Ronnie Barnes, M.S., ATC, was a former MSU assistant athletic trainer and is the current head athletic trainer and Vice President for Medical Services for the New York Football Giants. Mr. Barnes is one of the most respected athletic trainers in the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA). In 1996 he was awarded the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1999. He has twice been voted National Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. Mr. Barnes was a member of the NATA Board of Certification, past president of the NATA Research and Education Foundation, and recipient of the Tim Kerin Award for Excellence in Athletic Training. He recently completed a seven year term as President of the Professional Athletic Trainers Society, and he and his staff were awarded the Ed Block Courage Award as the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 1999. Mr. Barnes was named March of Dimes Man of the Year in 1999.

Mr. Barnes received his bachelor's degree from East Carolina University in 1974 and a master of science degree from MSU in 1979. Since his graduation, hw has been actively involved as an alumnus of both institutions. Mr. Barnes was the first African-American graduate of the Sports Medicine Department at ECU and has been elected to the East Carolina Hall of Fame and named an Outstanding Alumni. In 2002, he was honored by East Carolina University by opening the Ronnie P. Barnes African-American Resource Center at the school's Joyner Library.

In 1998, MSU's athletic training department established the Ronnie P. Barnes Student Athletic Trainer and Leadership Award through a grant made to the department's Ralph Young Fund. This award is given each year to the senior undergraduate student who most exemplifies the qualities of professional dedication and leadership. Through Mr. Barnes' generosity and personal commitment to MSU, his major grant has contributed significantly to the growth of the undergraduate athletic training program. With Mr. Barnes' continuing support, the Ronnie P. Barnes Resource Center was established in the Spring of 2006 to support the growth of the undergraduate and graduate athletic training education programs.