Valeria Christensen, PT, DPT
Department Chair & Program Director
Director of Clinical Education (DCE)
Professor

Dr. Valeria Christensen joined the Cerritos College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program faculty as a full-time instructor in 2010. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1995 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from USC in 1999. Dr. Christensen has served as the Director of Clinical Education for the PTA Program since 2010 and assumed the additional roles of Department Chair and Program Director in 2019.

Prior to her transition into higher education, Dr. Christensen practiced physical therapy at Citrus Valley Medical Center (now Emanate Health) in West Covina. Her clinical experience there included outpatient orthopedics, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. She later served as Director of Physical Therapy at Citrus Valley Medical Center's Queen of the Valley Campus. In that role, she functioned as the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE), coordinating clinical internships for Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant students from programs throughout Southern California. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Dr. Christensen continued to practice in home health physical therapy on a part-time basis from 2010 through 2025. 

Dr. Christensen currently serves as Secretary of the Southern California Clinical Education Consortium (So Cal CEC), a consortium of DPT and PTA academic programs. She is actively involved in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), particularly within its Orthopedic and Education sections.

Throughout her tenure at Cerritos College, Dr. Christensen has taught a wide variety of courses and topics including kinesiology, acute care clinical patient handling skills, physical agents, therapeutic exercise, pathology, soft tissue and manual therapy interventions, ethics and professional conduct, and laws and regulations. She is committed to helping students develop strong clinical reasoning, exemplary professional behaviors, and the practical skills needed to succeed in contemporary physical therapy practice.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Dr. Christensen enjoys spending time with her husband, three sons, and daughter-in-law. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, reading classic literature, and cheering on her favorite teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the USC Trojans.

Christopher Ingstad, DPT, MTC, ATC, FAAOMPT
Assistant Director of Clinical Education (ADCE)
Associate Professor

Dr. Christopher Ingstad joined the Cerritos College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program faculty as a full-time instructor in 2019. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training from California State University, Dominguez Hills and is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). He completed his physical therapy education at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida, in 2007.  Dr. Ingstad previously held Board Certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and currently holds a Manual Therapy Certification (MTC). He has also completed fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy through the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT), achieving Fellow status. 

Prior to joining Cerritos College, Dr. Ingstad practiced primarily in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy and owned a concierge orthopedic practice specializing in sports rehabilitation and injury prevention. His clinical interests include the rehabilitation of overhead throwing athletes, sports-related ankle and knee injuries, cervical spine disorders, headaches, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. He also serves as an active member of the medical staff for the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), providing support for athletes participating in high-level competition.

Dr. Ingstad is actively involved in professional service and leadership. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Orthopedic and Education sections and serves on the Executive Committee as Treasurer for the California Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Special Interest Group (COMPTSIG).

At Cerritos College, Dr. Ingstad teaches therapeutic exercise, basic orthopedic skills, advanced modalities, wound care, and geriatrics. He is passionate about integrating evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and hands-on skill development to help students prepare for successful careers as physical therapist assistants.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. Ingstad enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and their two children.  In his free time, he can often be found golfing, hiking, camping, and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Nancy Coursey, BA, PTA
Part-Time Instructor

Nancy Coursey, BA, PTA, joined the Cerritos College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program faculty as a part-time instructor in 2000. Throughout her tenure at Cerritos College, she has taught a wide range of courses, including Pediatrics, Neurology, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Therapeutic Exercise, Kinesiology Lab, and Introduction to Physical Therapy Lab.

Ms. Coursey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Anthropology, with a minor in Physiology, from the University of California, San Diego in 1987. She recently retired from Rady Children’s Health–Orange County (formerly CHOC Children’s) after a distinguished 33-year career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Her clinical practice focused primarily on pediatric acute care, with additional experience in pediatric outpatient rehabilitation and adolescent sports medicine. She developed extensive expertise in the treatment of patients with neurological, orthopedic, developmental, cardiopulmonary, medical, and complex multisystem conditions, serving individuals from infancy through young adulthood.

Throughout her clinical career, Ms. Coursey was deeply committed to clinical education. She served as the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE), overseeing clinical placements for Physical Therapist and Physical Assistant students. She also worked as a Clinical Instructor and mentor, supporting students as they developed the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors necessary for successful careers in physical therapy.

Ms. Coursey currently teaches Neurology, Physical Therapy Aspects of Growth and Development, and Introduction to Physical Therapy Lab. She brings decades of pediatric clinical experience to the classroom and laboratory, emphasizing the integration of foundational knowledge with practical patient care. Her teaching focuses on clinical reasoning, patient safety, professional practice, and preparing students to provide high-quality, evidence-informed care.

Linda deHaas, PT, DPT, OCS, CHT
Part-Time Instructor

Dr. de Haas earned her Associate of Science degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Cerritos College in 1985, a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from California State University, Long Beach in 1990, and a Master of Physical Therapy from Samuel Merritt College in 1995. She became a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) in 2001 and completed a Hand Therapy Fellowship, earning the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential in 2008. In 2016, she received her transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.

Since 2010, Dr. de Haas has served as a part-time instructor in the Cerritos College Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Throughout her career, she has primarily practiced in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy settings and currently works as an independent contractor, providing orthopedic rehabilitation services to patients in their homes.  She is actively involved in professional education and has presented at national conferences for both the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and is also a contributing author to the carpal tunnel chapter in Rehabilitation of the Postsurgical Orthopedic Patient.

Her teaching responsibilities at Cerritos College have included prosthetics and orthotics, soft tissue interventions, and open laboratory sessions designed to help students strengthen and refine their clinical skills.

Jose D. Fojas, PT, DPT
Part-Time Instructor

Dr. Fojas has been a practicing physical therapist for more than 27 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1991. From 1993 to 1999, he worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) before pursuing advanced professional education. In 1999, he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of Southern California (USC).

Throughout his career, Dr. Fojas has pursued extensive professional development and specialized training. He holds clinical certifications in Ergonomics, has instructed Functional Movement Systems (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) certification courses, and is certified in LSVT BIG for individuals with Parkinson's disease. He is currently working toward a Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) certification through the Institute of Physical Art.

Dr. Fojas currently practices at Mission Hospital Outpatient Center for Sports and Wellness in Mission Viejo, California, where he provides patient-centered rehabilitation and wellness services.

At Cerritos College, Dr. Fojas serves as a laboratory assistant for PTA 120: Kinesiology and is the lead instructor for PTA 130: Soft Tissue Interventions. He is dedicated to preparing future physical therapist assistants through evidence-based instruction, hands-on learning experiences, and mentorship.