Dennis Perkey

Dr. Dennis Perkey serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight for program operations, accreditation, curriculum delivery, outcomes assessment, and partnerships with Nebraska Athletic Medicine. He also accompanies students to Greece as part of an interdisciplinary study abroad course examining Greek influences on nutrition, health, and sports medicine.

Prior to becoming Program Director, Dr. Perkey served as the Clinical Education Coordinator at Nebraska from 2015 to 2021. In that role, he guided students through outcomes-driven clinical education experiences with Husker Athletics and community healthcare partners.

Before joining Nebraska, Dr. Perkey spent more than a decade at Arkansas State University. He served as Clinical Education Coordinator from 2003 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2015, as well as Interim Program Director from 2009 to 2010.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Perkey served as Head Athletic Trainer at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Jonesboro/Williams Baptist University from 2001 to 2003, Assistant Athletic Trainer at Arkansas State University from 2000 to 2001, and Head Athletic Trainer with Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center at Southwest Mississippi Community College from 1999 to 2000. He also completed NFL training camp internships with the Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998.

In addition to his work in higher education and athletic training, Dr. Perkey served for more than 21 years as a Certified Doping Control Officer for the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). During that time, he served as Lead Doping Control Officer for more than 150 professional, Olympic, and Paralympic events. His assignments included the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, multiple U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials and National Championships, and multiple New York City and Chicago Marathons.

Dr. Perkey has also served as an American Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR Instructor and as a Board of Certification (BOC) Examination Examiner from 2004 to 2007. He is a member of the Arkansas State University Letterman’s Club, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA), and the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association (NSATA).

Dr. Perkey earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in 2011 and a Specialist in Community College Teaching (SCCT) in Community College Administration from Arkansas State in 2005. He earned an M.S.Ed. in Social Psychology of Sport from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1998 and a B.S. in Athletic Training and Exercise Science from Arkansas State University in 1995.

Dr. Perkey and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Aaron (and his wife Landyn) and Alexa.

Updated: Aug. 2026