Meet Athletic Training Faculty
Meet Athletic Training Faculty
Director & Staff
Alma Mattocks, PhD, LAT, ATC
Program Director
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
Dr. Mattocks has returned to Spalding University in the Program Director role. Dr. Mattocks served as the inaugural Clinical Education Coordinator from 2014-16 and was an integral part of starting the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at Spalding University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Linfield College, a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University. She has worked as a Division III Athletic Trainer at Pacific University in Oregon, as a Field Service Representative for DJO is now ENOVIS, and most recently served as the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Athletic Training Program at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Mattocks has a research focus on student learning objectives and the use of simulation in athletic training education.
Daniel “Danny” Cobble, MS, LAT, ATC
Assistant Professor
Clinical Education Coordinator
[email protected]
Native of Louisville and certified as an Athletic Trainer since 2003, Danny earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina, where he served as a graduate assistant. Upon graduation, Danny was named the assistant athletic trainer for the Gamecocks football program. During his career, Danny has interned with the NFL Philadelphia Eagles and served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Western Kentucky Hilltopper’s football program. Throughout his career, Danny has gained experience in Policy and Procedures creation, Drug Testing program administration, sales, marketing, and contract negotiations. Danny is currently pursuing his doctorate in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University.
Kaitlin Niemiec, MLA, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
[email protected]
Kaitlin Niemiec is the current Head Athletic Trainer at Spalding University. Certified athletic trainer since 2012. Earned Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at the University of Texas. Worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and earned master’s degree at Tulane University. Previously was an assistant athletic trainer at Campbellsville University and later Head Athletic Trainer at Campbellsville University Harrodsburg and created the athletic training department.
Lauren Schneidtmiller
Administrative Coordinator
[email protected]
Lauren Schneidtmiller is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from Georgetown College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Throughout her career, she has gained valuable experience in office management, recruiting, sales, and coaching. Following graduation and her years playing collegiate volleyball, Lauren worked in the mental health setting and coached volleyball at her high school alma mater Louisville’s Mercy Academy.
Faculty
Sabrina Pletz, MS, LAT, ATC, PTA
Assistant Professor and Assistant Athletic Trainer
[email protected]
Sabrina Pletz earned her Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from Cumberland College, and her Master of Science in Exercise Science from Fort Hays State University. As an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Charleston, she taught athletic training courses and provided care to NCAA Division II athletes. Pletz served as President of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was the recipient of their Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2011. Prior to coming to Spalding University, Pletz served as the clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program at St. Catharine College. As an assistant athletic trainer, she provides services to Spalding University student-athletes. In conjunction with the school of nursing, she also developed the Spalding University EagleCare student health service.
Lisa Potts, PhD
Associate Professor
Lisa Potts graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. She earned her Doctorate in Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville. She received training in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology as a post-doctoral scholar at Emory University, studying novel treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease in non-human primates. She continued training as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky, working on studies of neuroprotection in non-human primate and rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Potts then expanded her study to spinal cord injury as a senior research associate at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville. There she worked with patients who had sustained spinal cord injuries, studying the effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on the cardiovascular system. Dr. Potts oversees the anatomy and neuroscience courses in the MSAT program.
Amy Verst, PhD, LAT, ATC, RNP
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Verst received a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from Bellarmine University. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and a certified athletic trainer. Dr. Verst is highly experienced in care of children and disabled athletes. She teaches the Medical-Surgical Conditions and Diagnostic Tests course in the MSAT program. Dr. Verst also assists the Spalding University Athletic program as a volunteer assistant athletic trainer.
Director & Staff
Alma Mattocks, PhD, LAT, ATC
Program Director
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
Dr. Mattocks has returned to Spalding University in the Program Director role. Dr. Mattocks served as the inaugural Clinical Education Coordinator from 2014-16 and was an integral part of starting the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at Spalding University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Linfield College, a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University. She has worked as a Division III Athletic Trainer at Pacific University in Oregon, as a Field Service Representative for DJO is now ENOVIS, and most recently served as the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Athletic Training Program at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Mattocks has a research focus on student learning objectives and the use of simulation in athletic training education.
Daniel “Danny” Cobble, MS, LAT, ATC
Assistant Professor
Clinical Education Coordinator
[email protected]
Native of Louisville and certified as an Athletic Trainer since 2003, Danny earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina, where he served as a graduate assistant. Upon graduation, Danny was named the assistant athletic trainer for the Gamecocks football program. During his career, Danny has interned with the NFL Philadelphia Eagles and served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Western Kentucky Hilltopper’s football program. Throughout his career, Danny has gained experience in Policy and Procedures creation, Drug Testing program administration, sales, marketing, and contract negotiations. Danny is currently pursuing his doctorate in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University.
Kaitlin Niemiec, MLA, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
[email protected]
Kaitlin Niemiec is the current Head Athletic Trainer at Spalding University. Certified athletic trainer since 2012. Earned Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at the University of Texas. Worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and earned master’s degree at Tulane University. Previously was an assistant athletic trainer at Campbellsville University and later Head Athletic Trainer at Campbellsville University Harrodsburg and created the athletic training department.
Lauren Schneidtmiller
Administrative Coordinator
[email protected]
Lauren Schneidtmiller is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from Georgetown College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Throughout her career, she has gained valuable experience in office management, recruiting, sales, and coaching. Following graduation and her years playing collegiate volleyball, Lauren worked in the mental health setting and coached volleyball at her high school alma mater Louisville’s Mercy Academy.
Faculty
Sabrina Pletz, MS, LAT, ATC, PTA
Assistant Professor and Assistant Athletic Trainer
[email protected]
Sabrina Pletz earned her Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from Cumberland College, and her Master of Science in Exercise Science from Fort Hays State University. As an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Charleston, she taught athletic training courses and provided care to NCAA Division II athletes. Pletz served as President of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was the recipient of their Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2011. Prior to coming to Spalding University, Pletz served as the clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program at St. Catharine College. As an assistant athletic trainer, she provides services to Spalding University student-athletes. In conjunction with the school of nursing, she also developed the Spalding University EagleCare student health service.
Lisa Potts, PhD
Associate Professor
Lisa Potts graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. She earned her Doctorate in Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville. She received training in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology as a post-doctoral scholar at Emory University, studying novel treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease in non-human primates. She continued training as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky, working on studies of neuroprotection in non-human primate and rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Potts then expanded her study to spinal cord injury as a senior research associate at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville. There she worked with patients who had sustained spinal cord injuries, studying the effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on the cardiovascular system. Dr. Potts oversees the anatomy and neuroscience courses in the MSAT program.
Amy Verst, PhD, LAT, ATC, RNP
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Verst received a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from Bellarmine University. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and a certified athletic trainer. Dr. Verst is highly experienced in care of children and disabled athletes. She teaches the Medical-Surgical Conditions and Diagnostic Tests course in the MSAT program. Dr. Verst also assists the Spalding University Athletic program as a volunteer assistant athletic trainer.