Fearless Pursuit: Ansley DeVrieze's Journey from Athlete to Pediatric Therapist
Published: January 17, 2025
Author: Julia Roat-Abla
Dr. Ansley DeVrieze ’13 has never been afraid to take a leap of faith. “My mom would say I was fearless,” she laughed, reflecting on her childhood. Ansley was no stranger to challenges—or to change. Her adventurous spirit often led to sports-related injuries, which gave her plenty of time in physical therapy. “I thought I was going to go into sports medicine,” she said.
She committed to pursue studies at another school when her aunt set up a surprise visit at GU. “I ended up meeting volleyball Coach Ackerman, and he talked me into committing to Greenville instead.”
That decision became a pivotal moment, shaping both her personal and professional life.
For Ansley, Greenville offered more than a volleyball program—she found a place to belong. “I loved that the class sizes were manageable, and I wasn’t just going to be a number,” she said. “The relationships you could build with your professors and teammates were incredible.”
Coach Tom Ackerman vividly remembers his first meeting with Ansley. “We were impressed with what we saw in her athletically,” he said. “Once we met her and her mother, we knew she would be a great fit for our program.”
Ansley embraced the culture of connection at Greenville, from close-knit relationships she formed in the dorm to strong bonds within the volleyball team. “I still keep up with a lot of the people I went to school with,” she said. “And the volleyball team... the culture was just really, really cool. That’s something I really miss.”
Volleyball became a defining chapter of Ansley’s life. “Playing volleyball was a huge highlight,” she said. “We made it to the conference tournament all four years that I was there, and we got to go to the NCAA tournament. So that was super fun.”
Beyond the court, Ansley thrived in Greenville’s academic environment, particularly in the biology and chemistry departments. “I loved Dr. Dunkley,” she said of Professor Eugene Dunkley, who has since retired. “Meeting with him really reinforced my decision to come here.”
As she reflected on her time at Greenville, Ansley emphasized how academics and athletics shaped her experience. “Anything volleyball-related was an awesome memory,” she shared, “but school-wise, I also had excellent opportunities.”
Ansley DeVrieze's path took another turn after graduation from GU when she moved from sports medicine to pediatric physical therapy.
Initially, she thought she would pursue sports medicine. “I went to [Washington] University in St. Louis for graduate school, and I thought I was going to go the athletic route. But then I did a pediatric clinical and fell in love with it. From then on, it was all the way pediatrics.”
Today, Ansley works as a pediatric physical therapist for ChildServe, an organization in Iowa that offers a wide range of pediatric therapies, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as autism programming, counseling, and mental health services.
“Since I’ve been with ChildServe, I’ve had the chance to do aquatic therapy, equine therapy, and assistive technology. As an assistive technology professional (ATP), I get to measure for and order specialized equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and positioning chairs. It’s been an amazing opportunity for growth.”
Ansley’s love for what she does shines through in every word as she describes her day-to-day work.
“Kids want to move,” Ansley shared. “They want to participate in things kids their age are doing. So, oftentimes, you don’t have to work that hard to get a kid to participate in therapy.”
For the kids, therapy often feels like playtime—a fact that Ansley loves. “I need to go to work every day and play with kids,” she said. “Well, they think it’s playing, but it’s actually therapy. I get to use my creative brain to come up with different activities that motivate them.”
No two days are the same, and that’s part of what keeps Ansley so engaged. “You can have fourteen kids with the same exact diagnosis, and maybe even the same clinical presentation, but all of them are motivated by something different. So, not a single one of their sessions looks similar,” she explained. “It’s fun and rewarding. Even the little wins are huge for kids, and it’s so easy to get excited with them and see what a big difference it makes for their families.”
One of the most fulfilling aspects of Ansley’s job is the relationships she gets to build with her patients over time. “A lot of kids I work with have conditions like cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, or Down syndrome, and I might see them for a few years instead of just six weeks. I get to build relationships with those kids and be a part of their day-to-day lives.”
But the job isn’t without its challenges. The hardest part, Ansley admitted, is losing a child. “I just had a kid pass away, and that is hands down the worst feeling,” she said. “A lot of kids we see are very ill or terminally ill, and it never gets easier.”
In addition to the emotional toll, the nature of her work demands constant adaptability. “You can never really fly on autopilot,” Ansley said. “You have to be able to fly by the seat of your pants. Managing behaviors or keeping kids focused means you can’t just assume, ‘Oh, we’ll do these five exercises.’ You never know what kid is going to walk through the door that day.”
Ansley believes Greenville University played a crucial role in preparing her for a career in pediatric physical therapy, even giving her an edge when she started graduate school at Washington University.
“The biology department at Greenville gave me excellent preparation,” she reflects. “The professors were not only knowledgeable but also very approachable, and they took the time to mentor me personally. Because of that foundation, I came into Wash U well ahead of the game compared to a lot of my classmates. The rigorous coursework, hands-on lab experiences, and opportunities to build close connections with my professors made all the difference in setting me up for success.”
Ansley credits her time at Greenville, particularly on the volleyball team, for shaping her leadership style. “Servant leadership was something Coach Ackerman really hit home, and it makes so much sense—it’s so applicable here in the real world,' she said.
“Ansley was a hard worker and a team player,” he said. “She always celebrated others more than herself and was willing to play any role necessary for us to be successful.”
Although life has taken her away from Greenville’s campus, Ansley remains connected to its community. In addition to alumni events, she has helped recruit for the volleyball team, “I hosted the Greenville volleyball team at my house when they were in the Quad Cities for a tournament at Augustana. It was so much fun!” she said. “It’s great to keep those ties.”
Looking back on her journey, Ansley has valuable advice for current students and aspiring physical therapists. “Start early and apply to a lot of different graduate programs,” she emphasized. “The earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be for interviews and making decisions about your future.”
She also encouraged students to take full advantage of their time in college. “Get involved in leadership opportunities and take advantage of networking with professors and coaches,” she said. “Those connections will support you in ways you might not even realize until later.”
Ansley’s words reflect her own experience at Greenville, where she embraced unexpected opportunities both on and off the volleyball court, building relationships that have lasted long beyond her graduation. Her ability to connect with kids, celebrate their victories, and make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families inspires her every day.
