Jessica Rayford joined the Union College Sports Medicine staff as an assistant athletic trainer in February of 2008 by way of the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.

In the fall of 2008, Rayford completed her certification from the National Athletic Trainers Board.

Born in Okinawa, Japan, Rayford was raised in the military community as her father was in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, meaning her mother, three brothers and sister moved every 3-4 years living in Japan, Colorado, Germany, Las Vegas, England, New Mexico and Belgium. Rayford graduated high school in Huntingdon, England, before moving to Pensacola and attending West Florida, where she received her B.S. in athletic training in 2007.

During her time at UWF, Rayford worked as a student athletic trainer, dealing primarily with the softball, volleyball and soccer programs. She also worked on the clinical side of athletic training at Andrew's Institute and Baptist Medical Physical Therapy.

While at Union, she will pursue her Master's in health education.