A Conversation with Neftalie Williams
We recently had the chance to sit down with Dr. Neftalie Williams, and it was one of those conversations that reminds you just how powerful skateboarding can be when it’s connected to education and community. If you don’t already know Neftalie, his work stretches far beyond what most people expect from someone rooted in skate culture, while still staying deeply connected to it.
Dr. Williams is a sociologist and Assistant Professor at San Diego State University (SDSU), where he directs the SDSU Center for Skateboarding, Action Sports & Social Change (Williams, n.d.).
His research focuses on social cohesion, community building, youth empowerment, and diplomacy, all through the lens of action sports culture. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Waikato and has upcoming books with Hachette Books and University of California Press that explore skateboarding culture and its broader social impact (Williams, n.d.).
Neftalie’s work has been featured widely, including coverage and commentary in The New York Times, CNN, ABC, and other major outlets. One of the most impactful projects he’s been involved in is the Beyond the Board study, a 2019–2020 collaboration with USC and the Tony Hawk Foundation. This project became the first national study to assess how skateboarding impacts young people’s educational pathways, career trajectories, and long-term development (Williams, n.d.).
Beyond academia, Neftalie has helped redefine what skateboarding can look like on a global stage. As the first-ever “Ambassador of Skateboarding” and an envoy for the U.S. Department of State, he introduced the concept of skateboarding as cultural diplomacy, both in theory and in practice. His work includes supporting the integration of young Syrian refugees in the Netherlands through skateboarding programs and creating new engagement opportunities with Cambodian youth through U.S. Embassy initiatives (Williams, n.d.).
He also played a central role in Cuba Skate, helping facilitate cultural exchanges between Cuban youth and American professional skateboarders in Havana, using skateboarding as a shared language and point of connection (Williams, n.d.).
Expanding conversations around race, diversity, and inclusion has been a major throughline in Neftalie’s work. He founded The Nation Skate, a series of public panels, lectures, skate demonstrations, and media projects that explore the relationship between skateboarding, identity, diplomacy, and popular culture. He also co‑founded the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF), a nonprofit dedicated to creating scholarship opportunities that help skateboarders pursue higher education (Williams, n.d.).
During our conversation, we shared more about the work we’re doing at First Push Syndicate, our mission to bring skateboarding into schools, our growing presence in physical education, and our goals of building stronger connections with universities across the country. It was equally meaningful to hear Neftalie reflect on his own beginnings, growing up skating in Springfield, Massachusetts, skating alongside East Coast legends like Charlie Wilkins, who was hosted for Ramp Camp at Rye Airfield for years, Ryan Gallant and PJ Ladd, and teaching youth skate sessions at a local church, early experiences that helped shape how he views mentorship and community through skateboarding (Williams, n.d.).
Then came a totally casual, human moment that made the conversation even more memorable. Neftalie got a call from Kareem Campbell, one of my favorite skateboarders. We ended up diving into a long discussion about skateboarding as a trio, sharing stories and joking around
Talking with Neftalie reinforces what we deeply believe at First Push: skateboarding is more than a sport. It’s a tool for learning, connection, and personal growth. Conversations like this continue to fuel our work as we build pathways that bring skateboarding into schools, universities, and communities across the country.
References
Williams, N. (n.d.). About Dr. Neftalie Williams. https://www.neftalie.com/about-1