 |
WWW.MARQUETTE.EDU CAMPUS CONTACTS SITE INDEX 
|
       |
|
The beginning:
Neumann accepted his first job as a physical therapist in 1976, at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, Virginia, before later transitioning into clinical education.
Frquent flier:
Neumann has received three Fulbrights, the maximum one can earn in a lifetime, in just five years. Most recently, he went to Budapest, Hungary, to teach for six weeks in Semmelweis University’s international program.
He wrote the book:
His textbook, Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Physical Rehabilitation, has become a classic in the field and is translated in Portuguese, Korean and Japanese. He’s working on a second edition.
International kudos:
Neumann recently received an honorary doctorate degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education. The award recognized his impact on the profession of physiotherapy throughout Lithuania.
Donald A. Neumann, PT, Ph.D.
During his 20-year career at Marquette, physical therapy professor Donald A. Neumann has taught plenty of lessons. But one of the most important he ever learned was in Lithuania, where he helped start a physical therapy program.
Two students were blind, unable to witness Neumann’s many visual aids. They spoke no English and had only the rough Lithuanian translation. They learned by using their hands to “see” a skeleton and other visual aids.
Despite the challenges, both students scored the highest grades in the class.
“That taught me to expect more of our students,” he said. “To me, motivation is everything, and our students are very motivated because they want to be professional physical therapists. All they need to do is be driven by something they’re enthused about, and there’s just no limit to what they can do.”
Neumann helps spark that passion, both abroad and at home. Neumann was named the Wisconsin Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the first from Marquette to win the honor. He’s also the first physical therapy professor in the country to be recognized by the Professor of the Year program.
It helps that Neumann is still inspired by the topic of kinesiology. “I’m very fortunate to teach a subject matter that I truly love,” he says. “It’s about movement, anatomy, the human body. It’s all tied in together. I teach a two-semester course, and 40 times, I’ve been able to retell the story of kinesiology. I love it, and they see that, and that’s probably infectious.”
Quick Facts About Marquette
| Identity: | Catholic, Jesuit, private |
| Established: | 1881 |
| Location: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Undergraduate: | 8,048 |
| Postgraduate: | 3,500 |
| Campus: | Urban, 90 acres |
| Athletics: | 11 NCAA Division I teams (Big East) |
| Colors: | Blue and Gold |
