Combining her passions for sports and healthcare, Monica Lininger, PhD, joined NAU in 2014 to advance the Athletic Training program. At that time, NAU was a leader in meeting the national mandate of changing athletic training education, pivoting from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree program. She started teaching with the first cohort of master’s students and has been with the program ever since.
In the beginning, her work consisted of researching collegiate student-athletes for injury prevention and risk. This year, she pivoted her research to collaborate with Associate Professor Hayley Root, PhD, in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at the Phoenix Bioscience Core. Together they combined their interest in injury prevention in youth to evaluate and promote physical literacy among high school student-athletes.
“There are eight million student-athletes in high school. Of that, 500,000 are National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes, and only six percent move forward in a structured athletic event,” said Monica.
“Our research consists of an exploratory study to assess physical literacy and implement strategies to reduce future injuries for student-athletes.”
Monica Lininger, PhD Del and Karen Steinbronn Professorship
To help advance her scholarly work, Monica earned the prestigious designation of endowed professor in 2023. She is the first person named to the Del and Karen Steinbronn Professorship in the College of Health and Human Services.
This professorship not only elevates her research but also provides funding to promote student success in the Athletic Training program. Some of the funding will allow a cohort of students to attend the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s annual meeting. The students who attend are from traditionally underrepresented communities and have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, preparing them for the workforce.
Monica’s drive to work collectively to address the needs of her students, as well as support youth student-athletes in the community, sets her apart as a distinguished academic leader who is transforming the university’s vision into meaningful action.
