Biography

Dr. Nathan Newman received his doctoral degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Allied Health, Recreation and Community Services in 2015. Prior to that, he earned degrees from the University of Iowa (2003) and Western Illinois University (2005).  

He began his career in 2005 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, primarily working with the soccer and track and field teams. He moved into an academic role in 2011 when he was named the Director of the Athletic Training Program at Loras College. During his time in this role, Newman worked to improve the academic rigor and student outcomes associated with the program. First-time pass rates on the Board of Certification (BOC) Exam improved dramatically, reaching 100% during his last full year at the institution. Additionally, he greatly expanded the clinical education aspect of the program and revised the curriculum to better prepare students for the changing field. In 2014, he began to transition the bachelor’s level athletic training program at Loras College to a master’s level program. In the fall of 2017, Newman relocated to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa to start a new Masters in Athletic Training degree program. 

Dr. Newman’s research focuses on two areas: light therapy and the influence of coaches and athletic trainers on injured athletes. Newman focuses his study of light therapy to its promotion of healing following a musculoskeletal injury. He has published works on light therapy in the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training and Therapeutic Modalities for Sports Medicine and Athletic Training (5th ed.). His work on athlete, coach and athletic trainers’ relationships focuses on the importance of social support after injury. Additionally, he attempts to determine what variables may influence this support, and in particular, if any potential conflict between a coach and athletic trainer influences an athlete’s perception of social support.