Student Ambassadors | Physical Therapy
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
Sara Tracey
Class of 2019
Email | saratracey@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | San Diego State University, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy
Hometown | Salinas, CA
One Reason I Chose Pacific | “The minute I stepped foot on Pacific's campus I instantly felt like I was at home. All of the staff and current students were extremely welcoming throughout the interview day. I felt that no matter what, they would support me through the program and that was the type of environment that I knew I would be able to thrive in.”
Hobbies | Watching Bay Area Sports, volleyball, dirt bike riding, hunting, traveling, fishing, crafting, cooking, hiking, lifting weights, eating
PT Student Activities | Lead Student Ambassador 2017-18, Graduate Assistant PT Admissions, APTA and OPTA student member, PT Night Out, Go-Baby-Go Volunteer, PT Faculty Search Committee Member, Intramural Co-Ed Volleyball
Heather Higashi
Class of 2019
Email | higashih@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | Seattle University, Sport and Exercise Science
Hometown | Mililani, HI
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific University because of the welcoming atmosphere that I felt on interview day and throughout my application process. I felt a sense of community and family here at Pacific, and I knew that I could thrive as a student because of this!”
Hobbies | Hiking, running, cooking, going to the beach, and exploring new places
PT Student Activities | Student ambassador, APTA member
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
Kathryn Overton
Class of 2019
Email | katieoverton@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Wyoming, Kinesiology & Health Promotions
Hometown | Sheridan, Wyoming
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific because it felt like home from the moment I walked in. There's an amazing family environment here, and it stuck with me.”
Hobbies | Yoga, Pilates, Hiking, Fishing, Hunting, Adventuring, Foodie
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, 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
Claudia Cordero
Class of 2019
Email | ccordero@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Nevada, Reno, Community Health Science
Hometown | Dublin, CA
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "One of the many reasons why I chose Pacific was for the opportunity to do international clinical internships.”
Hobbies | Traveling, Hiking, Skiing, Zip line guide, Camping, Working out, Checking out restaurants and events in the Portland area, Hanging out with friends and family
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, Class of 2019 Vice President, Salud, Go-Baby-Go Volunteer
Ashlee Baltich
Class of 2019
Email | Holm8285@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University Wisconsin Stout, Applied Science
Hometown | Ogema, Wisconsin
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific because the faculty and students during my interview made me feel like this was my home away from home.”
Hobbies | I love to run and spend time with my husband and our dog, Rusty. I also like to swim, hike, fish, hunt, hang out with friends and crochet.
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, Class of 2019 Treasurer, APTA student member, Go-Baby-Go volunteer
Courtney Belt
Class of 2019
Email | belt7946@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | Arizona State University, Kinesiology
Hometown | Phoenix, Arizona
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific because of its location!”
Hobbies | Watch movies, Hike, Hang out with friends, Participate in group exercise, Eat out
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador
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
Tesse Maciejko
Class of 2019
Email | maciejko@gmail.com
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of New Mexico, Exercise Science; MS in Sports Administration
Hometown | Gunnison, Colorado
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific because I felt an instant connection. The people here are so nice and everyone involved or affiliated with the campus is so helpful and outgoing. In addition, the campus and facilities are amazing.”
Hobbies | Hiking, Backpacking, Fishing, Camping, Trail running, Swimming, Being outside
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador, Intramural Soccer
Jamie Condiss
Class of 2019
Email | cond8159@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of Oregon, Human Physiology; University of New Mexico, Business Administration
Hometown | Santa Fe, New Mexico
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "Pacific in known for graduating excellent Physical Therapists, and it has such a welcoming supportive environment.”
Hobbies | I love to hike, Make pottery (wheel throwing), Cook, Read, Discover new restaurants, reweries, and vineyards
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
Kylie Crawford
Class of 2019
Email | craw6331@pacificu.edu
Undergraduate Institution and Major | University of San Diego, Behavioral Neuroscience
Hometown | West Linn, OR
One Reason I Chose Pacific | "I chose Pacific for the quality and quantity of clinical rotations.”
Hobbies | Softball, Hiking, Short runs, Trivia, Brunch
PT Student Activities | Student Ambassador