NATA Honors Hughes' Commitment to Professional Development Through National Award

By Jeff Murphy, March 21, 2019

WARRENSBURG, MO – Brian Hughes is an education leader who not only advances his profession through the preparation of athletic training graduates, but through his efforts, he is having an impact on the professional development of individuals currently working in the field. His volunteerism and commitment to what is both his passion and profession are now being recognized through the presentation of the National Athletic Trainers Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.

A member of NATA for 25 years, Hughes serves as a professor of athletic training and director of the Athletic Training program in the University of Central Missouri’s College of Health, Science and Technology’s School of Nutrition, Kinesiology, and Psychological Science. He will be presented this prestigious NATA honor during the organization’s 2019 convention in Las Vegas, June 26.
 
Hughes has been extremely active in NATA and in the seven-state Mid-America Athletic Trainers Association (MAATA) for more than a decade. This includes chairing NATA’s Professional Development Committee and coordinating MAATA’s regional annual meeting since 2014. As chair of NATA’s Professional Development Committee, Hughes coordinates continuing education activities for all athletic trainers across the United States.

“We help to plan workshops, certificates for completion, and different modules of learning, whether it is face-to-face or online,” Hughes said. “There are 10 members on my committee and we have nine projects going on.”

He pointed out that individuals who work in athletic training are required to have 50 hours of continuing education every two years. Therefore, his work within NATA helps fulfill an important professional need.

As committee chair, he also serves as a member of NATA’s Executive Committee on Education. This group oversees all of the committees that are related to the professional development of athletic trainers across the country.

Hughes said the connections he has made through his participation in NATA and MAATA benefit the university and its students. He stressed that when he arrived at UCM 18 years ago, he learned the value of participation in professional development activities and servant leadership from former colleague and mentor Mike Carter, an emeriti faculty member who devoted more than 50 years to UCM and its students before his passing.

“I was taught very early on by several great mentors, most especially Dr. Carter, to make sure you get professionally engaged and involved. So, one day when you make it, that will help attract students and elevate the prestige of the university,” Hughes said. “I think that matches nicely with our institution itself – the servant leader. It’s not about me, it’s about you. We must make sure we lead by example.”

He emphasized that that the connections he has formed with athletic trainers and leaders across the nation has led to a plethora of professionals he can call when students are looking for jobs and internships, or when he is seeking out guest speakers and other opportunities to share with his students.

“We’ve now got alumni in professional athletics, as faculty members at colleges and universities, and in secondary schools, so we run the whole gamut of different places where athletic trainers can work,” Hughes said. “We give credit to our students for being a sought-after commodity. Not only do we give them a great learning environment, but we show them how to lead by example.”

Hughes has already received different forms of recognition from professional athletic training organizations. Among them was MAATA’s Outstanding Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2017. Three years ago, he also received NATA’s Athletic Trainer Award for Service.

Hughes is a graduate of Boardman High School, Youngstown, Ohio, and received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Ohio State University. He received a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and Ed.D. in occupational and adult education from Oklahoma State University.

Prior to joining the UCM faculty in 2001, Hughes worked as a certified graduate assistant athletic trainer for the Cowboy wrestling team while studying at Oklahoma State. While at UCM he has been active in developing curriculum and maintaining standards leading to accreditation of the UCM program in 2006 by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Programs. He currently teaches courses in athletic training, orthopedic assessment and professional development, and he serves as program advisor for UCM students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. He is currently spearheading efforts to move the program from the bachelor’s level to a graduate-level program to better accommodate the professional need.

Hughes also is active in the local community as past president of the Warrensburg Rotary Club. He and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of two children.