Sports Law Professor Awarded $15,000 Grant from the American Athletic Conference

Florida International University’s College of Arts Sciences and Education has announced that Dr. Nicholas Smith, Associate Teaching Professor, has been awarded a $15,000 research grant from the American Athletic Conference.

Dr. Smith’s research proposal, Transfer Uncertainty: Examining the Lived Experiences of College Athletes Languishing in the NCAA Transfer Portal, was selected following a rigorous review by a panel of Faculty Athletic Representatives from American Conference member institutions.

Under the guidance of Dr. Smith, a member of SRLA, the research will explore “the lived experiences of college athletes navigating the NCAA Transfer Portal, with a focus on student-athlete well-being,” which is a topic of growing importance in collegiate athletics.

“We are excited to make this award in support of your research and eagerly look forward to advancing our understanding of student-athlete well-being through your work,” wrote American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti and Florida Atlantic University FAR Committee Chair Gregg Michel in the award letter.

Dr. Smith along with his co investigators, Dr. Eric Kramer of Illinois State University and Dr. Daniel Cornely of Florida Atlantic University are expected to present their collective findings at the annual American Research Symposium in the spring of 2027 in Charlotte, NC and will submit a final written report to the American Conference by August 31, 2027. The report will be distributed to all American Conference member institutions and posted on the conference website.