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Dr. Nikkie Saldivar Hodgson

  • Asst Professor of Practice - Department of Communication Studies
Portrait of Dr. Nikkie Saldivar Hodgson

Biography and expertise

Nikkie Saldivar Hodgson, Ph.D. has 36 years of experience in higher education and her roles have included teaching, enrollment, retention, recruitment, civic engagement, employee development and training, organizational development, and operations. She is currently researching the speech act theory in maternal relationships across ethnic groups, leadership language usage in political speeches, small working group relationships, nonverbal communication, use of social media in relationships and ageism. Her current position is with Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where she is an assistant professor of practice. In addition to her higher education career, she is a first time children's book author and provides consulting services to organizations.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Leadership Studies

Our Lady of the Lake University, 2007

Master's Degree

MA in Speech Communications

Univ of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1996

Bachelor's Degree

BA in Mass Communication Public Relations

Texas State University, 1988

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Saldivar Hodgson, M. N. (2024, February 20). One State At A Time. Edible Rio Grande Valley, No. 9(Spring 2024), 18–21.
  • Saldivar Hodgson, M. N., & Hanson, S. (2022). Small Groups: Effectiveness in a University Classroom and the Role Gender Plays in Group Interactions, 20(51:307), 1–3. https://doi.org/10:366481/1550-7521.20.51.307
  • Rehman, S., & Saldivar Hodgson, M. N. (2020). Deleting Relationships in the Digital World, XIII(02), 13. Retrieved from https://aiou.edu.pk/SAB/gmj/CurrentIssue.asp
  • Saldivar Hodgson, M. N., Strong, W. F., & Flores, P. L. (2019). Concerns of Female Adolescents About Menarche and First Sexual Intercourse: Mixed Methods Analysis of Social Media Questions. Retrieved from support@jmir.org
  • Salter, C., Green, M. T., Saldivar Hodgson, M. N., & Joyner, N. (2013). The Language of Transformational Leaders: Addressing the needs of followers, 19(1), 60–68. Retrieved from jaabc.com/jaabcv19n1preview.html
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Teaching Excellence Award for CoFAC, CoFAC. August 15, 2025
  1. Member

    Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Transfer Advisory Committee’s Discipline Specific Subcommittee for the Field of Communication

  2. Member

    PEO Philanthropic Educational Organization

  3. Member

    Internship Insights Network Planning Committee

  4. Organizer

    Communication Studies Food Cupboard

  5. Organizer

    Internship Spotlight Series (social media promotion)

  6. Member

    Texas State Service Learning Advisory Board

  7. View all activities