The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the ACAPT Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (FHEL) Grant: Robert S. Phillips, PT, DPT, PhD, Associate Professor at Franklin Pierce University, and Susannah L. Steele, PT, PhD, DPT, PCS, Program Director at Concordia University Ann Arbor.

The ACAPT FHEL Grant supports participation in the Academy of Education Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (FHEL) program, an opportunity designed to cultivate leadership capacity in faculty and program leaders across academic physical therapy. Through this support, ACAPT continues its commitment to investing in leaders who are prepared to strengthen programs, mentor others, and advance the future of physical therapy education.

Both 2026 recipients reflect the kind of thoughtful, service-driven leadership the grant is designed to support.

Dr. Phillips’ goals center on advancing physical therapy education through evidence-based curriculum design, outcomes-driven assessment, and mentorship of emerging academic leaders. His application highlighted a commitment to leading through complexity, particularly as programs navigate evolving instructional models, faculty development needs, and increasing pressure to align student learning outcomes with accreditation standards and long-term professional competencies.

Dr. Steele brings a leadership perspective shaped by nearly 25 years in clinical practice and a deliberate transition into academic physical therapy. As a program director, she is focused on leading a high-quality, high-value PT program while helping address some of the most pressing challenges facing the profession, including affordability, access, and workforce needs.

While their professional journeys are distinct, both recipients share a commitment to leading academic physical therapy through change with strategy, collaboration, and purpose.