DUDLEY, Mass. (10/21/2026) – The Nichols College Department of Athletics continues its Herd Highlights series, showcasing the coaches and staff who play an integral role in supporting the development and success of its student-athletes. This week, the series highlights Julia Calvin and Emma Larsh, who joined the Nichols community this fall as Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistants.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Julia Calvin began her collegiate career at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, California, before transferring to Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she earned her degree. Her love for basketball and the opportunities that came with competing at the collegiate level inspired her to pursue athletics beyond high school and become a better person and athlete each day.

"I wanted to play college basketball because I loved the sport and all that came with it, but I even more so fell in love with pursuing progress every chance I got," Calvin said  "I loved working toward becoming the best basketball player, athlete, and person I could be which fell right in line with pursuing my sport collegiately. "

Her experience as a student athlete has drastically carried over into her role as a coach. Julia has been able to reflect and use her experience to relate to how her athletes are feeling on a day-to-day basis.

"I decided to pursue coaching because of my experience as a student athlete so I could try and embody a resource for players that I wished I had had…I think it makes it easy to relate to and understand the way my athletes are feeling on a day-to-day basis, which in turn helps me support them as best as I can."

At Nichols, Calvin has enjoyed the opportunity to learn from Coach TJ while working with different teams throughout the fall season.

"Working with and learning from Coach TJ has been nothing short of a dream." Julia said, "As a staff, we spend our entire day every day in that weight room, and I've yet to come into the facility dreading the day ahead. I've never thought that a 12 hour "shift" could be so fun, fulfilling, and enjoyable…It's been an absolute pleasure getting to know everybody and helping them in any way that I can.".

A native of Scituate, Rhode Island, Emma Larsh attended the University of Rhode Island, where she competed in Division I rowing. Her experience competing at a championship level helped shape her work ethic, resilience, and passion for athletic performance.

"The championship caliper behind every practice and competition helped me understand work ethic and adversity, which I knew and trusted would pay off and carry over into my professional life as well" Larsh said, "Being in love with exercise, rowing was a demanding and exerting sport that required extreme levels of fitness and grit"

Larsh's time as a student-athlete on a championship-caliber rowing team at the University of Rhode Island provided a foundation she now carries into her role as a coach. Having experienced the demands of collegiate athletics firsthand, Larsh understands the commitment required to succeed at the highest level.

"The majority of my discipline stemmed from being a student athlete, and I am sure to carry that over to my teams and sessions to aid in making them stronger and be their best selves every day."

At Nichols, Larsh has continued to expand her knowledge of strength and conditioning while working alongside Coach TJ and her fellow graduate assistant. The collaborative environment has allowed her to grow and learn through hands-on experience.

"Working alongside coach TJ and my co GA has been so much fun! Not only am I learning more and more about the field of strength and conditioning every day, but I am having so much fun doing it. I am taking on new tasks and roles that I never saw myself undergoing as an intern in past roles"

Through their roles as Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistants, Calvin and Larsh have embraced the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the Nichols College athletic community. Their experiences as collegiate athletes have shaped their coaching philosophies, allowing them to bring discipline, passion, and a commitment to improvement to their work with student-athletes.