How Palmer becomes home


Students come to Palmer to become chiropractors. But they’re still college students; they’re looking for friendships, community, new experiences, and opportunities to grow. At Palmer, those experiences are intentional, enriching their education while helping prepare them for success in the profession. “Students come to Palmer for the rigorous education and rich chiropractic


tradition that have defined the College for generations,” says Kaitlin Clevenger, director of student experience. The College is investing to make sure they get something extra when they arrive: a community where they can build friendships, discover mentors, develop as leaders, and feel they belong. Across both campuses, Palmer is doubling down on the people, programs, and spaces that make those connections possible. “We’re looking at the whole student,” says Clevenger. “Students choose


Palmer because of our academic reputation, but they also want to be part of something bigger. They want to thrive personally as well as professionally.” Perhaps no investment reflects that commitment more than Palmer Plexus, the College’s digital engagement platform for students, staff, and alumni. Students use it to discover clubs, promote events, connect with classmates across campuses, search for jobs, and — beginning next year — participate in a structured mentorship program pairing students with Palmer alumni. The platform has been developed with Palmer student input. Students


regularly meet with staff to suggest improvements, identify barriers, and shape new features. “They’re always educating us,” Student Activities Coordinator Josie VenHorst says. “We’re constantly listening and asking,


‘What do students need next?’ Then we can respond.” That philosophy has shaped everything from orientation to everyday


campus life. Longstanding traditions like the Homecoming Courtyard Party and Student Olympics continue to evolve, while new programs are introduced in direct response to student feedback, like a beginner line dancing class (complete with Palmer purple cowboy hats, of course) and the pre-Florida Homecoming cookout that brought more than 400 students to campus. “We’re very intentional about everything we put in front of students,” says


Jason Brewer, M.S., dean of students at Palmer Florida. “It all supports and enhances what they do in the classroom.” From club hours built into student schedules to athletic events and extracurricular activities, the goal is to create a well-rounded experience that helps students develop the skills and confidence they’ll carry into practice. As students progress through the curriculum, their needs change, and


so does the support surrounding them. First-year students often seek friendship and belonging. Clinic students begin looking for professional mentors, business knowledge, and connections within the profession. Programming evolves with them, creating opportunities to grow as clinicians and leaders. “Students tell us they’re looking for connection,” says VenHorst. “Palmer is one chapter of their lives, and we want it to be one of the best. Sometimes it’s the small things they’ll remember years later, like the place they got their hair cut every month thanks to a Palmer student discount or the place they met a friend for weekly coffee.”


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Tastes like a new campus tradition


This spring, students crowned a new favorite drink during Palmer’s Flavor Madness tournament, a bracket-style competition at Dave's Coffee Corner that let the students, faculty, and staff vote for their favorite custom drink. The winner? The “Mike’s Magic” energy drink concocted by Student Michael Timm.


Make Mike’s Magic at home • 12oz Lotus energy drink of your choice or club soda


• ½ oz cherry flavor • ½ oz mango flavor • ½ oz pomegranate flavor • Juice of ¼ lemon • Shake over ice • Add a pinch of salt and enjoy


FALL 2026


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