Nilaja Williams currently serves as the Head Athletic Trainer at Prairie View A&M University, a role she assumed in August 2025. In her current position, she provides comprehensive healthcare services to all university sports programs while providing primary medical coverage for the football, bowling, and golf programs. Her expertise includes injury evaluation, acute care, and the development of comprehensive rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols.
In her first year as the Director of Sports Medicine, PVAMU has won three SWAC Championship titles in football, men's basketball and women's golf.
Williams originally joined PVAMU in June 2022 as an assistant athletic trainer, where she provided medical coverage for volleyball, men’s basketball, cheer, and dance. During that time, she played a critical role in managing injury prevention, treatment plans, and athletic training documentation through the Athletic Training System (ATS). She also served as a mentor to athletic training student aides, helping guide their clinical education and professional development.
A New York native, Williams earned her Master of Science in Athletic Training from Northern Arizona University in May 2022 and her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an emphasis on sports performance from Grand Canyon University, where she graduated cum laude in December of 2019. Her clinical background is supported by experience with Rice University football and various elite high school programs. She is a Licensed Athletic Trainer in Texas, a Corrective Exercise Specialist, and is certified in Dry Needling.
Her clinical experience includes working with Rice University football, Desert Ridge High School, and Williams Field High School, where she gained extensive training in emergency care, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and sports performance support.
Williams is a licensed athletic trainer in Texas, nationally certified by the Board of Certification (BOC), CPR/BLS certified by the American Red Cross, and dry needling certified through Structure & Functions. She is a proud member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and holds a National Provider Identifier (NPI).
