Chatham University Athletics

Samantha Powell was named Head Athletic Trainer for Chatham University Athletics in 2021. So far, she contributed to two women’s soccer PAC championships and connected Chatham Athletics with professional strength and conditioning programming.
 
Prior to Chatham, Sam’s most recent collegiate sports medicine experience comes from Division III Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia where she served as the Head Athletic Trainer and an Athletics Administrator. During her time at Agnes Scott, she oversaw the medical care of six teams, created wellness programming, and supervised facility safety during the pandemic.
 
Prior to Agnes Scott, Powell worked locally at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and Robert Morris University through UPMC Sports Medicine. During her time at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, she helped care for six of the Bobcats’ programs including the 2015-16 AMCC Men’s Basketball champions. After four years at UPG, Powell moved onto Robert Morris where she served as an assistant athletic trainer for two years. She cared for two teams while also acting as a clinical preceptor for Duquesne University’s athletic training program.
 
In her time with UPMC, she also had unique opportunities to work outside of the college realm, serving as an aid station manager for the Pittsburgh Marathon and providing medical coverage for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.
 
She additionally served as the athletic trainer for Ireland’s International Women’s U19 Lacrosse team, and attended the World Championship Tournament in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada with them in 2019.
 
Samantha is the first black athletic trainer in the history of Chatham Athletics. She is an advocate for departmental DEI efforts and is willing to stand in the gap to gain additional support for BIPOC student-athletes. “In this profession, student-athletes of color may not have a coach or administrator that looks like them. I want to be the face they recognize. Sometimes they need to know that someone ‘gets it’. And I do.”

Powell received her Bachelor of Science from Xavier University before completing her Master of Science degree at California University of Pennsylvania [now PennWest California]. She is both a licensed and certified athletic trainer (LAT, ATC) as well as a performance enhancement specialist (PES). Outside of athletic training, Powell is an avid volunteer with several organizations, a certified Zumba instructor, an ordained minister, and a newly appointed godmother! Sam is a west-sider residing in Crafton.