“My dad would put me in any recreational sport that was happening in our town. I played softball, basketball, and even track. But I’ve always loved to dance,” Harrison said.

In the summer of her junior year of high school, Harrison attended a summer dance program at Radford University, where she met ������Ƶ West African Dance professor Keshia Gee.

“She told me about �����Dz�’s dance science program, and I did my research and decided to apply,” she said. “I cried tears of joy when I got admitted.”

Combining her passions for dance and physical therapy, Harrison decided to enroll at ������Ƶ for the opportunities that come with the dance science major.

“I saw that the dance science program was a way for me to open the door for physical therapy. I found that there was more opportunity in this major rather than a typical path,” she said. “This major gives me the background to solidify trust with a patient because I know the body and know how to alleviate the pain they may feel, so they can get back to playing a sport or doing their art.”

Harrison is also pursuing minors in exercise science, African studies and dance. Later in her ������Ƶ career, she aspires to conduct undergraduate research involving West African dance with Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Gee. She has also had her sights set on planning a Winter Term study abroad program to broaden her studies on a global scale.

One of �����Dz�’s opportunities she is using to her advantage is the EMT-Basic certification course done in collaboration with Alamance Community College. Aligned with her physical therapy aspirations, Harrison is excited to complete the course and take the final exam to earn her official EMT certification.

“The aspect of helping people is why I want to do sports physical therapy. I get to incorporate that into my EMT work,” she said. “I’m already getting more confident with labs and learning skills from the practice.”

Eager to learn more and advance her career as much as possible, Harrison has connected with ������Ƶ’s athletic trainer for club sports and performing arts, Christina Yanakis. Harrison recently attended a club hockey game alongside Yanakis, where she saw a professional in action.

“I was able to observe her scope of practice and see the different dynamics of hockey players and their pain points. It helped me realize that I want to do both sports and performing arts, which is why I think physical therapy is my correct path,” said Harrison.

When asked about what she is most proud of, Harrison replied, “I’m proud of how committed I am to the career path I’m on. I’ve stayed with it, and there have been times where I’ve debated changing, but as I advance, I realize more and more that this is what I want to do.”

Harrison’s F.W. Beazley Leadership Scholarship has strengthened her resilience in pursuing her passions.

“With any experience, you get what you put into it, so I am giving it all my might, and I hope I get that in return,” she said.

This mindset has led to sustained motivation and incredible progress within her studies.

She notes that the support through scholarships has given her motivation, adding, “The donors believe in me so much that they will spend their resources and time to make sure that I succeed in my education and career. I am striving for greatness, and I promise to make you proud, and I will always be grateful for the financial help from ������Ƶ donors.”

On April 4,  the ������Ƶ Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing Club and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to �����Dz�’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Six young children zipped across the pavement in brightly colored toy cars, laughter trailing behind them. These weren’t ordinary rides; they had been carefully reimagined by those same students inside, transformed into custom vehicles designed just for the kids who drove them.

The collaborative effort between the ������Ƶ Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to �����Dz�’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Julianna Millett ’26 spearheaded �����Dz�’s effort with fellow engineering majors Diego Hernandez ’26 and Abigail Johnson ’27, after learning about the program through their Tikkun Olam Makers Fellowship. The TOM Fellowship Program is a nine-month international program that supports campus leaders, students and faculty in leading “communities” of students who use their engineering and design skills to co-create TOM Solutions for problems faced by people with disabilities, the elderly and the poor.

“For a lot of children, this is their first mobility device. Insurance isn’t going to cover a mobility aid because kids grow so fast,” said Millett. “With this car, it’s giving them almost a first experience of having some autonomy over their movement.”

On Saturday, engineering students adapted the car’s gas pedal to be a button on the steering wheel so the children could drive the car more efficiently, and physical therapy students helped adjust five-point harnesses so the children could also ride comfortably.

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor of engineering, views this work as an extension of �����Dz�’s Engineering Design for Service course, where students work in small teams to design devices for systems that aid a local community client.

“Now it becomes an extracurricular engagement for students who are really motivated by that type of work to be able to continue it, and it connects them to a much larger organization,” said Hargrove-Leak. “It’s international and several other institutions of higher education are part of this, so just having that connectivity with other people who are doing similar work and moving it into the extracurricular space broadens and deepens that experience.”

Rebekkah Manning’s 4-year-old son, Henry has cerebral palsy and works regularly with the Department of Physical Therapy. Manning says Henry has not been able to play like other children his age due to his condition.

“A lot of options are not open to him. Even the rides at the city park are not adaptable and accessible,” she said. “It’s discouraging to try to be the mother and father of a child who wants to play, and he can’t.”

Henry was fitted into his car on Saturday while his father controlled the driving through a remote control, and Henry was also able to use the steering wheel button to drive.

“It is a dream come true because it’s something that we realized that we couldn’t do with Henry unless we had help,” said Manning. “When he got in, he got a little bit nervous, and everybody was watching, but then after a few laps here, did you see his smile grow? And he started interacting more. So, it is definitely a confidence builder.”

Carrie McCollum heard about the Go Baby Go program through their family’s physical therapist at Cone Health, who is an ������Ƶ alum. McCollum’s daughter BillieAnn has cerebral palsy, and while her older brother had driven her in his toy car, McCollum says it’s safer and better for BillieAnn to now drive her own.

“I hope to see her getting outside more often,” said McCollum. “We live on a farm, we have plenty of open space for her to move around on, but the wheelchair does not go well on gravel or rough terrain. I hope that this will be a way for her to drive around and see things out in our yard and on our farm.”

Hargrove-Leak says while this experience has been beneficial for the families involved, the students and her find it rewarding as well.

“It is so fulfilling to be able to serve as a mentor for these students,” said Hargrove-Leak. “I have just enjoyed watching them grow as servant leaders, using their knowledge and skills to help other people. That’s always been my dream as an engineering educator, to try to encourage students to use what they’re learning for good in the world.”

Go Baby Go is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges. At ������Ƶ, the program brings together students from physical therapy and engineering along with members of the ������Ƶ Phoenix racing team, to combine clinical insight, technical design, and hands-on fabrication skills. Before cars are built, the team is focused on recruiting student volunteers and connecting with local families for evaluation. These evaluations help determine each child’s specific mobility needs and guide design decisions for the custom ride-on cars.

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor in the department of engineering, is co-mentoring the Go Baby Go project with engineering students Julianna Millett, Diego Hernandez and Abbey Johnson, who initiated the project as part of the TOM Fellowship Program.

Paula DiBiasio, associate professor in the department of physical therapy education and a pediatric physical therapist, has run Go Baby Go projects in the past and is co-mentoring the project and is leading efforts to recruit families, and providing the physical therapy evaluations to assess the mobility, seating, and switch needs for the children. For each evaluation, PT and engineering students are working with DiBiasio to gather data, engage with the children/families, and problem-solve the buildout. Together with DiBiasio, the team plans the equipment needed for each individual child’s car.

Physical therapy students play a key role in assessing trunk stability, limb movement and safety consideration, while engineering students contribute to design, electronics, and fabrication planning. Members of the Phoenix Racing team add technical expertise and hands-on problem-solving on the day of the event.

The program not only supports children and families in the surrounding community, but also gives students a unique opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real-world challenge with meaningful impact. By working across disciplines, students gain experience in teamwork, human-centered design, and problem solving.

Students interested in learning more about the program or getting involved can reach out to jmillett@elon.edu  or 410-812-8770.

The program began with an introduction from Robert Nithman, program director of physical therapy education, followed by a message from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Rebecca Kohn. She refreshed the student’s memory on ������Ƶ’s mission statement in connection to the mission and duties of a physical therapy career.

“������Ƶ embraces its founder’s vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body and spirit,” said Kohn. “It encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience. As I reflected on your ceremony, it was apparent that for physical therapists, through the holistic care you provide your patients, you are actively transforming minds, bodies and spirits. To achieve this, you must rely heavily on the core values of caring, compassion, inclusion and social responsibility.”

The ceremony, held in Lakeside, symbolized the students next steps in committing to a career that demands humility, resiliency and empathy.

“You’re stepping into a role where people trust you with their pain, their fears and their hopes,” said Nithman. “You will earn that trust through your actions every day. Through your work, you will give many the chance to reclaim parts of their lives that they feared were lost.”

Srikant Vallabhajosula, professor of physical therapy education, and Alys Giordano, assistant professor of physical therapy education, serve as the cohort advisors for the DPT class of 2028, and they began the introduction of the signees. Students posed while writing their signature, along with taking a headshot photo after they completed their walk.

Before starting the Physical Therapy Pledge, class leaders Marisa Santamauro G’28 and Chimeri Anazia G’28 were invited to the podium to lead their peers in reciting the pledge. After the pledge concluded, Nithman finished the ceremony with some closing remarks.

“Students, on behalf of our faculty, staff and administration, we are very proud of you. We are honored to guide you, and we look forward to watching you grow into the clinicians and leaders that our communities desperately need,” Nithman said.

�����Dz�’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program emphasizes a patient-centered approach to the profession. The program includes science, research and 48 weeks of hands-on clinical practicums to reinforce what students learn in the classrooms to everyday life.

Together, they performed a minute-long hip-hop routine to the Black Eyed Peas song Boom Boom Pow choreographed by Meghan McGarrigle. After the performance, the audience voted for their favorite faculty/staff dancer, crowning Melissa Scales the audience favorite for the second year in a row!

Follow the ������Ƶ Dance Team on Instagram @eudanceteam to learn about upcoming performances and events.

And as she prepares to retire from the university having influenced many hundreds of graduates and earning in 2024 the university’s highest faculty honor, the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, Johansson sought to share her wisdom in a Commencement address to some of the newest members of the healthcare profession.

Her key takeaways on Dec. 12, 2025, for ������Ƶ students conferred with degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy included:

• Prioritize human connection over individual achievement in both career and life.
• Practice compassion with boundaries to sustain caring without burnout.
• Treat yourself with self-compassion and accept help as part of belonging.

Delivering her afternoon remarks in Alumni Gym to School of Health Sciences graduates, Johansson challenged the familiar advice to “follow your bliss,” calling it inconsistent with both evidence and lived experience. She cited the , which has tracked participants for the better part of a century and found that strong relationships matter more to long-term happiness than wealth or physical health.

“If you want to pursue an evidence-informed approach to happiness, you have to focus on other people and not just yourself,” Johansson said. “I suspect that most of you sitting here came to healthcare because you already care about relationships. It’s quite possibly also why you chose to study at ������Ƶ.

“So it’s good to know that relationships are also the key to professional success and happiness. Studies indicate that the more people focus solely on themselves, the worse off they are likely to be—physically, mentally, and professionally.”

For healthcare professionals, Johansson said, those connections may be brief but still lasting. Even short encounters, including supportive words offered in moments of care, can leave a lifelong impact. Research was cited showing that compassion improves patient experiences and protects providers from burnout, a condition marked by emotional exhaustion and detachment that disproportionately affects healthcare workers.

Johansson emphasized that compassion differs from empathy alone because it moves people to action while reducing personal emotional distress. Studies of compassion training show increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and belonging rather than pain.

Sustaining compassion over time, she reminded graduates, requires boundaries, self-compassion and a willingness to accept help. Johansson also stressed that fulfillment depends on connecting to something greater than oneself, often experienced through relationships with patients, colleagues and communities.

“When we think of relationships, we tend to imagine longevity,” Johansson said. “Yet for many of us, our intersections with patients may last only a few minutes and we never see those people again. But your supportive words and your moments of caring can stay with a person for a lifetime.”

The Commencement program welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the university’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, in her welcoming remarks thanked clinical partners who provided practical learning experiences for students, and she shared her gratitude for loved ones who supported graduates throughout their academic journeys. Lund also spoke directly to those about to enter the healthcare profession.

“Graduates, know that you are needed!” Lund said. “Today our communities face significant healthcare challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce healthcare inequities.

“Congratulations on your accomplishments. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.”

In a charge to graduates to conclude the ceremony, ������Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book cautioned about the world in which healthcare workers now practice where science, once an unquestioned foundation, is too often dismissed or distorted.

Graduates will also practice in systems where business models shift rapidly, Book said, and the pressures on clinicians and the needs of patients are growing ever more complex.

“Go forth with compassion. Be a steady presence in spaces where uncertainty and instability can distract from the heart of healing,” she said. “Serve with integrity when you face difficult decisions, and let your training guide you toward what is just and wise.

“Be advocates for your patients, for your communities, and for a healthcare system that honors each and every person. And hold fast to the belief that your work matters deeply, especially in times when the world needs compassionate clinicians more than ever.”

Candidates for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

• Layla Abumayaleh
• Sarah Allison Acu:
• Ashley Emelda Banegas
• Kiara Lyniece Batts
• Joshua Isaiah Brower
• Abigail Chester
• Claire Elizabeth Cummings
• Jessica Claire Davis
• Emily Anne Easthom
• Samantha Page Eldredge
• Abigail Heath Franklin
• Cyntasia Dene’ Hammonds
• Sarah Jenkins
• Caroline Grace Maness
• Carmen Mesa
• Shania Brianna Oyler
• Alexa Porter
• Avery Lane Riley
• Mia Gabrielle Rose
• Haley Josephine Savastano
• Lillie Grace Shamblin
• Lauryn Alexandra Smith
• Madison Jaycee Steele
• Suleyma Torres-Garcia
• Anna Josie Wheat

Candidates for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

• Sarah Lane Edwards Adams
• Fatema Alhajeri
• Haley Brooke Brennan
• Brianna Laurel Bromley
• Mia Cameron Cleary
• Cynthia Chisom Dimgba
• Devron John Felder
• Samir Halalou
• Chandler Reid Halvorsen
• Grace FuJia Huisking
• Katrina Anastasija Jackson
• Nadia Zein Ja:al
• Lillian Rae Kerchinsky
• Blessed Kisakye Wiele
• Michael Richard McCormack
• Lina Concetta Meikle
• Danielle Martine Meyen
• Jordan-Lee Napolitano
• Sarah Michelle Newman
• Sydney Marie Noldin
• Brian Walter O’Hare Jr.
• Dylan James Paracka
• Robert Arthur Plagmann
• Gabriela Jazmin Quintanilla
• Patricia Lourdes Raj
• Joshua Lewis Rambeaut
• Yeimi Lizbeth Reyna Romero
• Savannah Joyce Richardson
• Andrea Leigh Robertson
• Dakota Austin Sampson
• Erin Elizabeth Schiemann
• Laura Staeheli
• Savannah Cherie Summy
• Douglas James Thompson
• Vivian Chau Tiet
• Eddie Dean Tyler White
• Julia Christine Wyner
• Ellie Christine Yakubu

Candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Nicholas Michael Bush
• Katelyn Brooke Carpenter
• Emiliano Chirigliano
• Raya Imani Coley
• Kasey Copeland
• John Carl Daniels
• Jazmyne Nechole Davis
• Rachel Laurel Davis
• Logan Gregory Deese
• Danielle Sanford Essex
• Michaela Faith Fitzgerald
• Gabrielle M. Flocco
• Josephine Freeman
• Madison Leigh Friday
• Taylor Marie Grikis
• Terris Hightower
• William Huie
• Kaleigh Iris Jenkins
• Samantha Rose Kosmacki
• Kyle Matthew Langworthy
• Breanna M. Lanouette
• Kieran Best Mahoney
• Katherine Briana Messikomer
• Alex Miller
• Andrew G. Miller
• Jamshed K. Mistry
• Sara Moore
• Isaac Murdock
• Alexis Nowell
• Airiann Marie Page
• Ashlyn Wolfe Panagrosso
• Chaney Leigh Patton
• Samantha Nichole Pawlovich
• Wesley Allen Roberson
• Veronica Romero-Perozo
• Jacob Dean Rosengarten
• Milani Denise Lavarias Saldon
• Virginia Royal Shafer
• Anthony William Shea
• Charles Fairbank Sigloh
• Addison Kay Swo:ord
• Alannah Marie Thomas
• Matthew L Urrutia
• Thomas Ryan Van Dorp
• Hannah Michelle Wright

“I’m so proud of our students,” said Maha Lund, dean of ������Ƶ’s School of Health Sciences. “Their research topics and the depth of the work are impressive. What it shows me is that they have learned how to access original research and resources that will help them take care of their patients.”

Twenty 3rd year DPT students presented 12 posters on topics related to their personal and professional growth while learning and exploring culturally unique healthcare settings across the world. As part of the DPTE Global Learning Opportunities program, students took DPT courses in locations across the US and around the world, including Peru, Italy, Australia, Belize and various US locations.

“We are celebrating students’ development of intercultural skills necessary to effectively work across differences, with the ultimate goal of delivering equitable, culturally responsive, and individualized healthcare,” said Paula DiBiasio, associate professor and director of the Global Learning Opportunities Program in the Department of Physical Therapy Education.

ABSN students showcased their research via eight evidence-based poster presentations on important topics, including management of pediatric migraines, family involvement in diabetic foot care, technology innovations to improve medication safety and many others. The students completed this research work as part of their “Evidence-based Nursing Practice” course.

“As these students prepare to begin professional nursing practice, it is essential that they are able to use the current research literature to provide evidence-based support for their practice,” said Associate Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Van Horn. “The students have done an excellent job of exploring and analyzing the research literature to make sound recommendations for nursing practice to improve patient care. We are all very proud of their accomplishments.”

Thirty-eight 2nd year PA students each presented their research findings at the Forum. The students presented on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to research regarding drug trials, surgical options, and new treatments for emerging medical concerns.

“These students are ready to move into their professional role as PAs and will bring this knowledge of the latest research with them in order to practice evidence-based patient care,” said Antoinette Polito, associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Forty-six 1st year DPT students presented their research via 17 posters from their “Research Design III” course. The research project topics ranged from pediatric-, cardiovascular-, neurologic- and sports-physical therapy.

“These presentations are a culmination of more than 6 months of quantitative, hands-on research experience,” said Srikant Vallabhajosula, professor and research coordinator for the Department of Physical Therapy, who also teaches the course. “Each group has gone through a different journey but culminated in this wonderful conference-like experience! I am proud of their hard work and thankful to the faculty members who mentored these groups in their research endeavors. I am hoping many of these will go to national conferences to give these students a richer exposure to research and evidence-informed practice.”

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• �����Dz�’s first Accelerated Pathways to Physician Assistant Studies students to graduate in December

Becoming a physical therapist is personal for Raya Coley G’25. The former college basketball player suffered three ACL tears during her time in the sport and noticed a trend she wanted to change.

“As I was recovering, I wasn’t seeing many Black women, if any, that were in that field working with me,” she said. “I wanted to be that version of what I wasn’t seeing within my time as a patient.”

A home away from home

So, when it came time to find a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, it needed to be personal, too. A Raleigh native, Coley had heard about �����Dz�’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, but it wasn’t until she came to campus that she felt an immediate connection.

“As soon as I stepped foot on campus and even through the interview process, it just felt like home,” Coley said. “I was looking for a home away from home, and ������Ƶ was.”

Coley earned her undergraduate degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science from Coker University. Now, she will graduate in December as part of �����Dz�’s School of Health Sciences winter commencement with a goal “to be an innovator, be a model and be what I didn’t get to see as a patient.”

All first-year DPT students participate in research, but Coley found her niche early. She joined �����Dz�’s athletic testing group, working with Division I athletes on data collection and analysis.

“I fell in love with it so much that I decided to stay on for the next two years,” she said. “We’ve been able to make some pivotal progress and put some thoughts into the world about returning to sport, ACL information and everything from that capacity.”

Coley’s clinical rotations took her across the East Coast, including outpatient orthopedics in North Carolina, neuroscience in the medical respiratory ICU in Richmond, Virginia, and outpatient neurorehabilitation. Her final, and longest, clinical was for 16 weeks at Rehab 2 Perform in Germantown, Maryland. She calls it an “experience of a lifetime.”

Learning through service

�����Dz�’s curriculum design, which blends classroom learning with immediate clinical application, prepared her well.

“The orthopedics module was my favorite part of PT school,” she said. “That’s the first area where we feel like real student PTs. We spent eight months before ortho learning a bunch of different skills without knowing how to apply it, and then we kind of got to put it all together.”

But Coley made it a priority to stay engaged beyond academics.

“It’s really easy for students when they get into PT school to say, ‘School is going to be the main thing I focus on,’” she said. “But I have been able to do so much more than I thought I was going to be capable of.”

She volunteered with the Hope Clinic (Help Outreach Program of ������Ƶ), pro bono clinics managed by the program for underserved populations in the Alamance County community. Coley also tutored fellow students and served on the DEI Committee. She even helped launch a food pantry connected to Hope Clinic’s weekly services at the Dream Center.

“It was such an amazing experience,” she said. “Just seeing the amount of impact within the community. It meant the world to me.”

Grace, intellect and empathy

Faculty mentorship played a significant role in her experience. “������Ƶ does an excellent job of just having professors be pretty accessible,” Coley said. “Whenever I needed something, I knew I could knock on a door.”

“Raya Coley embodies everything we hope for our graduates—grace, intellect and empathy,” said Crystal Ramsey, associate professor of physical therapy education. “She has quietly built a legacy that reaches far beyond the classroom, redefining what it means to lead through service. Whether tutoring peers, supporting patients, or strengthening community outreach, Raya leads with humility, compassion, and conviction. Her impact will continue to inspire those who have the privilege to learn from and work alongside her.”

While the academics were rigorous, Coley said the relationships she formed were the most lasting part of her ������Ƶ experience.

“I have made the best friends that I will take for a lifetime,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’m just graduating with cohort members or colleagues. I feel like I’m graduating with 44 other friends.”

Next comes preparation for her licensure exam, a process she expects to take 10 to 12 weeks. As she prepares for graduation, Coley is keeping her options open, but hopefully she will earn a spot in �����Dz�’s sports physical therapy residency, giving back to the community that helped her grow.”

“I think opportunities are endless and that’s exciting,” she said. “I want to be somewhere where I can make the most impact and serve in the greatest capacity.”

The outlet, which is part of “New York Magazine,” spoke with three physical therapists on the subject. Nithman noted that no matter your weight, choosing the right mattress comes down to getting the appropriate level of pressure relief and support. He says choosing a mattress that offers proper support will help keep your spine in a “neutral” position and maintain the natural curves at the neck and lower back.

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