DECATUR, Ill. – When Carissa Guerrier first arrived at , basketball was a defining part of her identity. Recruited as a student-athlete from Grayslake, Ill., she came to campus ready to compete and with a feeling that Millikin felt like a special place from the moment she stepped onto campus.
That sense of belonging would carry her through a pivotal transition, shape her academic path, and prepare her for a future career in physical therapy.
“I remember visiting campus and telling my family, ‘This feels like home,’” Guerrier said. “I knew I could be happy here, even if basketball wasn’t a part of my future.”
After her first year at Millikin, a long-term injury brought Guerrier’s basketball career to an end. Instead of seeing the change as a loss, she viewed it as an opportunity to explore everything else Millikin had to offer.
“I had played basketball for 12 years, and my body was worn down,” she said. “I could either keep playing in pain or step back, take care of myself, and see what else life had to offer as a student.”
That decision opened the door to a deeply involved campus experience academically, professionally, and personally.
Guerrier entered Millikin knowing she wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy. After beginning as a Biology major, she transitioned into the program with a pre-professional focus in , which was a transformative change.
“Exercise Science gave me exactly what I was looking for: hands-on learning,” she said. “We’re rarely just sitting in a classroom. Every day we’re doing something active, something practical.”
Through Performance Learning opportunities, Guerrier conducted undergraduate research examining how different activity levels affect lactate buildup in athletes, working under faculty mentorship and gaining experience in study design, data collection, and statistical analysis.
She also benefited from the Exercise Science program’s built-in certifications, including personal training, strength and conditioning, and CPR.
“That combination of coursework and certifications makes you feel incredibly prepared,” she said. “You’re graduating with real credentials and real experience.”
Guerrier’s preparation extended beyond campus. She works as a Physical Therapy Technician at Decatur Orthopedic Center, where she assists patients directly and works alongside licensed physical therapists who serve as mentors.
“I got that job because my professors forwarded the opportunity to me,” she said. “That support has been huge. I already feel confident and prepared stepping into the field.”
She is also completing a full-time internship at Apex Network Physical Therapy in Mount Zion, Ill., during her final semester, immersing herself in a local physical therapy clinic as she prepares for graduate school.
Outside the classroom, Guerrier embraced campus leadership and service. She serves as a Strength and Conditioning Intern in the Rathje Athletic Center, Secretary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice President of the Latin American Student Association, President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a Wellness Peer Advocate and a Big Blue Ambassador.
Through these roles, she helped organize voter transportation initiatives, community service projects like holiday giving trees, campus wellness programming, and cultural celebrations such as La Fiesta.
“My goal has always been to help people feel connected,” Guerrier said. “College can feel isolating sometimes, so creating spaces where people want to show up and feel welcome really matters to me.”
Her leadership and academic excellence were recognized through faculty awards, scholarship support, and an invitation to speak with donors and Millikin leadership at the annual Associates Dinner, an experience that was empowering for her.
As Guerrier prepares for spring graduation and her next move to Saint Louis University to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, she reflects on how much her Millikin experience exceeded expectations.
“If I could talk to my freshman self, I’d say, ‘You don’t even know what you’re capable of. I’ve done so much more than I ever imagined,” she said. “This University has given me so much. I absolutely see myself coming back, staying connected, and giving back when I can.”
