Dec. 15, 2025
Story by Brian Consiglio, consigliob@missouri.edu
Vasta, who grew up in McKinney, Texas, currently works as an occupational therapist for Everett Public Schools in Washington state, helping students of all abilities thrive in the classroom. Thanks to Mizzou Online, she was able to complete her doctorate remotely while working full-time.
“I originally chose Mizzou for undergrad because it was just far enough away from home to feel independent, and I love the laid-back vibes in Columbia,” Vasta said. “I built such great rapport with Lea Ann Lowery, the instructor for my Freshmen Interest Group, who took me under her wing and became my graduate advisor as I pursued a master’s degree in occupational therapy.”
What stood out to Vasta during her undergraduate years at Mizzou were the countless hands-on learning opportunities in the College of Health Sciences, including those that directly impacted the community. In Tiger OT — one of the largest pro-bono, student-run occupational therapy clinics in the country — she served uninsured or underinsured individuals in Columbia. At a local dance studio, Vasta worked with a program to allow children of all abilities to experience dance. And she enjoyed her time working with EnCircle, a program that hosts classes for neurodivergent students to practice life skills.
“Mizzou does such a great job of giving students life experiences to gain different perspectives, and those real-world opportunities set Tigers apart after graduation,” Vasta said. “Feeling integrated in your community and wanting to make it better is something Mizzou taught me that I will take with me forever.”
Now in Everett, she is helping students improve their fine motor skills, sensory regulation and emotional regulation so they can thrive.
“Building rapport with the students and seeing them progress over time is so rewarding,” Vasta said. “Whether it’s helping students with their handwriting, typing or using utensils, I want to be a bright spot in their day and do whatever it takes to help them be the best students they can be.”
Her commitment to continual improvement reflects the spirit of lifelong learning she found at Mizzou.
“The occupational therapists at Mizzou are always wanting to learn and innovate to help grow our profession,” Vasta said. “Not only do they care about helping individual patients, but they are also always looking at innovative ways to progress the overall field of occupational therapy through research. Hopefully I can take what I learned at Mizzou to make some systematic changes one day to help as many people as possible in school settings.”