University of New England

Welcome!

DPT Ask a Student provides an opportunity for prospective students to have their questions about the program and the University answered by current DPT students.

To contact one of our DPT students, please send your email to dptanswers@une.edu.

Meet our student participants:

Courtney Klenk

My name is Courtney Klenk, a second year student in UNE’s DPT program. I grew up in Norton, MA and attended the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI, where I earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences. The biggest influence in my decision to become a physical therapist was my experience with my personal physical therapist. I had an outstanding physical therapist that helped me return to competition when I was distance runner for the University of Rhode Island. I knew that I wanted to have the same impact on other’s lives.

I applied to several DPT programs, but chose UNE because I felt very welcome at the school. After a few phone calls with the director of the program, Mike Sheldon, I knew that UNE was the right match for me. I was initially nervous about living in Portland because I generally dislike cities. I quickly became accustomed to the city and all that it has to offer. During my free time, I often go hiking at one of the many nearby state parks. I also enjoy running around Back Cove. In addition, I had the opportunity to try indoor rock climbing this winter at a local gym. Portland is a great city!

Mike Carrier

I am from Londonderry, NH. I attended Saint Petersburg College in Saint Petersburg, FL, for 2 years until one day I came up to UNE to visit my sister. The campus as well as the faculty and people I met were amazing, leading me to transfer and graduate from UNE with a bachelor's degree in Applied Exercise Science. I decided to stay at UNE, where I am now a 2nd year student in the DPT program, due to the graduate faculty being just as kind and helpful as my undergraduate professors, as well as the location being close to the great city of Portland, ski mountains, and many excellent beaches. Also, the small class sizes combined with the willingness of the professors to help you out to the best of their ability throughout your coursework have made attending this program a great experience.

Brandi Oakley

My name is Brandi Oakley. I am originally from Hurdle Mills, North Carolina and graduated from Duke University in 2007 with a BS in Biology. I just made it through my first year in the DPT program and will be starting my first 12 week clinical affiliation in the Fall. I was originally interested in UNE's DPT program because of its location (in a small, vibrant city) but really fell in love with the school when I met the faculty.

Although the coursework is difficult, I can usually find time for a little fun. I spend the warmer months running, hiking, and biking and I spend the colder months drinking hot chocolate, snow shoeing, and rock climb indoors. In short, UNE is a great shool with a dedicated and well-qualified faculty and Portland is a nice, safe town with lots of things to keep you entertained.

For additional information about UNE's DPT program, please click here.