McKenzie Mathis Caldwell ’20, ’23 serves as a physical therapist at Rehab 2 Perform in Leesburg, Virginia. Specializing in care for athletes and active adults, she guides patients through every stage of recovery from immediate post-op care in slings or on crutches back to high-level competition and active living.
Driven by a lifelong background in sports and a passion for health, Caldwell thrives in R2P’s encouraging, goal-oriented environment. She recently earned her Dry Needling Certification to expand her clinical toolkit, and her team was honored as the Best PT Clinic in Loudoun County by Best of Loudoun.
Caldwell’s path to her current position was paved directly by her time at Shenandoah. As an undergraduate Exercise Science major, she gained valuable hands-on experience through internships across Winchester. During PT school, SU placed her in a clinical rotation with Rehab 2 Perform, an experience that seamlessly transitioned into landing her dream job at R2P immediately after graduation.
Shenandoah offered Caldwell the ideal blend of academic excellence and collegiate athletics. Her standout memory on the court was cutting down the nets after winning the ODAC Championship with the Women’s Basketball team after an iconic underdog tournament run.
“SU has everything that you’d want a college experience to offer. It has a ‘home’ feel from the minute you step on campus, and is filled with people who care about you and your future.”
For Caldwell, serving on the board is a meaningful way to support the programs such as SU Athletics and PT, which shaped her 7-year experience in Winchester. She looks forward to engaging with current students, championing the university’s future, and returning to campus each year for Homecoming Weekend to tailgate, watch Hornet football, and catch up with old friends.
SU had an even greater personal impact: it is where she met her husband, Mason Caldwell ’22, ’23. They have been married for a year and a half and live in a beautiful home with their puppy, Ziggy.