Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Carla J Heffner

  • Clinical Assistant Professor - Dept of Health & Human Performance

Biography and expertise

Dr. Heffner was hired at Texas State in 2003 as Assistant Athletic Trainer with the Texas State Athletic Department and a lecturer in the HHP department. In 2013, Dr. Heffner became a full-time senior lecturer and Clinical Education Coordinator in the Professional Program in Athletic Training. In 2020 Dr. Heffner was appointed to the graduate faculty of the Professional Master's Program in Athletic Training. She also assumed the role of Clinical Education Coordinator for the Master's Program in addition to her duties as the Clinical Coordinator of the Undergraduate Athletic Training Program. Dr. Heffner successfully completed her Doctorate of Education in Health Professions degree from A.T. Still University in 2020. Dr. Heffner ​was appointed as the Program Director of the Professional Master's ​in Athletic Training program in ​January 2024. She also assumed the responsibilities of program coordinator for the Pre-Rehabilitation Sciences program and the Pre-Rehabilitation Sciences 3/2 ​Accelerated Program in 2024.

Education

Doctorate Degree

EDD in Education

Kirksville Coll of Osteopathic, 2020

Master's Degree

MS in Exercise and Sports Science

Iowa State University, 1999

Bachelor's Degree

BS in Health Sciences

Lock Haven Univ of Pennsylvania, 1997

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Thomas, K. A., Mueller, K. E., Sharpe, S. M., Whaley, D., Heffner, C. J., & Farrell, J. W. (2025). Proposing practice recommendations for adaptive sports for the disciplines of recreational therapy, exercise physiology, and athletic training. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 24(1), 7–18. Retrieved from https://wmpllc.org/ojs/index.php/ajrt/article/view/3881
  • Thomas, K. A., Kaitlin, M. E., Farrell, J. W., Sharpe, S. M., & Heffner, C. J. (2025). Recreational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, and Athletic Training: Interprofessional Collaborative Practices for Adaptive Sports. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 59(2), 163–183. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2025-V59-I2-12599
  • Heffner, C. J., & Green, A. (2024). Using Alumni Involvement to Increase Student Investment in an Athletic Training Program. Clinical Practice in Athletic Training, 7(1). Retrieved from https://scholars.indianastate.edu/clinat/vol7/iss1/10
  • Johnston Green, A., & Heffner, C. J. (2024). Traveling the Pathway to a Culturally Competent Health Care Provider: Incorporating Study Abroad into your Curriculum. Clinical Practice in Athletic Training, 7(1). Retrieved from https://scholars.indianastate.edu/clinat/vol7/iss1/10
  • Award / Honor Recipient: People's Choice Poster Winner, American Therapeutic Recreation Association. October 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College of Education Service Award, Texas State College of Education. September 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College of Education Service Award, Texas State College of Education. September 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Frank Medina Award, Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association. February 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Region VIII Spotlight Recipient, Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association. June 2020
View all awards
  1. Member

    HHP Alumni Committee

  2. Chair

    2026 MSAT Admissions Committee

  3. Graduate Advisor

    Program Director, Professional Master's in Athletic Training Program

  4. Undergraduate Advisor

    Program Coordinator, Pre-Rehabilitation Sciences Program

  5. Undergraduate Advisor

    Program Coordinator, Pre-Rehabilitation Sciences 3/2 Accelerated Program

  6. Chair

    Master's in Athletic Training Admission Committee

  7. View all activities