President and Education Director on the Board of Directors for the Recreation Therapy Section of the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS), Secretary for the California Foundation for Parks and Recreation, and serving on the Board of Directors for CPRS District VII. She is the director of the Central California Therapeutic Recreation Symposium and has served as an associate editor and reviewer for several journals in addition to involvement in committees for ATRA and CPRS.
Professional Awards & Recognition
Dr. Nisbett has been honored for her work as an educator, mentor, and advisor. She is the recipient of Faculty Mentor and Outstanding Advisor awards by Fresno State and was named a faculty fellow by the Center for Faculty Excellence for inclusive mentoring. Dr. Nisbett also received recognition for teaching excellence, including the ‘Best in Show’ award by the university. Additionally, Dr. Nisbett received the Outstanding Educator award twice by the CPRS RT Section. The Florida Park and Recreation Society also awarded special recognition to Dr. Nisbett for her work on the Keys to Enriching Youth Services (KEYS) program.