LesLee Taylor, Ph.D., LAT, ATC

Professional Background

LesLee Taylor, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, is founding program director for the KU master's degree program in athletic training and vice chair of the KU Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training.

An associate professor, Taylor lead the development and implementation of the graduate-level program in athletic training previously offered by the university as a bachelor's degree on the Lawrence campus. Taylor joined KU in spring 2020 after leading its program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

In January 2024, Taylor was appointed to the position of assistant dean for academic and faculty affairs for the School of Health Professions.

Professional Background
From 2000-2020, Taylor was a faculty member at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. While there she led the effort to develop a master's degree program in athletic training and served as its first program director. At that time, it was the first program of its kind to be offered at a health sciences center and only the sixth professional master's degree in the country.

Prior to her faculty role, Taylor served as assistant athletic trainer for Texas Tech's women's basketball, men's tennis, and cross country programs.

Taylor has worked clinically in athletic training at the collegiate and high school levels, in the private sector, as well as for international tennis organizations. She is frequently hired as a consultant in her field of expertise.

Among her many honors and recognitions, Taylor received the Athletic Trainer Service Award from the National Athletic Trainers' Association in 2015, and in 2018 she was a recipient of the association's Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.

Taylor served on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education from 2013-2020 and president of the organization from 2017-2019. In addition, she served as a site visitor, on the review committee, and several other committees for the commission. Other previous service includes the exam development committee with the Board of Certification, Inc. She has been active with the National Athletic Trainers' Association, as well.

Academic Background
A KU alumnae, Taylor earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from the University of Kansas in 1993. She received a master's degree in exercise and sport science from the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, in 1995, and a doctorate from Texas Tech University in 2001 with a focus on family and consumer science education.

• PhD, Adult Education, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Research

Overview

Taylor's scholarship interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion, unconscious bias, program development, and leadership (especially development of women leaders). She is a member of the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network which serves to guide education research in the profession.

She also serves as manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Allied Health and as editorial board member for the Athletic Training Education Journal.

• Henning, Jolene., M, Brown, Sara, Taylor, LesLee, Anderson, Bart., E, Walker, Stacy., E, Eberman, Lindsey., E. 2018. Elevating undergraduate to graduate education through the substantive change process: A report from the Athletic Training Clinical Education Network. Journal of Athletic Training, 53 (6), S241. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/53/6s/S-1/112634/Supplement
• Stickley, Lois, Sechrist, Dawndra, Taylor, LesLee. 2016. Analysis of sex and gender content in allied health professions' curricula. Journal of allied health, 45 (3), 168--175
• Lohman, Chelsea., M, Gilbert, Kerry., K, Sobczeck, St\'ephane, Brism\'ee, Jean-Michel, James, C., Roger, Day, Miles, Smith, Michael., P, Taylor, LesLee, Dugailly, Pierre-Michel, Pendergrass, Timothy, others. 2016. Cervical Nerve Root Displacement and Strain During Upper Limb Neural Tension Testing: Part 2. Role of Foraminal Ligaments in the Cervical Spine.. Spine
• Lohman, Chelsea., M, Gilbert, Kerry., K, Sobczak, St\'ephane, Brism\'ee, Jean-Michel, James, C., Roger, Day, Miles, Smith, Michael., P, Taylor, LesLee, Dugailly, Pierre-Michel, Pendergrass, Timothy, others. 2015. 2015 Young Investigator Award Winner: cervical nerve root displacement and strain during upper limb neural tension testing: part 1: a minimally invasive assessment in unembalmed cadavers. Spine, 40 (11), 793--800
• Meers-Scott, Dawndra, Taylor, LesLee, Pelley, John. 2010. Teaching Critical Thinking and Team Based Concept Mapping, 171--186