STUDENT SENATE
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) Student Senate is to provide students with an opportunity to develop leadership skills and prepare future leaders within the athletic training profession. This organization will give a voice to the students within the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association.
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Goals of the Student Senate
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Increase awareness of the athletic training profession through the implementation and promotion of educational events and opportunities for all athletic training students.
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Collaborate with other organizations across the District such as: Young Professionals, Public Relations, and individual programs’ athletic training student associations.
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Improve communication through partnerships within the District to include athletic training educators, clinicians, and athletic training students.
Senate Structure
The MAATA Student Senate is comprised of two student representatives from each state included in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association. Each student senator is currently in the last two years of the Athletic Training Education Program. The State Chair is the second year Senator from each state. In addition, the senate has a Junior Faculty Advisor who is currently a graduate student within the MAATA. Two Faculty Advisors also lead the Student Senate, organizing the annual symposium in May.
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Faculty Advisor
Emily is currently the program director and an assistant professor for the Towson University Athletic Training Program. She is in her second year as the Faculty Advisor for the MAATA Student Senate. In her role as Faculty Advisor, Emily hopes to work closely with a diverse group of students from the District in order to reach all athletic training students within the Region. She also hopes to continue to build a Student Program that will excel the professional development of future health care providers.
Junior Faculty Advisor
Kaitlyn Whipp
Kaitlyn Whipp
Assistant Athletic Trainer
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Kait is currently in her second year as an assistant athletic trainer at UMBC working with Women’s Lacrosse and Women’s Soccer. She is pursuing her Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a concentration in Sports Psychology. She is a recent graduate from Towson University where she received her B.S in Athletic Training. Kait served as a student senator between 2019-2021 and was a part of the service committee, mentor’s breakfast committee, and was President for the 2020-2021 term. She is excited to stay a part of the committee and can not wait to get involved with the senators.
Student Senators 2022-2023
Maryland/DC
Senior Senator
Janay Ward
Towson University
Janay is from Waldorf, Maryland and is a second year Masters Athletic Training student at Towson University. She graduated from Towson University with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science where she then returned to attend the Athletic Training master's program. Janay is serving as the President of the Student Senate as well as the LGBTQ+ Liaison. She is the Towson Athletic Training Club Public Relations and Community Service chair on the executive board. After graduating, she aspires to work in the Military setting or collegiate football. As an advocate for athletic training, Janay hopes to spread awareness of the growing profession while expressing her passion for sports medicine and athletic training. As a student senator, she is excited to network, collaborate, and connect with individuals who share the same interest and grow in leadership.
Maryland/DC
Junior Senator
Rickee Yates
Towson University
Rickee is a native of Washington D.C. and is a first year Masters of Athletic Training student at Towson University. She graduated with her Bachelors of Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine from North Carolina Central University (NCCU). During her tenure, Rickee has had the pleasure of completing over 1000 community service hours from working with NCCU’s Football and Women's Basketball teams. As her senior internship, Rickee was fortunate enough to observe at Duke University Athletic Medicine facility. Rickee’s passion for Athletic Training began during high school when she tore her meniscus while competing in gymnastics. Throughout this arduous process, she was fortunate to observe her Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist closely. Rickee noticed how much assistance, dedication and support they provided during her recovery. Because of them and a bit of consistency from her, she was able to make a full recovery and regain her title as a three time Maryland state champion. During this time is when she knew this was the career for her. After graduating, she aspires to work in the professional sports setting, specifically with the NFL, NBA or WNBA but is also open to working in the collegiate gymnastics setting. As a student senator, Rickee is enthused to network, collaborate with like minded professionals and is eager to promote the profession of Athletic Training by incorporating educative programs for all athletic training students.
Virginia
Senior Senator
Bryonna Woofter
James Madison University
Bryonna Woofter is from Gaston, North Carolina and is a second year graduate student in the Masters of Science in Athletic Training program at James Madison University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences Pre-Physical Therapy from Mary Baldwin University in Staunton Virginia. After graduation, Bryonna aspires to pursue her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and later work as a dual Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist for a professional team. Her calling to pursue these careers came to her at a young age as her love for sports and helping others continues to grow each day. With this position as a senior student senator, Bryonna hopes to continue to bring a sense of compassion, hard work and leadership not only to the MAATA, but also the overall profession.
Virginia
Junior Senator
Anna Chidester
Old Dominion University
Anna is from Cecil County, Maryland and is a first year Master of Athletic Training Student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business in May of 2022. At Penn State she was active in the kinesiology club and health sciences club which sparked her interest in Athletic Training. During her senior year of undergrad, she decided she wanted to go to Athletic Training School and completed the necessary requirements to apply. Exercise and medicine have always been interests of hers and she was interested in learning more about the different career options in this field. After having ankle surgery and working with an Athletic Trainer she knew this would be a fun and interesting career field to work in. Anna is passionate in advocating for young athletes about their overall health and success on and off the field/workplace. After graduation, she is looking to work in military or collegiate settings. With this opportunity as a student senator, Anna hopes to educate people on how important Athletic Trainers are and raise awareness to the AT sector. She is excited to meet individuals with the same passions and aspirations and connect with these individuals to help improve MAATA and the AT profession as a whole.
West Virginia
Senior Senator
Alissa McCarty
Marshall University
Alissa is from Charleston, West Virginia. She is completing her final year in the Professional Masters of Science in Athletic Training Program at Marshall University. She completed her undergraduate education at Marshall, earning a B.S. in Athletic Training in April 2022. As a young competitive gymnast, Alissa gained a lot of exposure to athletic training, which inevitably sparked her interest. She is elated in attaining the ability and knowledge to provide healthcare for athletes so they may perform at their fullest potential. Alissa is eagerly utilizing her position as a Student Senator to build relationships with fellow champions of athletic training, highlighting the relevance of the profession, and engaging future students to become involved in growing the profession in their own creative way. After graduation, Alissa hopes to pair her love of gymnastics with her athletic training skillset to provide optimal healthcare for collegiate gymnasts.
West Virginia
Junior Senator
Heather Williamson
Marshall University
Heather is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and is in her first year of the Professional Masters of Science in Athletic Training Program at Marshall University. She serves as the President of the Marshall University Athletic Training Association on campus. Heather has completed clinical rotations at Marshall University Football and Kentucky Christian University. Heather hopes to use this position in the Student Senate to advocate for the athletic training profession and use her voice to spread awareness about this growing profession. Heather discovered her passion for Athletic Training while playing a wide variety of sports in high school and hopes to inspire other students to find their passion within athletic training. Heather is excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with others that share the same mission.
North Carolina
Senior Senator
Jenna Tomlinson
High Point University
Jenna is from Raleigh, North Carolina and a recent graduate of High Point University where she received her B.S. in Exercise Science. She is currently in her first year at HPU pursuing her Master of Science in Athletic Training degree where she is also serving as the President of the Athletic Training Club. Jenna’s passion for athletic training began during high school when she tore her ACL while playing soccer. She then got involved in her high school’s sports medicine program and never looked back. As the Senior Student Senator for North Carolina, Jenna hopes to promote the profession of athletic training through the implementation of educational events and other opportunities for all other athletic training students. After graduation, Jenna hopes to work with hockey or lacrosse athletes at the collegiate or professional level.
North Carolina
Junior Senator
Matthew Ewert
Western Carolina University
Matt is originally from Olathe, Kansas about 30 minutes South of Kansas City. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in athletic training with minors in kinesiology and gerontology. He is currently in his first year of the Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at Western Carolina University. Matt is currently in his first clinical rotation at The University of North Carolina- Ashevillle working with their Women’s and Men’s Soccer as well as Women's Basketball. He is excited to use his position in MAATA to create new opportunities for the students in district 3 as well as find ways to integrate programs from different schools to create new experiences for students to help grow as healthcare professionals. With this position, Matt would like to increase the awareness of athletic training to students in undergraduate premedical professions to help grow the athletic training and increase the general public’s knowledge on athletic training as a whole. After graduation, Matt hopes to work with either soccer or hockey and by the end of his career be the head athletic trainer for a team either in the MLS or NHL.
South Carolina
Senior Senator
Savannah Venters
Limestone University
Savannah is originally from Winder, GA, and is currently in her senior year at Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina where she is pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. Savannah is currently serving as the president of Limestone University’s first athletic training club and serves as the YPC Liaison on the Student Senate. Savannah is also an involved student-athlete as a member of Limestone University’s Acrobatics and Tumbling team. After graduation, Savannah will continue her education through a Doctorate of Athletic Training program where she can continue to network with both athletes and physicians in the collegiate and clinic setting. As a senior Student Senator, she hopes to contribute to the athletic training community by encouraging student innovation and leadership. She also hopes to spread awareness about the importance of advancement in the athletic training profession.
South Carolina
Junior Senator
Teagan Crane
University of South Carolina
Teagan is from Fort Worth, Texas, and is a current first year Professional Master of Athletic Training Student at the University of South Carolina. She is a recent graduate from the University of Arkansas where she earned her B.S. in Exercise Science. Currently, she serves as the Iota Tau Alpha Vice President at the University of South Carolina and is also a member of the South Carolina Athletic Training Student Association on campus. She found her passion for athletic training in high school after being a part of her school’s sports medicine program. After graduation, her career goal is to work with collegiate or professional women’s soccer. As a Student Senator for South Carolina, Teagan is excited to network, advocate for students, and advance the profession of athletic training alongside peers and mentors.