From Green Jay to Gator - Meet Aubrey Wright (Alumni Spotlight)

Meet Aubrey Wright, a JSCC alumni who has gone on to work on one of the biggest stages in college athletics.

Wright, a now certified athletic trainer with the Florida Gators, has worked with their volleyball, gymnastics, and spirit squad teams throughout her two-year internship with the University of Florida and has now been with the organization for what will be four years this spring. During her time with the Gators, both the volleyball and gymnastics teams have won Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships and gymnastics placed second in the NCAA D1 gymnastics championship. 

Prior to her time with the Florida Gators, Wright graduated from Jackson State with an Associate of Science in general studies in May of 2016. While studying at JSCC, Wright was initially uncertain where her career would take her after graduation and didn’t have a set plan for her future. While obtaining her A.S., Wright was drawn to her science courses, and her interests quickly began to lead her toward healthcare. “My general studies degree at Jackson State was the perfect steppingstone for entering into my bachelor’s degree,” Wright said of her time at JSCC.

“I had professors that were helpful on my journey… they were very supportive of my education and a huge part of me being successful,” Wright said when asked if there were any faculty or staff members at JSCC that helped reinforce her career path. “My academic advisor, Dr. Liz Mayo, helped me take the classes that would be most important for my transition to University of Memphis. We spent a lot of time together figuring out what classes would transfer well into my bachelor’s program. Mr. Tony Rafalowski, my English II honors professor, was also one of the most supportive and encouraging professors I had during my time there and well after.”

After graduating from Jackson State, Wright transferred to the University of Memphis and in 2018 she completed her B.S. in Exercise, Sport, and Movement Sciences from the school of Health Studies. Wright was then accepted into University of Evansville’s Masters of Athletic Training program in Evansville, Indiana, which she graduated from in 2021. While attending the program, she did clinical rotations and internships with several schools, one being the University of Florida.

After passing her boards examination to become a certified athletic trainer, Wright accepted an internship with the University of Florida which later turned into a full-time position as the lead athletic trainer for the Florida Gators’ volleyball team in June 2023. 

If Wright was to give one piece of advice to a student interested in her field, she said, “I would suggest shadowing people in every athletic training setting so that you can understand your career options. Athletic training is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the country, and networking is everything in division one athletics,” Wright says.

When asked if there was anything she would tell her college-self to do differently, Wright said “I wouldn’t change a thing. If anything, I’d probably tell college-me to worry less, trust yourself, and keep working hard.”

Learn more about Jackson State Community College’s general studies and transfer pathways programs at jscc.edu/pathways.