Kinesiology Graduates

Mbong Azang-Njaah, class of 2006
As a student of kinesiology while at Gordon, Mbong Azang-Njaah pursued prerequisite courses that would prepare her for admission to graduate study in physical therapy. Upon graduating, Mbong applied to several institutions, but at the top of her list was Simmons College in Boston. Mbong's acceptance to the DPT program there represents the first kinesiology graduate from Gordon to enter the ranks of this esteemed institution. Says Mbong of her experience at Gordon:

"I (have) found that not only did a strong background in kinesiology prepare me academically, it also instilled skills for...problem solving and time management which are necessary for entry-level doctoral work. The coursework I had in kinesiology was of a nature that made the transition to graduate school easier than expected."

Laura Doskocil, class of 2005
Upon completion of her B.S. in Kinesiology, Laura Doskocil applied for graduate study in physical therapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. This program was recently rated in the top five of similar programs in the country. She was accepted and began pursuit of her doctoral program in physical therapy in the fall of 2005 with a scholarship covering half of her tuition. Now in her 2nd year, Laura is in the home stretch of her pursuit of the DPT degree.

Laura speaks of her Gordon experience with fondness: "Throughout my time at Gordon I was blessed with many opportunities in and outside of the classroom." Having chosen the Kinesiology major, Laura says that she "was able to create relationships with faculty, discuss areas of difficulty and expose areas of strength, and most importantly, think about my vocation as a Christian. As I finish the last half of my program, I am awestruck that God would allow me to carry out his work…helping others to recapture the movement he meant them to have. I believe that gaining this realization is largely due to the experiences I had at Gordon, and that it will continue to feed that passion for years to come."

Rebecca Scott van Vliet, class of 2004
Rebecca Scott van Vliet entered the accelerated, post-baccalaureate nursing program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She has completed her degree and now serves as an registered nurse at a major teaching hospital. Here is what Rebecca had to say about her time at Gordon:

"When I look back on my time at Gordon a few things stand out: my intership at the Center for Balance, Mobility & Wellness, where I got my first taste of patient care; senior seminar, where assumptions were challenged and I learned to think as a scientist and as a Christian without compromising either arena; and the close-knit community of the kinesiology department, where I had the opportunity to grow and develop intellectually, spiritually and personally thanks to professors and classmates alike. Today I work as an RN on a neurology and neurosurgery floor at a large teaching hospital. While my nursing education more than prepared me for the direct nursing care I provide daily, I believe my patients receive more holistic care because of the lessons and experiences I had at Gordon. Whether it is the patient struggling with aphasia after a stroke, dealing with the devastating loss of motor function that accompanies multiple sclerosis or navigating a world of balance problems after a brain tumor, I am better equipped as a nurse because of my background in kinesiology. Nursing is a profession where opportunities to serve others and the Lord abound, and I am thankful to Gordon for the large part it played in bringing me to where I am today."

Andrea Toews, class of 2003
Unlike many of our graduates, Andrea Toews took a three year hiatus prior to entering physical therapy graduate study at the University of North Carolina. Here is what she has to say about her Gordon experience:

"A great big thank you is due again and again as I repeatedly find that my education at Gordon provided a very solid foundation for my current graduate studies... Even after a shelf life of three years, I find that I have been better prepared for this experience than many of my fellow classmates who just finished their undergraduate programs in kinesiology."  Andrea says that she is "thankful for the quality of my background in anatomy, reading and interpreting research articles, and biomechanics. As I continue through the curriculum, I have every confidence that I will find myself competent with new material, mostly due to a very solid background that is proving itself at this top 10 physical therapy graduate program."