Sept. 11, 2020

This is part of a New Faculty Spotlight series in which we introduce all new faculty members for the 2020-2021 academic year. See the full list of new faculty. 

What is your title with Health Professions?

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

What classes are you teaching this semester?

This semester will be concentrated on assisting in the Bachelors in Health Sciences with emphasis in Occupational Therapy Assistant (BHS-OTA) program’s kickoff before candidacy.

What do you love about teaching?

The greatest joy I take from teaching is watching the development of an individual’s knowledge base progress from the academic curriculum into their professional hands-on experiences in the field as practitioners. It is fulfilling to see this evolving connection from learning materials in class to application with patients and clients in treatment settings.

Tell us a bit about yourself! What’s your background?

I have been a practicing COTA/L for many years in different settings. Most recently I have worked at MU Outpatient Neuro Clinic and Inpatient at UH. I spent several years serving as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Clinical Instructor and Advisor for a consortium of community colleges for their OTA program.

What do you like to do outside of work?

The majority of time outside of work I spend with my children participating in everything from sporting events to art shows to kayaking to popcorn parties, and everything in between.

What brought you to Mizzou?

The culture of Mizzou aligns with my personal objectives, and the inclusive solidarity of the MU OT department motivated me to make the move back into academia. Being able to be a part of the new OTA-BHS academic program is amazing. Preparing for the intricate challenges and rewarding outcomes that come along with the process is exciting.

What are you most excited about in regards to the upcoming semester/working at Mizzou/your research?

The excitement of helping with the OTA-BHS program from its infancy is what I most look forward to in the upcoming year.