Current Graduate Students
Michigan State University's Athletic Training Program has a number of graduate assistantships available through athletic department positions, high school outreach placements, and research appointments. Masters students at MSU have the opportunity to earn a degree in Athletic Training or any of the other sub-disciplines of Kinesiology. Doctoral students earn a degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in a major sub-discipline of Kinesiology, a cognate in Kinesiology, or an out of area cognate in related fields such as epidemiology, anthropology, physiology etc. Graduate level course work in athletic training includes classes taught by Dr. John Powell in Advanced Structural and Spinal Evaluation and Injury Control. For further information contact Dr. John Powell @ powellj4@ath.msu.eduor 517-432-5018.
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers:
Chris Armstrong, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Wrestling
Previous Education:
South Dakota State University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Working MSU summer sports camp
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU?
The family feel of MSU athletic training
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
To work in a collegiate setting
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I grew up approximately twenty minutes from Mount Ranier.
Graduate/Research Interests: Studying the Biomechanics of the Throwing Motion in Baseball Players
Steevie Carzoo, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Lansing Community College
Previous Education:
The Ohio State University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Winning the 2008 OATA quizbowl and traveling to compete in the GLATA quiz bow
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
To experience and learn the manual medicine therapy applied in the athletic setting while gaining further knowledge about Sports Psychology.
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
To obtain employment in the high school setting while serving as an ACI to undergraduate athletic training student
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I spent the past summer working as a street hockey counselor at an all boys residential summer camp in Maine
Graduate/Research Interests:
Thesis: “Exploring the Lives of Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers: The Relationships between work, leisure, perceived stress and burnout.”
Brandon Hall, 1st Year Graduate Assistant, Baseball
Previous Education:
Slippery Rock University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Getting my first real team: women’s water polo at University of Maryland College Park
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
Manual medicine and the Big Ten atmosphere
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work for a Division I or Institution
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
Has second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do
Graduate/Research Interests:
Not yet decided
Jenny London, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Eaton Rapids High School
Previous Education:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Most Memorable AT Moment:
The challenging injury situation of vertically spine boarding a high school football player. Passing the NATABOC examination.
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
Gain experience with manual medicine
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work in the clinical setting of a high school. Work for the USA Olympic Gymnastics Program as an athletic trainer.
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I had competed in the sport of gymnastics through the completion of high school. Unfortunately, I have had three ACL surgeries with rehabs to follow.
Graduate/Research Interests:
Educate high school athletes on injuries
Katie Mathews, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Lansing Everett High School
Previous Education:
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Working with Women's Ice Hockey at the University of Wisconsin when both the Men's and Women's teams won the NCAA National Championship titles in 2006.
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
The opportunity to experience and remain in the environment of Big 10 athletics. Also, the intriguing opportunity to learn from the specialization in manual medicine.
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Being an ATC in a clinic with outreach to a high school
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I play soccer
Graduate/Research Interests:
Power Plate and performance
Danielle McKenzie, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Lansing Sexton High School
Previous Education:
Marquette University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Having the honor of being the first responder to provide CPR twice in one year
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
Manual Medicine
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work as an ATC at the collegiate level
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
My high school kids from Sexton gave me my first gray hair last year
Graduate/Research Interests:
Concussions
Courtney McLeod, 1st Year Graduate Assistant, Eastern High School
Previous Education:
Winona State University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Witnessing a high school player going down with a displaced tibia-fibula fracture which ended up being a tumor on the tibia
Why MSU:
The manual therapy program
Future Plans:
Work with high school athletics
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
Has never been though a car wash
Graduate Research Interests:
Chronic lower leg injuries
Brett Penning, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Football
Previous Education:
Minnesota State University: Mankato; BS in Athletic Training
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Working football training camp with Jeff Monroe, head athletic trainer at Michigan State University
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
To experience the opportunity to attend a major Division I Big Ten Institution. To increase my knowledge and education in manual medicine.
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work as an ATC at the Division I collegiate level
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
Grew up on a farm.
Graduate Research Interests:
Supplement intake with strength training
Jason Pilgrim, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Field Hockey/Instructor in Kinesiology 125
Previous Education:
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Working and professionally observing a World Cup Qualifier Game: Guyana vs. Suriname in 2008
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
The opportunity to experience Division I athletics and health care. Also, to gain and improve upon my manual medicine therapy skills and experience.
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
To promote the profession of athletic training while working in Trinidad & Tobago
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
Graduate Research Interests:
Katie Rapking, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Softball
Previous Education:
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Witnessing an athlete go down with a broken maxilla due to a hit from a softball
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
To experience the division-1 atmosphere while studying manual medicine, and observing doctors in osteopathic medicine
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
To continue on and work in a collegiate setting either with volleyball or basketball.
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I am the oldest of seven children.
Graduate Research Interests:
Dynamic vs. Static stretching for the upper extremity and effect on range of motion and performance
Jessica Stephens, 1st Year Graduate Assistant, Portland High School
Previous Education:
The Ohio State University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Multi-tasking two athletes that went down with an injury at the same time
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
Manual Medicine
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work in college or high school settings
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I have a cat named Bojangles
Graduate/Research Interests:
Concussions
Andrea Wagner, 1st Year Graduate Assistant, Cross Country/Track & Field
Previous Education:
Hope College
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Ankle fracture and dislocation at football
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
Manual medicine and a Division I experience
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work in the field of athletic training as an ATC
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I hate squirrels
Graduate Research Interests:
Psychology
Dominic Worrell, 2nd Year Graduate Assistant, Men's Soccer/Kiniesology 125 Instructor
Previous Education:
Trinity International University
Most Memorable AT Moment:
Independent evaluation of an achilles tendon rupture
Why did you choose to attend graduate school at MSU:
To attend and experience a larger institution. Michigan State University offered me an excellent opportunity to improve myself professionally as an ATC.
Future Professional Goals/Plans:
Work at a larger or Division I institution or on the professional level.
Random Professional/Personal Fact:
I am married
Graduate/Research Interests: Concussions and their effects