HHP faculty member active in athletic training leadership development

Radford University Health and Human Performance Assistant Professor Ellen K. Payne has been accepted to participate in the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Leadership Development Certificate (LDC) program.

The program is designed to help develop, train and prepare the organization’s future leaders. It is open to NATA members who are interested in pursuing leadership at the state, district or national level.

NATA is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession.

At Radford University, Payne teaches and supervises the Athletic Training Student Association. She has worked with all levels of athletes, from youth sports to professional soccer. Her research interests include athletic training education, concussion education and prehospital emergency care.

Payne earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno. Previously, she spent six years teaching and working as an athletic trainer at Woodside Priory School in the San Francisco Bay area.

Payne worked as graduate assistant athletic trainer for women’s soccer and men’s and women’s track and field at San Francisco State University while working on her master’s degree at San Jose State University.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Payne currently serves on the executive board of the National Honor Society of Sports Medicine.

“My professional goals have always involved giving back to the profession of athletic training and completing this leadership program is just one step in that direction,” Payne said. “Being involved with the leadership at the state, regional or national level will allow me to give back to the profession, help shape its future and advocate for athletic trainers everywhere.”