Matthew Romen, Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership

Double doctorate (n.) - one who has attained an advanced doctoral degree twice. See also: Matthew Romen.

Matt Romen started on his path to a physical therapy career very early in life. He says a core memory in his pursuit of becoming a physical therapist was interpreting for his deaf brother during his PT sessions.

“I was drawn to the interpersonal connections fostered in health care and I wanted to help people regain their function,” he said.

The Galloway native started his career at Stockton as an undergrad, earning his B.S. in Biology in 2009 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2012. Following graduation, he worked at an acute care hospital, helping patients regain everyday mobility. He found himself gravitating toward mentoring PT students and volunteers, later becoming a clinical instructor and the site coordinator for clinical education.

Romen is the first student in Stockton’s history to earn two doctorate degrees from the institution.

He was very involved during his undergraduate and graduate years on campus, participating in various clubs and juggling multiple jobs including as a student worker for the Office of Graduate Admissions. The Stockton community became part of his identity, he said, and he wanted to find a way to combine both physical therapy and higher education.

His “aha” moment came when he had the opportunity to combine his passions as the Director of Clinical Education for Stockton’s DPT program, where he currently serves. One might think that he reached his peak, but Romen wanted to keep growing.

Looking to develop more as a leader, educator and researcher, Romen sought an academic doctorate, enrolling in Stockton’s Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.) program. 

“One of my favorite aspects of the program was learning conflict resolution strategies from diverse leaders across different sectors,” he said. “The skills I gained from the program have allowed me to perceive both the big picture and its finer details, enabling me to make informed decisions when addressing future challenges.”

While this summary may make it seem like it was an easy journey from undergraduate to double doctorate, Romen had some obstacles along the way, the largest to overcome being his sense of imposter syndrome as an Asian American.

“There have been instances where my sense of belonging, competency, and communication skills were masked to fit into the dominant culture. I've learned that overcoming imposter syndrome is a continual practice, both in my career and personal life. By cultivating a growth mindset, embracing mistakes, welcoming feedback, and learning from them, I've been able to navigate it,” he said.

His advice to others in a similar situation is to continue making connections. “Building a supportive community, sharing experiences and communication have been vital in this journey,” he said. “Remember, you're not alone.”

Romen began building his community by getting involved during his undergrad years. He was an active member and leader in both the Multicultural Connection (MCC) and Asian Student Alliance (ASA). He helped to organize the MCC Dinner, which highlighted various cultural dishes and performances like Irish tap dancing, poetry readings and moksha dances.

He’s proud to see those groups, and many more, thriving on campus, and being able to witness the growth of the Stockton community.

“I am struck by the richness and diversity of our cultural groups today. I met my wife, Jamie Caridad, during our time as co-student leaders, and she now serves as a mentor and advisor to the Stockton community. I've seen former classmates pursue their highest potential as directors, CEOs and advanced degree seekers. Now, I'm privileged to reconnect with clinical partners and witness former students emerge as colleagues and leaders in their respective fields,” Romen said.