Showcasing impact: Arizona regents visit NAU’s Flagstaff mountain campus
Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services welcomed Arizona Board of Regents members Gregg Brewster, James McCain and Steve Peru to the Flagstaff mountain campus on September 30 for a firsthand look at how students are preparing to serve Arizona’s communities. Joined by Provost Karen Pugliesi, Vice Provost Laurie Dickson and Dean Janelle Chiasera, the regents explored clinical and classroom spaces where students connect their education to practice. Student ambassadors Riley Hoffer and Izzy Verne accompanied the group throughout the CHHS tour, adding student perspectives to the afternoon’s activities.
The CHHS tour began in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, where Dental Hygiene Department Chair Chad Webb introduced the program’s community clinics, the need for dental hygienists and the connection between oral health and public health. Dental hygiene student Josie Rosaortega then demonstrated patient care techniques with a familiar Lumberjack in the dental chair: Louie. The demonstration walked visitors through patient questions, assessments and cleaning, examination and X-ray techniques, offering a glimpse into the knowledge and skills students develop as future dental hygienists.
At the Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, Department Chair Dr. Benjamin Tucker introduced the programs within Communication Sciences and Disorders and discussed the important roles of speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants. Hearing screenings and an ultrasound demonstration brought these areas of study to life, giving the regents an opportunity to explore the clinical tools students use as they prepare to support communication and hearing needs.
The visit continued in the athletic training and physical therapy lab, where faculty members Corey Oshikoya, Jay McCallum and Andrea Lerner welcomed the group. Students practiced evaluations and clinical skills with one another while speaking with the regents about their training. The shared lab setting also provided an opportunity to discuss how athletic training and physical therapy students learn together through interprofessional education and skills practice.
The final stop brought the group to the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management’s teaching kitchen for the Food is Medicine class. Nutrition faculty member Megan Meyer introduced the course, which brings together nutrition, public health and students from other majors to connect food preparation with health. Regents and university leaders joined students at cooking stations, following recipes and learning about the nutritional value of the items being prepared. Faculty shared how the course incorporates opportunities for public health students to practice environmental safety skills, highlighting the connections among nutrition, food safety and community well-being.
Throughout the afternoon, the visit offered a view of the different ways CHHS students apply their learning—from clinical assessments and rehabilitation skills to nutrition and public health. By bringing regents into these learning environments and creating opportunities for conversations with students and faculty, the college highlighted its role in preparing future health professionals. The visit concluded with student ambassadors gathering with the group for photos, closing an afternoon centered on learning, connection and the people behind NAU’s impact.
