Jessica Springstead, the interim head athletic trainer at New Jersey City University, has been appointed as head athletic trainer on a permanent basis at NJCU, Athletic Director Larry Schiner has announced. Her appointment follows a national search to fill the position.

“I am very pleased that the University has made Jessica a full-time permanent member of our athletic staff,” said Schiner. “She is an enthusiastic individual who has a very good rapport with the student-athletes and coaches. She is very professional in her approach to her job and is always seeking to improve her knowledge and skills.”

Springstead had served as interim head athletic trainer since October 2004, replacing Karin Damon who resigned after 15 years at NJCU to pursue a similar position at Centenary College.

She holds certification from the National Athletic Training Association Board and is licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners. She is currently a NATABOC Examiner. Springstead also is certified in First Aid, CPR, AED, and OSHA by the American Red Cross.

Springstead graduated from Kean University in Union, NJ in May 2002 with a B.A. in Physical Education/Athletic Training, and earned a Master of Education in Post-Secondary Education from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD in May 2004.

Springstead came to NJCU from Stevens Institute of Technology, where she served as the assistant athletic trainer from August-October 2004.

Previously, she served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Salisbury from August 2002 until May 2004, working with Pat Lamboni. There, she was charged as the primary athletic trainer for the Seagulls women’s soccer, men’s basketball, baseball, and men’s and women’s track and field programs, and worked with out-of-season athletes. She also had direct supervision of athletic training students in the CAAHEP accredited program. In 2002, she received the District II Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Academic Scholarship.

At Kean, she studied as an athletic training student from September 1998 until May 2002 for head athletic trainer Tim Sensor. She worked closely with the men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, and women’s volleyball programs at Kean, covering all practices, and home and away games. She also gained experience as an athletic training student for Sandy Mamary at Westfield (NJ) High School from January-May, 2001.

While at Stevens, Springstead taught courses on Nutrition and Wellness. At Salisbury, she was the primary instructor for four First Aid and Safety courses, and a teaching assistant in Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries. There, she conducted a guest lecture on Introduction to Wellness and Fitness; Stretching and Peripheral Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques.

She is also the co-author of a poster presentation entitled “Dislocation of the 1^st Interphalangeal Joint in a 19-Year-Old Basketball Player.”