Dr. R. Richard Ray Jr., who is
coordinator of the athletic training program and an
associate professor of kinesiology at Hope College, will be
inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Michigan Athletic
Trainers' Society on Thursday, May 27.
The ceremony will be held in East Lansing, during
the society's annual Hall of Fame Dinner.
Ray has been a member of the Hope faculty since
1982, and has been involved in the profession of athletic
training for more than 20 years. Long-time colleague Dr.
George Kraft called the honor "well-deserved," praising Ray
for his leadership role in developing Hope's athletic
training program; for skills ranging from his work with
athletes to his scholarship; and for the national reputation
he has developed in the field of athletic training.
"We're lucky to have him," said Kraft, who is a
professor of kinesiology and chair of the department.
"He does all facets of his job with incredible
professionalism," Kraft said. "He's a faculty member of
whom we can be justifiably proud."
Under Ray's leadership, the college's athletic
training program has grown into a full major that requires
its graduates to complete 48 credit hours in a variety of
disciplines and at least 1,500 hours of clinical work under
the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Hope is
the only private liberal arts college, and also only the
fourth institution of any type, in the state of Michigan to
have its athletic training program accredited by the
Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Ray has a wide range of research interests, and
has received several grants to support his work. He is the
editor or author of the books "Counseling in Sports
Medicine" (1999), "Management Strategies in Athletic
Training" (1994) and "Case Studies in Athletic Training
Administration" (1995), all published by Human Kinetics. He
has written more than 40 articles in scientific
publications, and has presented papers at several
professional conferences.
He is editor of "Athletic Therapy Today," and he
has served as associate editor of the "Journal of Athletic
Training."
Ray has served in elected and appointed positions
at the state, regional and national levels in various
athletic training professional organizations. His
activities include having served as president of both the
Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and the Michigan
Athletic Trainers Society. In 1995, the society presented
him with its Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.
Ray received a master of arts degree in physical
education from Western Michigan University in 1980 and a
doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan
University in 1990, and was honored as a Graduate Research
and Creative Scholar by the school in 1990. He holds his
bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.
Dr. R. Richard Ray Jr., who is
coordinator of the athletic training program and an
associate professor of kinesiology at Hope College, will be
inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Michigan Athletic
Trainers' Society on Thursday, May 27.
The ceremony will be held in East Lansing, during
the society's annual Hall of Fame Dinner.
Ray has been a member of the Hope faculty since
1982, and has been involved in the profession of athletic
training for more than 20 years. Long-time colleague Dr.
George Kraft called the honor "well-deserved," praising Ray
for his leadership role in developing Hope's athletic
training program; for skills ranging from his work with
athletes to his scholarship; and for the national reputation
he has developed in the field of athletic training.
"We're lucky to have him," said Kraft, who is a
professor of kinesiology and chair of the department.
"He does all facets of his job with incredible
professionalism," Kraft said. "He's a faculty member of
whom we can be justifiably proud."
Under Ray's leadership, the college's athletic
training program has grown into a full major that requires
its graduates to complete 48 credit hours in a variety of
disciplines and at least 1,500 hours of clinical work under
the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Hope is
the only private liberal arts college, and also only the
fourth institution of any type, in the state of Michigan to
have its athletic training program accredited by the
Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Ray has a wide range of research interests, and
has received several grants to support his work. He is the
editor or author of the books "Counseling in Sports
Medicine" (1999), "Management Strategies in Athletic
Training" (1994) and "Case Studies in Athletic Training
Administration" (1995), all published by Human Kinetics. He
has written more than 40 articles in scientific
publications, and has presented papers at several
professional conferences.
He is editor of "Athletic Therapy Today," and he
has served as associate editor of the "Journal of Athletic
Training."
Ray has served in elected and appointed positions
at the state, regional and national levels in various
athletic training professional organizations. His
activities include having served as president of both the
Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and the Michigan
Athletic Trainers Society. In 1995, the society presented
him with its Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.
Ray received a master of arts degree in physical
education from Western Michigan University in 1980 and a
doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan
University in 1990, and was honored as a Graduate Research
and Creative Scholar by the school in 1990. He holds his
bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.