Robbins College 2025 Year in Review
From groundbreaking academic launches to transformational research and outstanding student successes, 2025 was a remarkable year for Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. With its mission to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing, Robbins College made significant strides across education, research, outreach, and mission. Here are 10 highlights that defined an exciting year:
1. Welcoming First Baylor PA Cohort
Fall 2025 marked the arrival of Baylor’s first Master of Physician Assistant Studies cohort. Built as an innovative hybrid program blending online learning with in-person immersive experiences, this new degree seeks to educate and prepare compassionate healthcare leaders while expanding access to health and wellness through team-based, patient-centered medical care.
2. Expanding Access with New Scholarships
In a continued effort to reduce barriers to graduate education, Robbins College launched a multi-year, multi-million-dollar Dean’s Scholarship Initiative for online and hybrid graduate programs, making tuition support available across key disciplines including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
3. Celebrating Accreditation Successes
In anticipation of welcoming its first cohort, the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program was thrilled to be granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). In addition, the Department of Human Sciences and Design celebrated another six years of CIDA accreditation for its Interior Design program, underscoring longstanding academic rigor and professional preparation.
4. Nourishing Research through Seed Funding
Robbins College strengthened its support of aspiring researchers and research projects by awarding internal seed grants—including two new internal funding programs: the Pedagogical Scholarship Award Program and the Dr. Mike and Mrs. Micki Maris Endowed Seed Fund for Student Research—empowering faculty and students to pursue innovative projects across disciplines.
5. Growing Spiritually through the Dean’s Bible Study
In partnership with Baylor University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life Charley Ramsey, PhD, Robbins College Dean Jason Carter, PhD, launched a student-led, college-wide Bible Study during the Fall 2025 semester. Every other Tuesday, undergraduate students from across Robbins College (and beyond) gathered with college leadership to pray, fellowship, and discuss the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) before heading off to class with a breakfast burrito in hand.
6. Strengthening Graduate Mentorship
Innovative faculty development initiatives expanded this year, with dozens of Robbins College faculty completing specialized mentoring training in partnership with the Baylor University Graduate School to better support graduate student success in scholarship and professional growth.
7. Applauding National Program Recognition
Robbins College was well-represented in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, with several graduate programs receiving laudable recognition. Especially exciting—the Baylor Doctor of Physical Therapy program entered the U.S. News rankings for the first time at #42, making it the highest ranked hybrid program and placing it in the top 16% of physical therapy programs in the nation.
8. Making an Impact through Research Awards
Throughout 2025, Robbins College researchers continued to secure significant grants and funding to support projects focused on improving health and quality of life. A few award highlights include:
- Elizabeth Kwon (Public Health) – “Pubertal development, stress system functioning, and addiction vulnerability” through the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Barbara Doucet (Occupational Therapy) – “Walking & Talking & Flourishing: Optimizing Well-Being in Persons with Parkinson’s” through the Parkinson’s Foundation
- Jessica Feda (Physical Therapy) – “Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients with Neck Pain Likely to Benefit From Cervical Spinal Manipulation: A Randomized Trial” through the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research
- Brittany Perrine (Communication Sciences and Disorders) – “The effect of fish oil supplementation on the voice of female professional voice users” through the National Institutes of Health
- Liz Ardolino (Physical Therapy) – “Efficacy of an activities-based locomotor training program in children with cerebral palsy” through the National Institutes of Health
- Karen Melton (Human Sciences and Design) – “Character in Deeds: A Community of Practice Approach to Holistic & Intentional Character Education at Baylor University” through the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University
9. Introducing New Program Offerings
Robbins College is adding two new hybrid graduate programs to its offerings following Baylor Board of Regents approval in 2025. The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy will welcome its first cohort in Fall 2026 and announced Matthew Brosi, PhD, LMFT, as its inaugural program director in October. The Master of Architecture was most recently approved in November 2025 and will provide an accessible, flexible pathway for students to pursue the professional study of architecture.
10. Investing in State-of-the-Art Facilities
In October, Robbins College and Baylor University celebrated the ribbon cutting of the University’s new Clinical Simulation & Skills Facility, a state-of-the-art addition to campus that integrates cutting-edge technology with immersive training to enhance the education of future healthcare professionals, including students in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs.
ABOUT ROBBINS COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Established in 2014, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences seeks to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing for all individuals and communities through education, research, and innovation. It includes six academic departments—Communication Sciences and Disorders; Health, Human Performance, and Recreation; Human Sciences and Design; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; and Public Health—along with the Division of Health Professions, which houses the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Robbins College offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, eight master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees, as well as nine graduate programs in partnership with the U.S. Army. Graduate programs in Robbins College are offered in a variety of modalities, including on campus, online, and hybrid.