Through research and practice that will advance healthier lives for communities across the globe, TC’s health graduates build upon a legacy of service and scholarship across numerous disciplines. Leading up to the College’s Convocation ceremonies on May 19th and 20th, members of the Class of 2026 gave us an inside look into the challenges that drive their work and what’s next.
Meet Jade Carter (M.A. ’26 Motor Learning)
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.
How She Makes an Impact: Using augmented reality to advance research related to Parkinson’s disease and gait rehabilitation through both her own work and contributions to the Neurorehabilitation Research Lab (NRL) led by Lori Quinn, Professor of Movement Science and Kinesiology. This work allowed Carter to bridge her passion for innovative technology with a motor learning framework that can enhance gait rehabilitation. “I hope to make an impact by knowing I was able to improve the lives of others,” Carter says.
What Matters: “What matters the most to me is helping individuals maintain or regain their mobility and independence," shares Carter, who witnessed her grandmother struggle with mobility after a fall that profoundly affected her quality of life. Carter, an athlete with an interest in biomechanics, became motivated to do something that could help others like her.
Her TC Takeaway: Carter especially valued her time working in the NRL, where she’s been able to combine her passion for human movement technology with meaningful research. “Being part of an interdisciplinary team of physical therapists, neuroscientists and dancers has allowed each person to bring a unique perspective while sharing a common goal of developing interventions that improve functional abilities and quality of life,” Carter shares.
What’s Next: Carter aspires to be a leader in the field of biomechanics through the development and implementation of tools that provide data-driven insights to enhance clinical care, rehabilitation and human performance. After graduation, she plans to transition into a role in industry where she can apply her background in neurorehabilitation, biomechanics, and human performance.
Meet Cecilia Chen, (Ph.D. ’26, Behavioral Nutrition)
Hometown: Suzhou, China
How She Makes an Impact: Participating in research projects at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia Medical School and presenting her findings at international conferences. “I want to translate nutrition science into practical tools that actually change behavior. I aim to help people manage chronic conditions and sustain healthy eating long-term,” she shares.
What Matters: The idea of using food as medicine to prevent and manage chronic diseases. Chen believes nutrition is deeply tied to mental health and overall quality of life, and she aims to help more people experience that connection to live better. “Ultimately, using nutrition to promote well-being is something I deeply value,” Chen says
Her TC Takeaway: Chen has found motivation through the support she’s found at TC, from scholarship funding and the research platform to travel grants that allowed her to pursue research training. “My advisors and colleagues have also been genuinely invested in my growth as both a researcher and a practitioner,” she shares.
What’s Next: After graduation, Chen plans to use her knowledge to create impact in the health and wellness space. She’s currently building an AI platform that expands the capacity of registered dietitians, so that evidence-based nutrition care can reach far more people than the traditional one-on-one model allows. “I’d like to continue to help others through spreading research-based information on lifestyle and nutrition habits.”
Meet Jeremy Kuper (Ed.D. ’26, Applied Exercise Physiology)
Hometown: Manasquan, N.J.
How He Makes an Impact: As an incoming professor of kinesiology, Kuper empowers students by providing the tools, connections and confidence they need to succeed. “I aim to foster a supportive, collaborative community and create a legacy reflected in the success and achievements of those I mentor,” he shares. “My scholarship challenges our symptom-reactive healthcare system and supports a shift towards a proactive, preventive model of care where physical activity is a foundational component.”
What Matters: Leveraging exercise in preventative care and medicine. As founder of a longevity startup in 2021 and now Chief Wellness Officer at Atlantic Physical Therapy Center, he develops personalized wellness and obesity care programs focused on improving long-term health outcomes. “Research shows that exercise plays a significant role in the treatment and prevention of more than 40 chronic diseases,” he explains. “Despite this evidence, preventative care continues to face challenges within a predominantly symptom-reactive health system. I hope to shift this paradigm towards one that prioritizes long-term health and prevention.”
His TC Takeaway: “At TC, I appreciate the collaborative, interdisciplinary environment where different perspectives come together to build a more integrated understanding of health and physical activity,” he shares. “This has challenged me to think beyond traditional boundaries and apply learned principles in meaningful, real-world ways.”
What’s Next: This August, Kuper will join the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at The College of New Jersey as their newest faculty member. In this role, he will teach courses in exercise physiology, nutrition, metabolism and movement-based data analytics. He plans to continue to mentor students while also expanding upon his obesity research.
Meet Pavita Singh (Ed.D. ’26, Health Promotion and Education)
Hometown(s): Palo Alto, California and New York City
How She Makes an Impact: Singh’s mission is to help people tap into their power to take ownership of their wellbeing by unleashing the stories within them. “Through my work, I want individuals and communities to own their narratives, communicate them with clarity and confidence, and feel empowered and encouraged to define their own happiness,” Singh says.
What Matters: Destigmatizing the pursuit of mental health support through consistent, culturally and developmentally appropriate health education. “Opening up about our experiences is a critical step towards breaking the stigma,” says Singh, who was in part inspired by her own mental health journey.
Her TC Takeaway: Singh embraced TC’s interdisciplinary approach to learning through digging deep into an array of subjects. “My professional growth has been accompanied by my personal growth, all thanks to a nurturing community that feels like family,” she says.
What’s Next: In the immediate term, Singh plans to continue to teach as an adjunct at TC while developing a book based on her dissertation. She is also working to create an organization that helps people explore identity, wellbeing, and connection through narrative and creative expression. “My goal is to help make health education more human-centered and accessible.”
Meet Marjorie Thomas (M.S. ’26, Health Education)
Hometown: Nine Miles, Jamaica
How She Makes an Impact: Thomas has dedicated most of her career to healthcare administration and risk management, driven by a passion for community health. She began her professional journey at Bellevue Hospital and later, for many years, led the development of risk management programs specific to physicians’ practices for a professional liability insurance company. Marjorie also served in a role at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where among other responsibilities, she guided students in preparation for their field work.
She recently completed her capstone project at TC, which explores the intersection of health, healthcare and immigration. Having immigrated to the U.S. at 16, Thomas says, “Learning about our political structure has deeply shaped my perspective on health and the broader healthcare system. I plan to help individuals think about their health in more constructive, holistic ways and I'm excited to apply what I have learned in real-world settings.”
What Matters: Her Christian faith. “I aim to emphasize the ‘love my neighbor’ aspect of my faith in everything I do—helping others is paramount,” she shares. Her studies at TC have strengthened her commitment to addressing barriers to healthcare, whether political, socioeconomic, or otherwise. “I appreciate the importance of approaching each person with kindness, if I am going to have even a chance of helping to guide them to the support they need.”
Her TC Takeaway: "At TC, every professor whom I've had the privilege of studying with has been supportive and has provided me with terrific insight through their teaching,” reflects Thomas. “The TC community embodied kindness for me, whether students holding the door or helping me navigate campus, and that has made my experience truly special.”
What’s Next: After TC, Thomas hopes to explore new opportunities to put her studies into practice. “I’m interested in serving on the board of a nonprofit that provides services to improve healthcare access and health in individuals and families”, she concludes. “I’m also hoping to do more work with my church congregation and maybe return to teaching English to immigrant populations.”
Meet Olivia Volmar (M.S. ’26 Communication Sciences Disorders)
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
How She Makes an Impact: Co-manager of Professor Cate Crowley’s LEADERSproject Lab, Volmar supports the development of free, evidence-based speech, language, and cleft resources for children with disabilities and their families. Honoring her Haitian American heritage, she has worked on creating Haitian Creole language assessment measures in collaboration with Crowley, Professor of Practice of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “I look forward to continuing to bridge the gap between issues of ethnicity, multilingualism, neurodiversity, and clinical practice,” she says.
What Matters: Volmar has always felt an intrinsic calling to partner with children and families from underserved communities. Through her time working with a Haitian clinician, she came across speech language pathology (SLP), and discovered the diverse ways practitioners can work with patients across the continuum of care. “I firmly believe in leaning into the lived experiences of our patients and providing equitable family-centered care,” she shares.
Her TC Takeaway: “The beauty of my time at TC is the breadth of opportunities that have shaped me into a well-rounded clinician,” Volmar says. From the LEADERSproject collaborations with global medical practitioners on high-quality cleft surgeries and speech interventions to participating in the Communications, Sciences & Disorders program’s international service trip in Ghana, she values how TC has allowed her to find her sense of belonging and contribute to clinical work that supports global communities.
What’s Next: Next, Volmar plans to pursue a medical pediatric SLP clinical fellowship, with an emphasis on neurodevelopmental disabilities and cleft and craniofacial disorders.