From accreditation to commencement, these five topics defined a year of growth at Concordia University Ann Arbor.
As CUAA forges ahead into the new year, we pause to highlight a few of the news topics that helped frame 2025 for our students, faculty, staff and broader community. Through Christ-centered initiatives, we are reminded to slow down and take a look back at what has been successful, knowing that growth does not happen without challenge.
As we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026, we want to thank everyone who has supported our mission along the way. We truly could not do this without you.
No. 1 — Accreditation: Affirming academic quality and institutional strength
Concordia University Ann Arbor’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has officially received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) proudly announces that its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program has been awarded the maximum 10-year accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)—the highest possible outcome in the accreditation process.
No. 2 — Dedication: Marking meaningful milestones across our campuses
“CUAA dedicates the Chapel of the Holy Nativity in a service of reflection and celebration”
Members of the Concordia University Ann Arbor community gathered Nov. 21 for a joy-filled naming and dedication of the Chapel of the Holy Nativity. Faculty, staff, and students joined together in a worship service rooted in Scripture, prayer, and thanksgiving for Christ’s presence.
No. 3 — New spaces: Expanding learning environments for students and faculty
A new space for students, faculty, staff and community to explore the human side of healthcare. Rooted in Concordia’s mission to develop students in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world, the Lab nurtures caregivers who lead with empathy, communicate with clarity and honor the dignity of every patient.
No. 4 — New programs: Responding to emerging needs with purpose-driven education
A new program invites career changers to answer God’s call to serve. Concordia University Ann Arbor has launched a new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN) program to help you make your move — and make it meaningful.
Concordia University Ann Arbor has announced the launch of a new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN) program, designed specifically for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are ready to pursue a future in nursing. The first cohort will begin in fall 2026.
No. 5 — New graduates: Celebrating the Class of 2025 and what comes next
From childhood memories of hospital dinners to crossing the commencement stage as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mallory Simmons’ journey reflects a life shaped by service, empathy, and a deep commitment to helping others heal.
When 2025 graduate Desiray Williams thinks about her journey from Detroit to the banks of the Huron River, one song rises to the surface — “God Has Smiled on Me.” Its steady, soulful refrain mirrors the path that led her to Concordia University Ann Arbor, where she discovered not only a graduate program, but a calling.
Tyler Groth, ’25, a Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate, isn’t afraid of hard work or service. As he entered the final stretch at CUAA, he reflected on those who championed him along the way.
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Concordia University Ann Arbor is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.
Click here to view a full list of the programs.