When Sam Volkmer ’21, ’25 OTD first stepped onto the St. Ambrose University campus as a soccer recruit, his mind was on athletics and adjusting to college life. He arrived eager to compete and quickly proved himself.
“I was a soccer player coming into St. Ambrose, so I was very excited to play,” Volkmer said. “I had a really good tryout. I just remember the reality of playing at the college level settling in.”
Volkmer made the team and played during his first year on campus, but as time went on, he began to shift his focus. The experience taught him discipline, teamwork, and time management skills that would eventually help him succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Finding his path
Volkmer’s academic journey didn’t follow a straight path. He began as a biology major but found himself disengaged during a genetics course. On a friend’s suggestion, he explored behavioral neuropsychology, and everything changed.
“I really loved psychology. Not only were the faculty great, but I also had great professors from the beginning,” Volkmer said. “I actually enjoyed being in class. That was a huge game changer for me in my academic career.”
That background in psychology proved essential in his transition to occupational therapy.
“Both areas of study have a pretty large overlap. At the end of the day, they both explore human behaviors, and that’s kind of the work we’re in.”
For his doctoral capstone, Volkmer combined academic insight with personal passion. His project, “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Promoting Outdoor Leisure for Adults,” explored how nature-based activities could support mental health, particularly for college students.
“I’m a huge outdoorsman. I love being outside, fishing, hunting, boating, just running outside. You name it,” Volkmer said. “The only thing that really helps me is getting outside, and I know I’m not the only one.”
Volkmer conducted qualitative interviews with faculty across campus, including leaders in psychology, social work, and physical therapy. He also partnered with the university’s Be Well Committee to assess the accessibility and restorative potential of outdoor environments across campus, from main areas to graduate health facilities.
He said the project helped him understand how occupational therapists can make a lasting impact not only with individuals, but across entire communities.
“It made me realize that the kind of difference we’re looking for as therapists can be created on a much larger scale,” Volkmer said.
Choosing occupational therapy
While occupational therapy became his passion, it wasn’t his first plan. Volkmer initially considered physical therapy, but a job as a rehabilitation tech exposed him to both fields. He ultimately applied to the St. Ambrose OTD program during a gap year. He was unsure if he’d get in or if he was choosing the right path.
Then, a moment with his father changed everything.
“My dad had a brain injury. He didn’t talk about it often. When we were eating one day, he told me about how he remembered working with an OT,” Volkmer said. “During his rehab, they made a metal punchout of a cowboy and a horse. That had been in my bedroom when I was a kid. And right then I knew I made the right choice.”
Support from his professors played a crucial role in helping him build his confidence. He especially credits Neil Aschliman, PhD, biology professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, for offering encouragement that transformed his academic journey.
“He sent me an email that said something like, ‘You have way more potential than you’re pretending to have,’” Volkmer said. “That really made a big impact on my life.”
Volkmer printed that email and gave it to Aschliman after being accepted into the OTD program.
As Volkmer searches for jobs in the Quad Cities, particularly in industrial and ergonomic settings, he does so with the confidence he's built through a supportive St. Ambrose education.
“Those fields can be very hard to get into. Those jobs are rare. But I know it’ll unfold how it’s meant to be.”
Ready to make a meaningful impact? Explore the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at St. Ambrose University.
