Igniting passion for kinesiology

Mary Nadelen is an athletic trainer who has taken her knowledge from the clinic and athletic fields into the classroom. “I always wanted to move into teaching, and Towson has a great program,” Nadelen recalls. She began volunteering as an exam administrator, worked as a visiting instructor, joined the full-time faculty in 2009 and hasn’t looked back.

“The kinesiology department is a great place to work. The camaraderie among faculty members has led to the development of numerous faculty and student research projects,” says Nadelen.

“ The kinesiology department is a great place to work. The camaraderie among faculty members has led to the development of numerous faculty and student research projects. ”

Her research utilizes the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and the Y-Balance Test (YBT) to predict and possibly lower the risk of injuries in adolescent football players. Through her partnership with a local private high school and funding from a Towson-supported grant, she has collected data using the seven-step FMS and YBT and assisted undergraduate students with their level 1 FMS certification.

“Evidence-based practice is at the forefront of athletic training education. Towson students who have an opportunity to participate in research learn skills and gain tools to add to their toolboxes. I want them to hit the ground running,” explains Nadelen.

“We are preparing smart, competitive, educated students in our athletic training program,” she adds, resulting in “high job placement rates for students.”

One of Nadelen’s primary teaching tenets: Stay animated and maintain a high level of interaction in the classroom. “One of the greatest things about our program is that everyone has a high level of passion for the profession of athletic training and that shows in the classroom.”