Graduate Profile: Mary Kay Ecken
Mary Kay Ecken gained a wide variety of skills by double majoring in exercise and health science and psychology.
“The combination of science, fitness and psychology prepared me for physical therapy school,” the 1995 graduate says. “As much as I need my medical and fitness knowledge, I use psychology to motivate patients every day!”
Ecken now works as a physical therapist for St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
“The skills I gained at Alma prepared me well for graduate school,” she says, “and even now I feel I possess a wider breadth of background knowledge and skills than graduates of other programs.”
Though Ecken knew she wanted to major in physical therapy, she credits her pre-PT advisors with opening her up to many other health care options in the field. One of those options was working with an advisor to conduct research for NASA.
Attracted to Alma by the personal attention she received, Ecken enjoyed the opportunity to try new things at Alma, including playing soccer and singing with the choir. She was also a member of Alpha Gamma Delta social sorority, orientation committee and student government.
