As part of our ongoing commitment to recognizing excellence, we regularly celebrate the achievements of our faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Twice each year, we gather many of these stories to reflect on how our community lives out its calling in service to Concordia and beyond. From professional promotions and published scholarship, to creative works and notable service, these milestones reflect the dedication, expertise, and faith they bring to Concordia. We are grateful for the many ways they serve our university and wider community.
FACULTY/STAFF
National conference presentations
- Dr. Melissa Kieffer was invited to deliver multiple presentations at the 2026 APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim, California, based on her dissertation research examining the use of Tai Chi to improve balance in older adults.
Scholarly publication
- Sarah Renner, assistant professor of occupational therapy at CUAA, recently published an article in the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research titled “Prevalence, Knowledge, and Attitudes Toward Complementary and Integrative Health in Occupational Therapy.”
STUDENTS
Outstanding physical therapy student recognition
- Tyler Groth, SPT (physical therapy Class of 2025), was named one of Michigan’s Outstanding PT Students for fall 2025 by APTA Michigan.
Endowment award for veteran student
- Bianca Hrynciw, SPT (physical therapy Class of 2026), was named the 2025 recipient of the Gordon and Dorothy Klein Endowment, which supports CUAA student veterans. She is a second-year physical therapy student currently deployed with the Michigan Air National Guard and continuing her coursework during deployment through May 2026.
ALUMNI
Distinguished scholar award
- CUAA alumnus Gregg Twietmeyer, ’97, was named the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Scholar Award by the National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education at Mississippi State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in art from CUAA, and was a four-year letter winner on the men’s soccer team during his time as a student-athlete.
Have an accomplishment to share?
We want to celebrate the accomplishments of our Concordia community. If you or someone you know — faculty, staff, student, or alumnus/alumna — has received an award, recognition, or other newsworthy accolade, please let us know.
Submit a news request or email the details directly to Susan Suleski at susan.suleski@cuw.edu.