Convocation Ceremony
DPT 20 December 5, 2025
Provo, Utah
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear RMU DPT Graduates,
Congratulations!
Today marks a defining moment in your life journey—a culmination of years of dedication, resilience, and purpose. You now stand ready to step into your calling as compassionate healthcare professionals.
At Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU), your education has combined an evidence-based academic curriculum with people-focused experiences that prepare you to make a positive difference in the lives you touch.
Through rigorous study and hands-on training, you have become part of the next generation of healthcare leaders, ready to set the standard for compassionate care and excellence in your field. Ahead of you are countless lives that will intersect with yours—patients who will look to you for healing, hope, and strength.
As you go forward, remember and intentionally act upon the heart of RMU’s mission: to improve the human condition by loving and lifting those in need. To love is to see others as they are, meet them where they are, and listen to what they say. Doing so will instill a trust in the treatment that will elevate their and your quality of life.
Congratulations, DPT 20, we are proud of you and of the good you will do!
Welcome to the distinguished alumni ranks of RMU!
Dr. Cameron K. Martin University President & CEO
CEREMONY AGENDA
Conducting
Dr. Steve Wilkinson
Program Director & Department Chair
Processional of the Graduates
Pomp and Circumstance
Written by Sir Edward Elgar (Please stand)
Welcome
Dr. Jeff Lau
Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Graduate Speaker
Jason Nguyen
DPT 20 Class President
Presentation of Awards
Reading of Names and Degrees
Gretel Cosman
Registrar
Remarks
Dr. Cameron K. Martin
University President & CEO
Alumni Welcome
Dr. Glory Dioh-Esona
Alumni Association Board President, DNP/FNP Alumna
Concluding Remarks
Dr. Steve Wilkinson
Program Director & Department Chair (Please stand)
Recessional of the Graduates
Participation in the ceremony does not indicate degree completion. Upon degree completion, the Registrar’s Office will post the degree on the academic transcript and graduates will receive an official RMU diploma.
AWARD RECIPIENTS & NOMINEES
Top Scholars
Presented by Dr. Misti Timpson
Professor
Curtis Lundberg
Hanna White
National Physical Therapy Student Honor Society
Presented by Dr. Will Sykes
Co-Director of Clinical Education
Cassidy Ashton
Emily Flake
Perri Freeman
Curtis Lundberg
Hanna White
Clinical Excellence Award Recipients
Presented by Dr. Will Sykes
Co-Director of Clinical Education
To Be Announced
Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award Recipient
Presented by Dr. Will Sykes
Co-Director of Clinical Education
Dr. Robin Cecil
AWARD RECIPIENTS & NOMINEES
Leadership Award Nominees
Presented by Dr. Christa Young
Associate Professor
Emily Flake
Kenneth Higgins
Jason Nguyen
William Stasinis
Bing Yeung
Faculty Recognition Award Nominees
Presented by Dr. Michael Bartholomew Assistant Program Director
Jack Bonniwell
Connor Dunaway
Emily Flake
Perri Freeman
Kenneth Higgins
Curtis Lundberg
Stephen Powers
AWARD RECIPIENTS & NOMINEES
Professional Engagement Award Nominees
Dr. Steve Wilkinson
Program Director & Department Chair
Emily Flake
Perri Freeman
Kenneth Higgins
Lizzie Peikert
Bing Yeung
Lifting Others Award Nominees
Presented by Dr. Tyler Luszeck
Assistant Professor
Emily Flake
Perri Freeman
Timothy “TJ” Guerrero
Kenneth Higgins
Chase Jones
Aden Pierce
Stephen Powers
William Stasinis
Katryn Valdoria
Bing Yeung
FEATURED BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Robin Cecil
Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award Recipient
Robin L. Cecil, PT, DPT, SCS, is a board-certified sports clinical specialist and the founder and director of Sport Ready Academy in Sandy, Utah. With over 30 years of experience in physical therapy and sports medicine, she is dedicated to advancing athlete care and performance and safe return-to-sport practices.
A graduate of Texas Woman’s University (MSPT, 1995) and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (tDPT, 2015), Dr. Cecil holds additional certifications and training in blood flow restriction (BFR) training, Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), 3D movement analysis, sports speed training, workload management, and strength and conditioning. She is the medical director for Salt Lake Academy, providing sports medicine care, rehabilitation, sideline coverage, and athlete development services. Additionally, she provides athlete physical therapy services and sideline coverage through her cash-based model, supporting youth and sports club programs throughout Utah.
Passionate about mentoring future clinicians, Dr. Cecil is honored to be recognized as Clinical Instructor of the Year by Rocky Mountain University for her commitment to education, clinical excellence, and student development.
COLLEGE OF REHABILITATION SCIENCES
Doctor
of
Physical Therapy Graduates
Jared Aarsvold
Franco Nahuel Aguero
Cassidy Rianne Ashton
Andrew Bestenlehner
Benjamin Bodily
Jack Bonniwell
Jacob Brockert
Connor Kent Dunaway
Kyler Edwards
Emily Jane Flake
Brooke Pauline France
Perri A. Freeman
PJ Goff
Alyssa Grinde
Timothy John “TJ” Fortune Guerrero
Katie Harris
Isaiah Hernandez
Kenneth Higgins
William Horner
Francheska Isip
Chase Jones
Briana Marie Lawson
Trisha Roween Lim
Curtis Lundberg
Lanney Nicole McKinley
Jackson Mills
Robert Millward
Jason Nguyen
Brandon Olsen
Lizzie Peikert
Aden Pierce
Rick B. Porter
Stephen Powers
Vanessa Rabos
Matthew Rios
Emma Seitz
Tyler Earl Shumway
Cooper Smith
William Stasinis
Ethan Tall
Katryn Faith Jacobe Valdoria
Christian Vellozzi
Ashley Waddell
Katie Werkema
Hanna White
Allyson Whiting
Bing Yeung
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Program Director and Department Chair
Steve Wilkinson PT, MSPT, MS, PhD
Associate Program Director
Joel Tenbrink PT, PhD, ATC
Assistant Program Directors
Michael Bartholomew PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, CEEAA
Miriam Cortez-Cooper PT, MA, PhD
Co-Directors of Clinical Education
Tim Stevenson PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
Will Sykes PT, DPT
Director of Accreditation and Assessment
F. David Paulson PT, DPT, OCS
PROGRAM FACULTY
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Michael Bartholomew PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, CEEAA Assistant Professor
Kaiwi Chung-Hoon PT, PhD, CEEAA Professor
Miriam Cortez-Cooper PT, MA, PhD Associate Professor
Hina Garg PT, MS, PhD, NCS, CEEAA Associate Professor
Kelsey Hopkinson PT, DPT, GCS Assistant Professor
Megan Kisner PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, Cert. DN, COMT Assistant Professor
Greg Koberstein PT, DPT Assistant Professor
Jeff Lau PT, DPT, PhD, CMPT Associate Professor
Tyler Luszeck PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor
Megan Merrill PT, DPT, PCS Assistant Professor
Crystal Miskin PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Assistant Professor
F. David Paulson PT, DPT, OCS
Assistant Professor
Rhodri Purcell PT, MPT, EdD, OCS, CSCS, Cert DN Associate Professor
Tyler Robinson PT, DPT, Cert DN Assistant Professor
Douglas Santillo PT, DPT, PhD Assistant Professor
Tim Stevenson PT, DPT, PhD, OCS Assistant Professor
Paul Stoneman DPT, PhD Professor
Will Sykes PT, DPT Assistant Professor
Joel Tenbrink PT, PhD, ATC Associate Professor
Angela Thomas PT, DPT Assistant Professor
Misti Timpson PT, DPT, PhD, NCS Professor
Steve Wilkinson PT, MSPT, MS, PhD Associate Professor
Elizabeth Willison PT, DPT, ScD, WCS, PRPC, Cert in Wound Care, Cert in DN Assistant Professor
Christa Young PT, PhD, NCS Associate Professor
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Michael Skurja, Jr. Chair
Dr. Rogan L. Taylor Vice Chair
Mr. Michael Held Treasurer
Dr. Susan Lucht Secretary
Dr. Jessica Egbert
Dr. Leah I. Fullman
Dr. Sunnie Giles
Dr. Lily S. Hsu
Dr. Gregory D. Myer
Dr. Michael Nelson
Dr. Richard P. Nielsen
Mr. James Suel
Dr. Roy Zwahlen
Dr. Cameron K. Martin Ex officio
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION & OFFICERS
Dr. Cameron K. Martin
University President & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Malissa Martin
Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost
Mr. Jeffrey B. Bate
Executive Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Stephen L. Whyte
Executive Vice President of University Relations
Mr. Richard Peterson Chief of Staff
Ms. Dana Costa Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications
Mr. Dan Harmuth Vice President of Technology & Innovation/ Chief Information Officer
Jeffrey L. Fisher
Senior Executive Director of the RMU Foundation, Ex Officio
Dr. Tom Cappaert Vice Provost
Ms. Tanya Snelson
Sr. Executive Assistant, Office of the President
Deans
Dr. Malissa Martin
Interim Dean, College of Health Sciences
Dr. Jeff Lau Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr. Adam Hickenbotham Dean, College of Optometric Medicine
WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
On behalf of the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Alumni Association, we congratulate you on graduating from RMU and officially welcome you as a new member of the Alumni Association. As you now embark on the next phase of your life, know that you are part of an incredible network of more than 4,600 healthcare professionals who are alumni of RMU.
As a graduate, you have access to the following:
• 15% tuition discount on a future certificate or program
• 15% tuition discount on RMU PEAKS continuing education offerings
• Library resources and research databases
• ORSP guidebook for getting published
• Access to alumni reunions and University events
We encourage you to get involved, be informed, and stay connected as alumni. To learn more, visit rm.edu/alumni. Congratulations, graduates!
