Jackson Smidt ’14 Receives 4 Under 40 Award

Jackson Smidt ’14 has always known what he wanted to do. He just never imagined the life-changing impact he’d have doing it.

As the associate head athletic trainer at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Smidt was working a tennis tournament when an official collapsed in cardiac arrest. Along with the other athletic trainers on site, Smidt utilized his CPR training until the emergency medical services arrived and brought the man to the hospital for immediate surgery. Smidt says his crisis response was involuntary, that he would’ve jumped into action for anyone who needed immediate care.

“I hoped to have never have used those skills, but I'm glad I had the training to because I've still heard from the official that I helped save. He’s still alive and well and very grateful for the things that we did that day,” Smidt says. He received the American Red Cross’ Lifesaver Award—Certificate of Merit for his emergency efforts, which, to Smidt, which affirms the need for athletic trainers at sporting events.

While he has since been promoted to UCSB’s associate athletic director, a role that includes responsibilities as the associate head athletic trainer, COVID-19 lead, and the university’s health and wellness liaison—Smidt can trace his career’s inception back to high school. He frequently visited his high school athletic, trainer Roxane Fouberg, who helped him recover from the typical football injuries. Their conversations helped Smidt envision himself as an athletic trainer, and the summer after he graduated from high school, he shadowed Fouberg to see what day-to-day life looked like for her. “She took me under her wing and taught me a bunch of stuff that helped me as I transitioned into college,” Smidt says. “She played a huge role in my life of deciding that athletic training in healthcare was a fantastic field, and she helped get me where I wanted to be.”

After high school, the next place he wanted to be was Bethel University for the athletic training program. The mentorship he received from Fouberg had already been invaluable, and he wanted to keep building his skills under experts in the field. “At Bethel, the faculty and staff are absolutely phenomenal and really show you what it's like and how to do it well,” Smidt says. “I was prepared for the field by some very good mentors who I still stay in contact with for questions I might have.” He also connected with coaches, players, and Bethel’s own athletic trainers during his time as an outside linebacker on the football team. “I am so grateful for my time. Playing football with Bethel and the character that they teach on that team is unbeatable,” Smidt says.

Initially, he dreamed of working with professional athletes, especially in the NFL. A part of that dream came true when he landed an internship with the Minnesota Vikings, an opportunity he says he wouldn’t have gotten without being a Bethel student. In addition to his athletic training experience, Smidt gained some of the most important relationships in his life. He met his wife, Chelsea (Jans) ’15 and their group of Bethel friends, whom they try to see every summer.

After graduating in 2014, Smidt went to get his M.S. in Human Physiology at the University of Oregon, where he discovered a love for working with college athletes. He began to understand what kind of influence he could have on students during this transformative season of their lives. He loves seeing students grow from a freshman to a senior, eventually becoming their own person along the way. His first full-time job as an assistant athletic trainer brought him and Chelsea to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where they lived for a year before Smidt started working at UCSB in 2017.

Every year he’s spent working with college-level athletes is confirmation that he’s where he’s meant to be. He enjoys being part of the students’ journeys of transformation and appreciates meeting students where they’re at, especially when the majority of athletes see him while recovering from an injury. The time they spend in the athletic training room gives Smidt an opportunity to connect and build those influential relationships. “I get to know them and help them through probably one of the toughest times in their collegiate career—going through potentially major injuries,” Smidt says. “It can take months to years to recover from those injuries, both physically and mentally.”

Serving as the athletic department’s COVID-19 lead and health and wellness liaison, Smidt helped lead the university’s response to the pandemic. He helped coordinate isolation and quarantine protocols and communication efforts within the university. He’s ultimately had to make some tough calls to prioritize the physical safety of students, coaches, families, and fans. During the pandemic, he experienced the front lines of athletics and healthcare, especially since athletes often reached out to Smidt and his team with concerns they couldn’t address. “We hear a lot of things and not only are we looking out for them physically, but mentally, emotionally, like spiritually,” Smidt says. “We wear a lot of different hats and end up being a counselor at times. Things come up that we can't handle, but we know who they should talk to next, so we have those important conversations with the athletes.”

Through it all, Smidt did his best to come to work with a smile on his face. He knew what he needed to do to serve the students and larger UCSB community, and he depended on his faith to stay grounded. “People notice. They look at you and say, ‘Why are you smiling? You're different.’ And I can come back and say, ‘my faith has led me to lead a life of optimism in a dark time,” Smidt says. “I don't think I could even be close to that without integrating my faith into my life and work and everything I do. It doesn't just come down to utilizing your faith in your job. You don’t have to be a pastor or in missions. We need more people in the workforce, who carry themselves with faith and integrate it every single day.”

Nominate the next 4 Under 40 award recipient!

Bethel University’s National Alumni Board annually seeks and accepts nominations for the 4 Under 40 Alumni Achievement Award. The selection is made from Bethel University graduates 40 years of age or younger who have had outstanding achievements in their career, public service, or volunteer activities.

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