LV LifeSports

Parsons joins new ULV movement

By 2004, the University of La Verne will offer a major in athletic training The major will fall under the department of Movement and Sports Science. Students entering the four-year program will need to declare this major as freshmen. Deborah Parsons, a new faculty member and athletic trainer, will aid in obtaining the accreditation of the new major with plans to expand the academic offerings in the existing athletic training program. / photo by Liz Lucsko
By 2004, the University of La Verne will offer a major in athletic training. The major will fall under the department of Movement and Sports Science. Students entering the four-year program will need to declare this major as freshmen. Deborah Parsons, a new faculty member and athletic trainer, will aid in obtaining the accreditation of the new major with plans to expand the academic offerings in the existing athletic training program. / photo by Liz Lucsko

by Tom Galaraga
Staff Writer

The reoccurring sound of athletic tape being torn, piece by piece, fills the room while providing the soundtrack for future athletic trainers as they fine-tune their trade.

With the University of La Verne expanding its course offerings in the athletic training department, the University welcomed a new assistant athletic trainer/assistant professor of movement and sport science.

Her name is Deborah Parsons.

Parsons, who earned her bachelor of science degree from Cal Poly Pomona in 1991, worked in Southern California for two years before relocating to Northern California.

While a freshman at Cal Poly Pomona, Parsons set a new school gymnastics record in the vault event.

“As an athlete I am intense, as a student I am serious,” said Parsons.

Upon relocating to Northern California, Parsons said she decided to pursue a teaching credential from Chapman Academic Center.

Having earned her teaching credential in 1994, she continued to work as an athletic trainer at College Park High School until 1996. She then worked at Oakley Middle School for one semester before working at Walnut Creek Middle School until 1998.

That year Parsons said she decided to pursue her master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State, where she maintained a 4.0 grade point average and graduated as part of the class of 2000.

Upon graduating, she returned to Southern California and began her employment at ULV. For Parsons, this return trip had both positive and negative aspects.

Having grown up in West Covina, the return to Southern California meant being close to family members and friends, whom she was not able to see very often.

However, relocating to Southern California also meant giving up the environmental benefits that non-metropolitan areas had to offer for Parson’s love of the outdoors, particularly her favorite sport of mountain biking.

“I love being able to be outdoors and the physical and mental challenges that mountain biking provides,” said Parsons.

Although previously familiar with a few current faculty members, this is Parsons’ first semester at ULV.

Her role as assistant athletic trainer and assistant professor of movement and sport science is to aid in the expansion of ULV’s course offerings and curriculum in the athletic training department.

“I think it’s [ULV’s athletic training department] good, it’s in a transition process so it’s hard to evaluate, but it looks like a very strong program that is definitely going to be moving in a positive direction professionally,” said Parsons.

Being constantly surrounded by athletes, Parsons disclosed one of her biggest pet peeves as being the use of chewing tobacco.

With the hazards and ramifications of chewing tobacco being so widely documented, Parsons said, “It is hard to see why its use is not being discouraged.”

Parsons, who describes herself as flexible, conscientious, and reliable, said that she didn’t engage in the typical social events while in college, but rather, her life revolved around athletics.

Outside of being a serious athlete and assistant athletic trainer and assistant professor of movement and sport science, Parsons said she has a fond love for the outdoors and enjoys the natural surroundings of Rock Creek Lakes, which is just north of Bishop and south of Mammoth.

Parsons has enjoyed the benefits of several different environmental settings throughout her lifetime. She said, “All things happen for a reason.”

Tom Galaraga, Assistant Managing Editor
Tom Galaraga
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University of La Verne graduate Liz Lucsko, recently earned a Masters in photography from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York. Lucsko currently teaches Elementary Photography as a part-time faculty member. Her photography exhibit, “Banning – Stagecoach Town USA,” is on display in the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography, and closes today. Lucsko’s interest in portrait photography has helped her personalize the photographic act for her students. / photo by Nancy Dyleuth
Liz Lucsko
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