NATA Inducts First African American Woman into the Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame

Thursday, July 5, 2018

DALLAS – The National Athletic Trainers’ Association inducted the first African American woman, René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC, into the prestigious Hall of Fame at the NATA 69th Clinical Symposia and AT Expo in New Orleans on Thursday, June 28. The Hall of Fame is the highest honor an athletic trainer can receive and recognizes individuals who exemplify the mission of NATA through significant lasting contributions that enhance the quality of health care provided by athletic trainers.

“While I may be the first, my goal is to ensure that I am not the last. Being an athletic trainer is about providing the highest quality of care to our patients and a tireless dedication to learning, growing and serving. That is what has been bestowed to me by my mentors, and what I hope to continue to contribute to the generations that follow,” said Shingles. 

Shingles has been a professor at Central Michigan University for decades, and more than 650 students have graduated under her tutelage. She co-authored the first book on cultural competence in athletic training and is considered a national expert on diversity and inclusion in the profession. In 1987, Shingles became the thirteenth African American woman to become a certified athletic trainer. Over the years, she has volunteered in numerous capacities with NATA, the Board of Certification for athletic training and the NATA Research & Education Foundation. Through her work at CMU, she is credited with successfully coordinating the reaccreditation process multiple times with each receiving the maximum number of years for reaccreditation. For more than 20 years, Shingles has volunteered on the medical staff for the Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games. In 1996, she was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee as an athletic trainer for the Olympic Games in Atlanta and marched in the opening ceremonies with Team USA.

Shingles is also a founding member of the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC), established in 1991 as an advisory committee to the NATA board of directors, to identify and address issues relevant to the ethnically diverse populations as well as members of the profession. Shingles currently serves as a mentor both professional and personally to advance the next generation of athletic trainers. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“We champion the outstanding contributions Dr. Shingles has made – and continues to make – to the profession of athletic training, as well as her commitment and passion for the profession,” says NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC. “The NATA Hall of Fame recognizes the best among the best in our profession, and Dr. Shingles is truly deserving of this award,” said Lindley.

In addition to Shingles, the 2018 Hall of Fame inductees include Kent Biggerstaff, LAT, ATC, Nancy Burke, MS, AT Ret., John Davis, MS, ATC, Marty Matney, MBA, LAT, ATC, Gary Reinholtz, AT Ret., and NATA Past President Jim Thornton, MA, LAT, ATC.