Karen Tankersley, a native of Covington, Tenn., began her work at Union in the fall of 2009. Her primary responsibilities will be to work with the men’s soccer, softball and volleyball teams.
In March of 2006, Tankersley became a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and Board of Certification. She is certified as a Performance Enhancement Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Before coming to Union, Tankersley worked as staff assistant athletic trainer at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas from June 2008 to June 2009. Her primary responsibilities there were to work with women’s volleyball, women’s track and field and cross country.
Tankersley earned a Masters of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science degree with specialization in Athletic Training from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She completed her Master Thesis Research project focusing on kinematics of the scapula and shoulder complex in overhead athletics. While at North Carolina, her clinical responsibilities as a graduate assistant included her working with men’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball and fencing teams. Tankersley also served as an instructor in undergraduate anatomy labs and physical education classes.
Tankersley received her Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Southern Mississippi in December of 2005 where she graduated Cum Laude. Tankersley was a four-year varsity letter winner as a member of the Southern Mississippi cross country and track and field teams.
