Education

• PhD, Educational Leadership, Colorado State University, 2002
• MS, Athletic Training, University of Arizona, 1990
• BS, Physical Education, California State University, Chico, 1987

Biography

Dr. Craig joined the UAA College of Health in July 2022.  Previously, she served at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona for nearly 20 years.  Starting out as an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training, charged with the creation of a new accredited undergraduate AT program, she directed the growth of the program over 16 years, while also serving as the Associate Department Chair.  During that time, the Athletic Training program grew from 7 students in a Bachelor’s program to a Master’s degree program, on two campuses, and hosting 45-50 students.  Immediately before joining UAA, she served as the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at NAU.

Her expertise ranges from full-time clinical work in Athletic Departments at NCAA division I institutions, to teaching sports medicine topics in the classroom and at conferences, to performing and disseminating research through numerous presentations and publications.  Her research focuses on sport concussions, medial tibial stress syndrome, and various knee injuries. She was the principal investigator for the NCAA and US Dept of Defense Mind Matters grant program, where her group was one of 8 selected nationally to perform sport and/or military concussion research, which contributed ground-breaking research for the concussion health care community.  The community-based participatory research approach delivered a wealth of new data to help inform concussion reporting in athletics.

Areas of interest as Dean of the COH include: pursuit of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within healthcare systems and society in general; ethical and fair practices concerning faculty, staff, and students; and providing transparent and consistent leadership to the college.  Building relationships with the health care communities in Alaska will be one of her primary focuses during her first year at UAA.

Professional & Department Service

Certifications and Memberships

• Certified Athletic Trainer
• Licensed Athletic Trainer, state of Arizona
• National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA)
• Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainer’s Association
• Arizona Athletic Trainer’s Association
• Certified in CPR, Professional Rescuer, American Heart Association

Research Interests

• Sport concussions
• Medial tibial stress syndrome
• Knee injuries

Publications

Craig DI, Lininger MR, Lane TS. Concussion disclosure: What athletes fear about reporting. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. 2021;13(4):230-237. Doi: 10.3928/19425864-20200424-02

Carpenter S, Lininger MR, Craig DI. Intrapersonal Factors Affecting Concussion Reporting Behaviors According to the Theory of Planned Behavior in a Sample of High School Football Players. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2020;15(3):374-380. doi: 10.26603/ijspt20200374.

Craig DI, Vogel T.  Concussions in Female Athletes: Practical Applications for the Strength and Conditioning Expert. Strength and Conditioning Journal – Special Issue on the Female Athlete. 2020;42(4):125-131.

Craig DI, Lininger MR, Wayment HA, Huffman AH. Investigation of Strategies to Improve Concussion Reporting in American Football. Research in Sports Medicine. 2019. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2019.1586706.

Lininger MR, Wayment HA, Huffman AH, Craig DI. Concussion reporting intentions among division I football players: Consideration of individual-level and team-level predictors. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care. 2019. Doi:10.3928/19425864-20190822-01.

Lininger MR, Wayment HA, Craig DI, Huffman AH, Lane TS. Improving Concussion-Reporting Behavior in Division I Football: Evidence for the Applicability of the Socio Ecological Model for Athletic Trainers. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(1):21-29. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-47-18.

Wayment HA, Craig DI, Huffman AH, Lininger MR.  A Simple Field-Based Tool to Assess Concussion Reporting Behavior: Implications for Clinical Practice and Research. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  2019;56(2):323-330.

Craig DI, Lininger MR, Vomacka M, Tiscareno R.  Concussion Reporting Behaviors of Athletes: A Systematic Review. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. 2019. doi: 10.3928/19425864-20190322-01.

Lininger MR, Craig DI, Huffman AH, Irving LH, & Wayment HA.  An Exploratory Study on Concussion-Reporting Behaviors from Collegiate Student-Athletes’ Perspective.  Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. 2017;9(2):71-80.

Craig DI. “Advances in Our Understanding of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome”, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Journal, Nov 2016;1(1)4.

Craig DI. Textbook 3^rd ed- “Introduction to Athletic Training & Emergency Care in Sports”, Kendall-Hunt Publishing; spring 2016.

Raab S, Craig DI. Textbook Ancillary – Continuing Education Course for Evidence-Based Practice in Athletic Training; Human Kinetics Publishers; February 2016.

Raab S, Craig DI. Textbook - Evidence-Based Practice in Athletic Training; Human Kinetics Publishers; December 2015.

Raab S, Craig DI. Textbook Ancillary – Study Guide for Evidence-Based Practice in Athletic Training; Human Kinetics Publishers; December 2015.

Craig DI. Editorial for NATA News: “The Direction of our Profession”; April 2013.

Craig DI. Textbook 2^nd ed - “Introduction to Athletic Training and Emergency Care in Sports”, Kendall-Hunt Publishing, August 2012.

Craig DI. “Development of Statewide Clinical Education Sites in Athletic Training Education”; International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 2012;17(3):25-29.

Craig DI. Article Review for the “Current Literature” column in the Athletic Training Education Journal, “Problem-Based Learning in Athletic Training”; April, 2012.

Craig DI. Textbook - “Introduction to Athletic Training and Emergency Care in Sports”, Kendall-Hunt Publishing, July 2010.

Craig DI. “Current Developments Concerning Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome”.  Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2009;37(4):1-6.

Craig DI. “Educating Students on Athletic Training Political Involvement”; Athletic Therapy Today. 2009;14(3):36-38.  Invited manuscript.

Craig DI. “Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome: Evidence-Based Prevention”; Journal of Athletic Training. 2008;43(3):316–318.

Craig DI. “Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome: Etiological Theories – Part 2”; Athletic Therapy Today. 2008;13(2):34-36.

Craig DI. “Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome: Current Etiological Theories – Part I - Background”; Athletic Therapy Today. 2008;13(1):17-20.

Craig DI. “Applying Brain-Based Learning Principles to Athletic Training Education”; Athletic Training Education Journal. 2007; 2(Jan.-Mar.):16-20.

Craig DI. “Athletic Training Instructors: A Needs Assessment of Teaching Methodology Knowledge and Self-Perceived Competence”; Athletic Training Education Journal. 2006; 2(Apr.-Dec.):28-37.

Craig DI. “Learning Professionalism in Athletic Training Education”; Athletic Training Education Journal. 2006;1(Jan.-Mar.):8-11.

Craig DI. “Brain-Compatible Learning: Principles and Applications in Athletic Training”; Journal of Athletic Training; 2003;38(4):59-67.

Craig DI. “Educational Reform in Athletic Training: A Policy Analysis”; Journal of Athletic Training; 2003;38(4):13-19.

Career History/Work Experience

Dean, College of Health, University of Alaska, Anchorage (July 2022-current)

Associate Dean, College of Health & Human Services, Northern Arizona University (2021-2022)

Associate Department Chair, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University (2004-2021)

Professor and Director, Graduate Athletic Training Education Program, Northern Arizona University(2004 -2021)

Gender Equity and Inclusion for Athletics Task Force, Northern Arizona University (2006-2013)

Faculty Athletics Representative, Northern Arizona University, (2013-2015)

Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Athletic Training Education Prog, Northern Arizona University (2003-2004)

Associate Director of Sports Medicine, Santa Clara University (1991-2000)

Sports Medicine Director, World Kendo Federation World Championships (1997)

Head Athletic Trainer, Hartnell Junior College Salinas (1990-1991)

Head Athletic Trainer, Flowing Wells High School (1988–1990)

Student Athletic Trainer, California State University, Chico (1984-1988)