Fueled by Purpose: Jada Briscoe’s Rise as a Leader in Athletic Training

By Bryson Foster

Fueled by a lifelong passion for sports and shaped by her time at UNC Charlotte, Jada Briscoe has turned dedication into purpose, rising as a future leader in athletic training.

Briscoe, who will graduate in May with a Master of Science in Athletic Training, has felt empowered to become the best version of herself.

“The faculty encourages you to do your best and helps you with anything you need,” she said. “They show how to lead. That’s very important, and I appreciate them for all of those.”

Fueling the fire

Briscoe was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and attended elementary and middle school in Columbus, Ohio. Her love for sports was present throughout, as her father, Leatrice, was an All-American football player at the University of Central Arkansas.

“He always watched football. That was our way of bonding, watching and attending sporting events. With athletic training, just loving that side of sports comes from him,” said Briscoe.

She returned to Virginia for high school and graduated from I.C. Norcom High School, where she played basketball and ran track. Constantly on the go, Briscoe was significantly influenced by her school’s athletic trainer.

“Because I competed year round, I spent a lot of time with my athletic trainer,” she said. “Observing her, combined with my love for sports, I thought, ‘This would be a great career.’”

Undergrad utilization

Briscoe earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Norfolk State University. To take the next step in her academic career, she made plans to attend graduate school.

“I was just fascinated by injuries. There wasn’t much athletic training with the exercise science major, so I wanted to learn more about it,” said Briscoe.

As a first step, Briscoe accepted a football athletic training student intern position at Old Dominion University. She worked alongside T’era Brown ’20, ’22 M.S., a UNC Charlotte athletic training program graduate. This connection set her on the path to becoming a Niner.

“I spoke with her about UNC Charlotte. She told me how great the community is, and that the professors are amazing and really care about the students. That sold me,” said Briscoe.

Showing growth

Briscoe describes her time at UNC Charlotte as one of academic and personal growth. The support she’s received from the College of Health and Human Services, in her opinion, sets the program apart.

“I love all my professors at UNC Charlotte,” she said. “They care about me. Sometimes I think they believe in me more than I believe in myself. It’s great to have people on your side.”

Along with her studies in the classroom, Briscoe is working toward her dream as an athletic training student with Charlotte’s football team. She has learned valuable lessons while gaining hands-on experience.

“I helped support the athletic trainers, and they gave us a lot of autonomy. They gave us the space to explore and do what we would in our careers,” said Briscoe.

Briscoe found mentors in professors Tricia Turner and Shelley Linens, sharing that they have factored significantly in helping to mold her into the athletic trainer she aims to be.  

“They know how to push us past our limits, setting us up perfectly to succeed in the future,” she explained. One piece of advice that stands out is ‘No matter where you work, there is something you can take away from it.’ They have helped me soak it all in.”

Applying herself

At UNC Charlotte, Briscoe completed clinical rotations at Mallard Creek High School, Queens University of Charlotte and Atrium Musculoskeletal Institute.

In January, her immersive experience led back to Columbus, where she worked as an athletic training student for The Ohio State University’s champion football team.

“I always wanted, at some point, to be at Ohio State,” said Briscoe. “When the immersion applications opened, I wasn’t sure I could get it, but I did.”

Applying the grit she learned she possessed at UNC Charlotte, Briscoe rose to the occasion on the national stage.

“I took to heart everything I had learned,” she said. “I wanted to represent Charlotte by pushing myself. Pushing through has always been huge for me.”

Briscoe is awaiting notification of board certification and will decide in the first week of May the next direction on her path. She has offers for a postgraduate degree program at the University of South Carolina, working with the football and cheerleading teams, and for an assistant athletic trainer position with Tulane University.

“Jada is a great student who deserves all the success that comes her way,” said Turner, her mentor.

LeaviNg a legacy

Briscoe is proud of the person she’s become, all due to a commitment to daily improvement.

“Being a 49er means getting 1% better and working hard to be the best leader you can be in whatever you’re doing. It means loving everybody and making sure everybody around you succeeds,” said Briscoe.

In two years at Charlotte, Briscoe feels her legacy lies in being a role model for others.

“I hope to be remembered as someone who is encouraging and makes people feel good,” she said. “I tried to adapt and helped my colleagues be the best people they could be.”

Bryson Foster ’23 will complete a Master of Arts in Communication Studies in May 2025; he is an intern for the Office of University Communications.