Owings Mills, Md. (June 23) – Stevenson University has announced the addition of Naila Smith to its athletic training staff, bringing a strong background in collegiate athletic healthcare, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.

Smith joins the Mustangs after completing her Master of Science in Athletic Training at Towson University, where she gained extensive hands-on experience working with a variety of collegiate and high school athletic programs throughout the Baltimore area.

Most recently, Smith completed a full-immersion clinical rotation at Stevenson University, providing athletic training services for the football, women's ice hockey, men's volleyball, and men's lacrosse programs. During her time with the Mustangs, she assisted with injury evaluations, rehabilitation programming, return-to-play protocols, taping and bracing applications, and coordinated care alongside team physicians and healthcare professionals.

"We are thrilled to have Naila as part of our Athletic Training staff here at Stevenson." said Stevenson Head Athletic Trainer Cody Lancellotti. "She comes to Stevenson after completing a year-long clinical immersion as a Towson University master's student. Naila was able to make an immediate impact not only on our student-athletes, but our full-time staff. Her ability to provide outstanding clinical care as well as her ability to fit into the Stevenson community stood out during the hiring process. As a previous collegiate student-athlete, Naila is able to relate to our student-athletes and create a welcoming environment. We are very excited to see all that she accomplishes while here!"

Prior to her immersive experience at Stevenson, Smith completed clinical rotations at Mount Saint Joseph High School and Loyola University Club Sports. She gained valuable experience evaluating and treating athletic injuries, implementing therapeutic modalities, providing emergency care, and assisting with daily athletic training operations. Smith also served as an athletic training intern at Chowan University, working with the football and men's basketball programs while completing her undergraduate studies.

A Baltimore native, Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching from Chowan University in 2023 after completing her Associate of Arts in Exercise Science at Howard Community College. Throughout her education, she remained actively involved in the athletic training profession through memberships with the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association (MAATA).

Smith has also participated in numerous professional development opportunities, including the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, MATA Advocacy Day, and the MAATA Annual Symposium. Additionally, she has provided athletic training coverage for several notable events, including the USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program Combine, the Baltimore Running Festival, and the Baltimore Chesapeake Rugby Tournament.

"'m excited to transition into a full time role after spending the past year at Stevenson as an Athletic Training Student." said Smith. "I look forward to continuing to build relationships and contributing to a culture that prioritizes student-athlete health, wellness, and success. I'm eager to play a role in helping our student-athletes reach their full potential while providing support both on and off the field."

Smith is certified in Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) through the American Heart Association and officially joins the Stevenson athletic training staff for the 2026-27 academic year.