After 22 years of service and dedication to Colorado State University’s Department of Occupational Therapy, Associate Professor Karen Atler is eyeing fresh opportunities as she transitions into a new life in retirement.
Atler, a former CSU women’s basketball player, three-time CSU graduate (’80, ’86, ’12), and 33-year teaching veteran, is ready to take on the next chapter of her life as she retires from CSU at the end of the 2023 Spring semester.
Atler entered the workforce as a practicing occupational therapist with her B.S. in 1980. Beginning at the Good Samaritan retirement village in Fort Collins, Atler made her way to McKee Medical Center in Loveland and eventually found herself working in other settings such as home health, inpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and skilled nursing. When Atler returned to CSU to complete her advanced master’s degree in OT in the mid-’80s, she jumped at the opportunity to be a graduate teaching assistant with faculty member Louise Wendt White.
“The assistantship supported me in studying full-time and rekindled my love of teaching. I was encouraged to consider how I could impact the field of OT by teaching rather than returning to the clinic,” noted Atler. “Academia was a great fit because I love creating and learning.”
In her 43 years as an occupational therapist, Atler spent 33 years in academia with 22 of those years teaching at CSU, including stops at Texas Woman’s University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Pacific University along the way.
Atler joined her alma mater as a non-tenured faculty member in 2000. The majority of her focus went toward teaching and she engaged in research when possible. After six years working in the department, she decided it was time to pursue her Ph.D. part-time while still teaching full-time, eventually earning her doctorate in Education and Human Resource Studies in CSU’s School of Education in 2012.
Industry-building accomplishments
Looking back on a long and fruitful career, Atler is responsible for several innovative contributions to the department and the field of OT.
While teaching a class on the neurological impacts of adult occupations, Atler integrated service learning into the coursework. She connected student learning in lectures to work in the community where students used their new knowledge to help people living with neurological conditions. Students were matched with a community member and then used the occupational therapy process to help the person identify activities they wanted or needed to do. With that, the students would spend their time helping the individual to move towards reaching their goals – truly a win-win situation for the students and for the community.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for both the community and our students – truly a great example of service learning at its best,” Atler said.
This learning activity laid the foundation for more classes to integrate experiential learning into the coursework – a common theme in Atler’s research and career.
One of the goals Atler pursued in her Ph.D. work was investigating ways to integrate teaching, service, and research to help advance occupational therapy in emerging areas. Most recently with funding secured through an American Occupational Therapy Foundation grant, Atler and her team created an occupation-focused education program that merged occupational therapy, yoga, and nutrition education to support lower-socioeconomic families whose daily lives were impacted by type 2 diabetes.
Measuring enjoyment
Atler pioneered the Occupational Experience Profile (OEP), a time-use assessment that captures what people do and the associated experiences of enjoyment, achievement, restoration, and social connectedness. Currently used in OT practice, education, and research, the OEP has been a great tool to help people become aware of how their daily activities support, or don’t support, their health and well-being.
“The OEP is as useful for emerging practitioners as it is for patients and clients,” OT Department Head Anita Bundy shared. “CSU-OT students learn from the OEP about their own everyday experiences, which is crucial for emerging therapists. Recognizing the value of the OEP, occupational therapy educators around the globe incorporate it into their courses.”
Similar to the service-learning experience, Atler also designed a fieldwork level 1 experience for students to learn how to create community-based occupational therapy services for older adults. The CSU Department of Occupational Therapy prides itself on being one of the only community-focused occupational therapy programs in the country, which Atler influenced in department culture and curriculum.
Beloved teacher
Comments from students and colleagues are a testament to Atler’s teaching ability.
“I’ve experienced first-hand the mastery of Dr. Atler’s teaching during a course about teaching in occupational therapy,” one Ph.D. student noted in an anonymous course survey. “The time Dr. Atler spent in reflection and her dedication to building a community of learners made a lasting impression on me that I hope to carry into my own teaching adventures.”
“Karen truly exhibits superior and sustained performance in teaching that dramatically affects her students’ learning, and – importantly – she has improved students’ learning through her mentorship,” added Jaclyn Stephens, assistant professor in occupational therapy.
“When I came to CSU someone told me to find Karen Atler and to trust her – and I am so glad I followed that advice,” recalls Arlene Schmid. “Karen has been a joy to work with. She is dedicated to our students and research, and her skills have made our projects more comprehensive.”
The love for Atler within the department can be summed up with one quote from a student in an anonymous course survey– “Keep Karen at CSU-OT forever,” they said. “She is the definition of a caring, dedicated educator.”
Retirement is bittersweet for Atler, as she has fond memories of her experiences at CSU. Teaching students to push learning boundaries to expand their knowledge is something she will miss greatly.
“There is nothing quite like creating a community of learners who take risks to learn, to grow, to support each other, and to be willing to accept the challenge to become the best occupational therapist they can be,” said Atler. “I love working individually with students and helping them discover what it means for them to become an occupational therapist.”
Atler will also miss engaging in team science with colleagues in occupational therapy, as well as other disciplines and departments on campus and in the community to help create interventions that address real-world needs.
“I will miss teaching, getting to know and enjoy the students, and collaborating with colleagues,” Atler said.
What’s next?
Nearly everyone who begins their ride off into the sunset hears the same question over and over again – what’s next?
“My plans for retirement are still developing, but I want to continue to enjoy doing, connecting, being, and becoming a more well-rounded person who continues to encourage and impact others,” responded Atler.
Even as Atler’s retirement plans continue to evolve, she looks forward to filling her daily life with healthy occupations.
“I look forward to being physically active, challenging myself to hike, bike, walk, golf, and try new things such as kayaking,” continued Atler. “I look forward to being creative – returning to the days of making gifts, crafting, writing, playing music, gardening, and learning to care for orchids. I look forward to spending time with people – friends and families – and to especially nurture connections with children. I look forward to being spiritual, mindful, and intentional in all I do.”
Advice for students and colleagues
Even as the sun sets on her time at CSU, Atler continues to mentor and teach students by offering advice to future scholars.
“Be the best person you can be, remembering you are part of an amazing profession, remembering what it means to be an occupational therapist. You have an amazing opportunity – and the honor – of working so closely with people, families, and groups to help them learn the power of meaningful occupation that will support their health and well-being,” advised Atler.
She also has some words of wisdom for her OT colleagues.
“Keep learning, keep growing, and keep building the science of occupation and rehabilitation. Remember the privilege and honor you have of knowing and molding the next generation of practitioners and researchers for our profession, and of building a science foundation for an important profession that can help our society and world reach and maintain health and well-being through meaningful occupation,” Atler added.
As Atler sets off on a new adventure, it will be met with a touch of heartache as one of the pillars of CSU-OT for the past 22 years leaves to start anew. No matter the mix of emotions felt, one thing is certain – Karen Atler leaves behind a truly inspirational legacy within occupational therapy, illuminated by her outstanding contributions and dedication to OT.
The Department of Occupational Therapy is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
