& # xD; STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton Athletics has named Brant Berkstresser the next Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. & # XD; & # xD; Berkstresser comes to Tarleton from Harvard University, where she has overseen the sports medicine department for more than 1,100 Ivy League student-athletes since 2008 as Associate Director of Athletics for Student Health and Performance . He has more than 30 years of experience in athletics and college athletics. & # XD; & # xD; “I am honored and excited to join the Tarleton Athletic Department,” Berkstresser said. “It is an exciting time for Tarleton State University as we continue our advancement in NCAA Division I. I want to thank the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Lonn Reisman for his trust and confidence in me for leading and advancing our sports medicine department ”. & # xD; & # xD; During his time at Harvard, he was awarded the Impact Leadership Award in 2010 and 2011 which recognizes high-performing employees who always show superior performance with exceptional efficiency. He has recently been a winner of the 2013 Dean Distinction Award, which recognizes a small number of FAS staff members for their outstanding citizenship and outstanding contributions in support of the Faculty of Arts ’teaching and research mission. and Science (FAS). & # xD; & # xD; Berkstresser has served on numerous college health committees during his career, most recently the Ivy League Review of Autonomy Legislation and the Ivy League Ad Hoc Committee on Concussions. & # XD; & # xD; “We are excited to add Brant (Berkstresser) to our athletics department,” said Lonn Reisman, vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics. “Brant brings a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in the field of sports medicine. He is highly respected in the field of sports medicine and, s no doubt, elevate our sports medicine program to another level. & # xD; & # xD; “I want to thank Dr. Steve Simpson for his three decades of service to our athletic department,” Reisman continued. “Our sports medicine department has been exceptional in every conference we’ve been to, and I have no doubt that Brant will only reinforce our commitment to the care of our student-athletes.” & # xD; & # xD; At the national level, Berkstresser currently serves as executive chairman of the Intercollegiate Council of the National Association of Athletic Trainers for Sports Medicine. He also serves on the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Concussion Safety Protocol Committee. Previous NCAA committees include the NCAA Statute 17 Working Group, Health and Safety Cross Functional Team, NCAA Drug Testing Sub-Committee and is a former chair of the NCAA Competitive Warranty Committee and Medical Aspects of Sport. & # XD; & # xD; Berkstresser has led national and international presentations for numerous professional health and safety organizations. He is a co-author of newspaper articles related to cardiology, concussion and orthopedic injury management. & # XD; & # xD; Prior to Harvard University, Berkstresser was the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at Georgia Southern University from 2003-2008, University of Maryland from 1997-2003 and Kansas State University from 1993-1997. He began his career with the Wildcats where he spent four years as an athletic assistant for men’s basketball and assisting with football before moving to Maryland, Georgia Southern, and Harvard at the Assistant AD level, and Head Football Athletic Trainer. & # xD; & # xD; A native of State College, Pennsylvania, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of West Virginia in 1991. During his senior year in WVU, finished an internship with the New York Jets Football Club in 1990. then went on to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology from Kansas State in 1993. & # XD; & # xD;
