Christy Tapps has been elevated to serve as Northwest Missouri State University's head athletic trainer for the Bearcats.

Tapps has been an assistant athletic trainer at Northwest since 2016 where she has assisted student-athletes for virtually every Bearcat athletic program. Tapps also serves as Northwest's Senior Woman Administrator.

Tapps earned a bachelor's degree in sports medicine and athletic training with a minor in nutrition from Missouri State University in 2007. She then received her master's degree in health and human performance in 2009 from Oklahoma State University. While a graduate assistant, she worked directly with women's cross country and track and field at Oklahoma State. She spent a year at Oklahoma State as an intern athletic trainer working directly with men's and women's tennis. Following that, she spent five years working at a clinic working directly with an orthopedic surgeon assisting in his patient care.

In December 2018, the Northwest Missouri State Board of Regents recognized Tapps with the Lifesaver award for providing exceptional care and saving the life of a student-athlete whose heart stopped during a practice session. She was also recognized by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and received the 2019 Intercollegiate Council of Sports Medicine's Above and Beyond Award.

She is married to Tyler Tapps, assistant vice president for health and well-being at Northwest Missouri State. They have two sons, Landon and Carter.