Each year approximately 30 PT Ambassadors volunteer their time and energy to be the student voice of the DPT program. All of our Ambassadors are actively involved in campus culture and the local Physical Therapy community, and work closely with the Admissions Office to provide an invaluable resource for prospective students.

We encourage you to speak with a current student about their experience applying to and choosing Pacific University's School of Physical Therapy. Ambassador's emails are provided below, and they will be happy to help you learn why Pacific is the school for you!

Please follow our program Facebook page to hear from current students and learn about program events.

Students

Mark Penewit

Class of 2020

Email | mpenewit@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | Oregon State University Business Administration/ International Business

Hometown | Turner, Oregon

One Reason I Chose Pacific | “I chose Pacific because of their focus on developing a well rounded physical therapist. I wanted a solid foundation to build upon and character development that my future patients, family, and community could be proud of.” 

Hobbies | Soccer, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, Running, Hiking, Cycling, Fishing, Eating, Traveling

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, intramural soccer

Cody Lim

Class of 2021

Email | lim7815@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science

Hometown | Waipahu, HI

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "One of the main reasons I chose Pacific University was because of the professional interactions between students across the different years along with the professors. Camaraderie is a big thing, the professors do their best to help students understand and prepare to be future physical therapists, while students help support each other in and out of the classroom."

Hobbies | Photography, Volleyball, Running, Hanging Out, Hiking, Eating, Video Games (when there is time)

PT Student Activities |  Student Ambassador 

Jaylen Wilson

Class of 2020

Email | wils1675@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | Cal Poly, SLO - Kinesiology

Hometown | Covelo, CA

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "One of the reasons I chose Pacific University was it's stellar location in the PNW. The city of Hillsboro is in close proximity to a variety of environmental surroundings such as the Pacific Ocean an hour West, Mt. Hood an hour and a half East, and downtown Portland ~20 minutes away. It was hard to turn down. ”

Hobbies | Hiking, outdoor running, coffee shop studying, skiing, playing basketball, scrapbooking, watching medical shows (i.e. Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, The Resident, New Amsterdam)

PT Student Activities | OPTA Student Leadership Committee, Chief Liaison 2018-19, PT Day of Service, Lead Student Ambassador 2018-19, PT Night Out, Graduate Assistant PT Admissions, APTA & OPTA Member, Intramural Basketball

 

 

Kera Akiyama

Class of 2021

Email | kera.akiyama@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | Northern Arizona University, Chemistry and Exercise Science

Hometown | Hilo, Hawaii

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific University because of their exceptional reputation as a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the Pacific Northwest."

Hobbies | Soccer, hiking, adventuring, photography, and eating good food!

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, Intramural Soccer

 

Susanna Lluria

Class of 2020

Email | llur9564@pacificu.edu     

Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Arizona, Public Health, focus in Health Deliveries

Hometown | Oro Valley, Arizona

One Reason I Chose Pacific | “I chose Pacific University because of my welcoming experience on interview day. All of the professors that I met throughout the day gave me a sense of security and caring. I enjoyed talking to current students and had an overall good feeling about the place and program. Lastly, I could not get over the openness of the campus and the quality of the facilities. As I walked away that day I knew that I was going to be a student at Pacific U!”

Hobbies | Volleyball, soccer, hiking, watching movies and finding new and delicious places to eat

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, APTA member, OPTA member

 

Hope Whitman

Class of 2020

Email | whit8345@pacificu.edu   

Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Health Science

Hometown | Glenwood Springs, CO

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "There was always positive and timely communication with the admissions department throughout my application process, and when I came for interview day everything about Pacific University made me feel so at ease. From the faculty, to the students, to the community, everyone was so personable, and welcoming. Oregon gave me the same sense of home that I felt in Colorado. Everyone says "when you know you know", and i just knew that this was where I was meant to be."

Hobbies | soccer, hiking, skiing/snowboarding, finding cozy coffee shops, and exploring new areas of Oregon

PT Student Activities | Student ambassador, APTA member, Intramural Soccer

 

Katie Phan

Class of 2020

Email | kmphan@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Kinesiology

Hometown | Seattle, WA

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific because the faculty deeply cares about helping students become the best clinicians they can be and students are immediately welcomed into a tightly knit community that both supports and challenges each other." 

Hobbies | Swing dancing, Running, Hiking, Playing soccer, Cooking, Photography

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, APTA and OPTA Student Member, Intramural Soccer

 

Maile Altier

Class of 2021

Email | maile.altier@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | Oregon State University - Kinesiology

Hometown | Lahaina, HI

One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific University because of how accepted and welcomed I immediately felt by the faculty and current students. I also loved that the campus is just made up of professional health programs and that interacting with students within different programs is built into our curriculum.”

Hobbies | Hiking, working out, hanging out on the coast, listening to podcasts, cooking, and exploring new places

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, APTA & OPTA member

Hannah Johnson

Class of 2020

Email | john3408@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major & Minor | University of New Mexico, Exercise Science & Psychology

Hometown| Longview, WA

One Reason I Chose Pacific | “I chose pacific for its stellar reputation of producing well rounded clinicians, how welcoming the faculty and current students were, clinical rotation opportunities,  high involvement throughout the community, and for a bonus, pacific students get summers off to recharge.”

Hobbies | I enjoy anything outside- Hiking, biking, kayaking/paddle boarding, camping, playing indoor and outdoor volleyball, and exploring different cafes/ restaurants with unique atmospheres

PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador

Drew Hamm

Class of 2021

Email |  hamm7451@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Idaho / Exercise Science and Health

Hometown | The Dalles, OR

One Reason I Chose Pacific | I chose Pacific because of the commitment the staff and faculty make to their students, to help them succeed in school and become the best Physical Therapist they can be

Hobbies | Hiking, camping, adventuring, baking/cooking, boating, snowboarding, reading, spending time with family & friends

PT Student Activities |  Student Ambassador, APTA member