Above and beyond
May 7, 2025
In her mid-30s, Massage Therapy Program Director Susan Myers injured her arm and shoulder at a former job. In the quest for self-healing, Susan discovered she had the natural skills for hands-on manipulation beneficial to her clients. Next year will mark a 30-year milestone for Susan, who has specialized in therapeutic hands-on work in and out of the classroom.
Her education and volunteer efforts have not gone unnoticed. Susan has been awarded the American Massage Therapy Association-New Mexico Chapter (AMTA-NM) Meritorious Award for her steadfast commitment to elevating the massage therapy profession in our state. This national award—established in 1969—acknowledges diligent volunteerism performed in a selfless manner. Myers is the fourth New Mexican and first Northern New Mexican to earn the prestigious honor.
AMTA-NM Chapter President Robin Faux nominated Susan for the award. In her April 2025 letter to AMTA Chapter Relations in Evanston, Illinois, she wrote:
"It is our pleasure to notify you that our board has selected Susan Myers as the recipient of this year’s Chapter Meritorious Award winner for New Mexico.
"Susan has been an active volunteer with our chapter and has served in several board roles, including Secretary and President. She was instrumental in streamlining administrative best-practices for our board, keeping us organized and efficient. She demonstrated leadership with grace and compassion as our chapter president from 2020-2024. Today, Susan serves as our Communications Committee chair and is generous with her time as an advisor to our chapter board, even though she now carries the title of Chairperson for the state’s RLD [Regulation & Licensing Dept.] Massage Therapy Board and Director of the Massage Therapy program at UNM-Taos.
"We could not have selected a more deserving title for the Chapter Meritorious Award and we look forward to seeing acknowledgement of her at the AMTA National Convention in Dallas later this summer."
This award is the highest honor bestowed upon an AMTA member by a chapter. It recognizes a member who has gone the extra mile to promote the AMTA and the NM Chapter, massage therapy, and/or the profession, in general.
Upon hearing news about the award, her first reaction was, “Wow!”
What originally attracted Susan to the massage therapy profession was the ability to run her own business.
“Believe it or not, I am an introvert with a speech challenge,” Susan shared. “When I was running my own office, I was able to focus, do my work, and provide results for people who were struggling with musculoskeletal pain patterns. Now, I assist students on their journey to qualifying and applying for licensure in the field of Massage Therapy.”
As program coordinator, Susan said her time with the AMTA-NM has given her the ability to help guide the Massage Therapy Program at UNM-Taos. She is serving on the New Mexico State Massage Therapy Board for 2023-2028. Her nomination for board membership was made to the Office of the Governor by Chancellor Dr. Mary Gutierrez in July 2022.
“Being a part of a professional organization, AMTA, has helped me develop business skills that have served me in my private practice as well as in my role as coordinator of the Massage Therapy Certificate Program here at UNM-Taos,” she added. “The graduates of our program are my legacy to the continuance of the noble field of Massage Therapy. I am so grateful for all of the support that I have received while developing these skills and living my life as a Licensed Massage Therapist in northern Taos County.”
Chapter Meritorious recipients will be honored at the 2025 AMTA National Convention in August in Dallas, Texas.
