In January, 2023, Cal State Monterey Bay added an important piece to its administrative staff by naming Jennifer Swanson (PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CSCS) as its new assistant athletic director and senior woman administrator.
Swanson joined the Otters with an extensive background in sports performance and physical therapy. Amongst several high profile positions on her CV include serving as the head physical therapist for the Los Angeles Lakers (2016–18) and as the director of sports performance for the Chicago Bulls (2013–16).
Swanson is a Salinas native and returns to the area where she began her athletic career as a standout track performer up the road at Gilroy High School. Her career took off from there where she was a record–setting NCAA Division II pole vault champion and NCAA Olympic Trials qualifier at UC Davis. She was named the Aggie Scholar–Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2001 and was named to the UC Davis Hall of Fame in 2008.
After earning her B.S. in exercise science at Davis she went on to earn her doctorate in physical therapy from Duke University. She did her residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where one of her rotations included serving on the athletics training staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
She is a licensed physical therapist and a Board Certified Specialist in both Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher through Polestar Pilates.
In addition to her experience and educational qualifications, Swanson owns a half dozen national certifications and has been published in several highly regarded journals in her field.
