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Michelle Samuel

’03 BS Sports Injury Management and Kinesiological Sciences, ’06 MS Kinesiology
College of Integrated Health Sciences Alumna of the Year

Unlike a lot of high school students, Michelle Samuel already understood what she wanted — and didn’t want — from her career before she strode across the stage to accept her diploma.

“I knew I was interested in studying health care,” Samuel says. “But I also knew I didn’t want to work in a traditional hospital/clinic setting.”

As Samuel investigated her options — both in terms of what and where she wanted to study — her parents floated a suggestion. Her father had received military orders for Nellis Air Force Base just outside of 51�Թ������App and was scheduled to report for duty shortly after Samuel finished high school. Prior to packing up and leaving the Midwest, Samuel’s dad took a brief trip to 51�Թ������App, making a point to visit 51�Թ������ܿƴ�. 

While on campus, he learned that the university had an accredited athletic training program, something he thought might appeal to his daughter.

“I played sports in high school and suffered a few injuries,” Samuel says. “My high school didn’t have an athletic trainer, so I didn’t know what to do for my injuries. So, my dad introduced me to sports medicine, which would allow me to combine these two interests.”

Just one small problem: While she was immediately intrigued by a career in sports medicine, she wasn’t exactly sold on beginning the journey in the desert: “To be honest, I was not thrilled about moving to 51�Թ������App and attending 51�Թ������ܿƴ�,” Samuel says. “Having grown up in the Midwest, I had planned to attend college with high school friends.”

Ultimately, Samuel heeded her parents’ advice. And while she may have arrived at 51�Թ������ܿƴ� with a healthy dose of trepidation, it’s safe to say she quickly assimilated. After all, Samuel has remained attached to the university in some way for nearly a quarter century:

• She’s a two-time graduate who is now working toward her fourth degree (a Ph.D.).
• During her six years as head athletic trainer for Sierra Vista High School in 51�Թ������App, she served as a mentor for 51�Թ������ܿƴ� athletic training students doing clinical internships.
• Since 2011, she has taught classes in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences. In addition to being a senior lecturer, she serves as the athletic training program’s clinical education coordinator.

Yes, the Midwest native who was once skittish about signing up for 51�Թ������ܿƴ� now bleeds Rebel red through and through.

“Once I was accepted into the athletic training program and got here, I was immersed into a community of faculty, students, and staff who were welcoming and supportive,” Samuel says. “That’s when I knew I had found my place as a Rebel.”

51�Թ������ܿƴ� is located in one of the world’s most dynamic, diverse, and innovative cities. How did that impact you as a student, and how have you been able to leverage that benefit professionally? 

51�Թ������ܿƴ� and 51�Թ������App provide a vast number of diverse settings for my profession that many faculty and students around the country do not have access to — such as Division I athletics, professional sports, performing arts, military, industrial, and youth sports (among others). These settings provide 51�Թ������ܿƴ� athletic training students with exceptional learning experiences and unique resources. As a result, I make it a priority to seek out new and innovative clinical sites for our program to align with. 

Also, as a professional, I’m proud to represent our diverse student population as a minority woman.

What inspired you to return to campus as a lecturer? How rewarding has that experience been?

I was a graduate assistant for 51�Թ������ܿƴ�’s athletic training program (ATP) and worked under Bill Holcomb, the program’s director. Through his mentorship, I learned about the administration of accredited programs and the important role educators play. This experience sparked my passion for education and interacting with students. 

At the same time, I also valued the importance of clinical experience. So after I finished my master’s degree and was hired as head athletic trainer at Sierra Vista High School, the 51�Թ������ܿƴ� ATP faculty asked if I wanted to supervise the university’s athletic training students during their required clinical internships. I completed training in 2006 and began taking students that fall and continued to do so through spring 2011. 

After several years of gaining clinical experience, I revisited the idea of pursuing a career in academia. I learned about the ATP’s clinical education coordinator position and was excited about the prospect of teaching, working with students and mentoring [clinical interns]. 

I cannot adequately express in words how rewarding this experience has been. I see my role as a way of giving back to 51�Թ������ܿƴ�, the athletic training program, and my profession. I believe service to each of these is essential, which is why volunteerism has been a major component of my career. 

51�Թ������ܿƴ� students and alumni are encouraged to embrace the “Rebel Spirit” — to be daring and gutsy and to resist convention. Describe a time when your “Rebel Spirit” was on full display.

Several years ago, the accreditation body governing university athletic training programs announced that all programs would have to transition from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree. This requirement forced numerous universities around the country to withdraw accreditation and close their programs. It was important to us at 51�Թ������ܿƴ� to continue offering what is not only the state’s lone university-based athletic training program but one of the nation’s longest-standing accredited programs — we recently celebrated our 40th anniversary.

So my colleagues and I began the challenging and time-consuming journey of creating a new master’s degree program in athletic training. While tackling this complicated project, I often had to work nights and weekends, all while pursuing my Ph.D. 

Although we encountered many obstacles along the way, our Rebel Spirit kept us going — we simply refused to give up. Some 3½ years later, we’re one step away from approval.