Chandler joined the Valdosta State Sports Medicine staff in 2026 as an Athletic Trainer, serving as the primary athletic trainer for the Blazer baseball program.
Stephens brings nearly a decade of experience across collegiate athletics and orthopedic sports medicine, having cared for student-athletes at the NCAA Division I level in multiple conferences and sports. Prior to joining Valdosta State, Stephens spent three years with Northside Hospital Orthopedics in the Atlanta area as a Clinical Lead Athletic Trainer. In that role, Stephens worked alongside orthopedic surgeons and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, assisting with injury evaluations, regenerative medicine procedures, and return-to-play planning for athletes of all levels.
Before transitioning to orthopedic practice, Stephens served as an Associate Athletic Trainer and Insurance Coordinator at Middle Tennessee State University, providing comprehensive medical care for the Lady Raiders basketball program during their conference championship-winning 2022-23 season.
Stephens also spent two years at the University of Missouri, serving as the athletic trainer for two of the Tigers’ nationally-ranked programs in swim and dive during the 2021-22 academic year and the softball program from 2020-21. While at Missouri, Stephens also served as a mentor through the Tiger Leadership Institute, helping student-athletes develop leadership skills and prepare for success beyond competition.
From 2018-20, Stephens worked at Arkansas State University, where she cared for the Red Wolves’ women’s soccer and baseball programs. Stephens began her collegiate athletic training career as an intern at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, working with the Ragin’ Cajun cross country and track & field programs during the 2017-18 academic year.
A native of Georgia, Stephens earned dual Bachelors degrees in Athletic Training and Exercise & Sport Science from the University of Georgia in 2017 before completing a Master of Science in Sport Administration at Arkansas State University in 2019.
Additionally, Chandler holds certifications in Dry Needling, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B), and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), reflecting a commitment to evidence-based patient care and performance optimization for student-athletes.
