Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, MPH, is the Senior Program Manager in the Center for Advancing Healthy Communities. Julia has a clinical background in both physical therapy and public health. She has over 30 years of experience in physical therapy and higher education, building innovative academic and health programs. Julia’s most recent position was as Professor of Physical Therapy and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Springfield College. In that role, she was part of a team that developed community and academic partnerships to deliver evidence-based, mobility-oriented health programming to older adults. Her service at Springfield College included numerous leadership roles in faculty governance and work on program and institutional accreditation and strategic planning.

Julia is a three-time Fulbright recipient. In 2011, she received a Fulbright Scholar award to teach and conduct research at Kigali Health Institute in Rwanda. In 2022, she was a Fulbright Specialist consulting with faculty at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences in Nepal. Most recently, in 2023, Julia completed a Fulbright Scholar award at Riga Stradins University, working with the faculty of rehabilitation.

Julia’s research focuses include publications at the intersection of physical rehabilitation and health services research and physical therapy education. Her academic credentials include an MPH in health policy and management from UMass and a PhD in health-related sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is board certified in orthopaedic physical and completed the APTA Educational Leadership Institute Fellowship program.

She volunteers in various roles with city government in Northampton, Massachusetts, and always enjoys anything that brings her into nature and the outdoors, including biking, running, hiking (ADK 46er!), and foraging.