Powell joined the University of Iowa staff in 2018 as head athletic trainer for the football program. She previously served on the athletic training staff at the University of Minnesota as an assistant athletic trainer prior to the 2013 football season and was promoted to head athletic trainer prior to the 2016 season.

Powell previously served as a contract athletic trainer for the U.S. Army, where she worked with the 795th MP Battalion. She was an associate athletic trainer at Northern Illinois University from June, 2008, to April, 2011, serving as the head football athletic trainer. Powell was an assistant athletic trainer at Northern Illinois from June, 2006, to June, 2008, and was a graduate assistant athletic trainer there from August, 2004, to May, 2006.

Prior to joining the Northern Illinois staff, Powell was an athletic trainer with Orthopeadic Associates of Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from May, 2001, to June, 2004.

She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), the College Athletic Trainers' Society (CATS), and the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA). Powell received her undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2001, and her master's degree in sport management from Northern Illinois in 2006.

Powell is a native of Clarkston, Michigan.