Occupational Therapy Newsletter
Fall 2023 Recap
The Occupational Therapy newsletter publishes twice per year, in January and June.
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Welcome to the latest edition of Occupations, the newsletter for Colorado State University’s Department of Occupational Therapy.
In this Fall 2023 recap newsletter, we feature several outstanding alums and introduce new faculty. Many other stories describe new projects in which we are deeply engaged:
- The Ram Scholar project, an experiential learning program for young adults with developmental disabilities that is co-directed by Center for Community Partnerships’ James Graham and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies’ Deborah Fidler.
- ReadSpeaker, an innovative assistive technology program, spearheaded by our Assistive Technology Resource Center and implemented across campus.
- OT-Prep, in which we will prepare our students to practice with school-age children with high-intensity needs. This project is newly funded by the U.S. Department of Education; Andy Persch and Patti Davies are leading the team.
Other notable activities, not yet in press:
- Completing our OTD accreditation self-study occupied much of the summer and fall. Shelly Lane, our academic program director, took the lead with help from many faculty and staff. We expect our site visit in the fall.
- For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the exchange with our sister school in Yamagata, Japan, is happening! This past summer, Arlene Schmid and several students journeyed to Yamagata where they immersed themselves in Japanese culture and university life. This March, we will welcome three faculty and eight students from Yamagata.
- We’re looking forward to the 2024 AOTA Annual Conference in Orlando and hope to see many of you there. CSU-OT faculty are planning many presentations, and two of our faculty are receiving awards (names still under wraps). I will give the Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture.
As always, I would love to hear from you. I invite you to send your personal and professional updates. And, I’d be pleased to welcome you in person to CSU-OT. Please take me up on it.
Go Rams!
Anita Bundy, Department Head
Outstanding occupational therapy graduate combines wealth of health science experience with OT practice
Three degrees later, Moriah Hanson’s mission remains the same: supporting people in maintaining health and remaining positively engaged in their own lives.
Mentors played a pivotal role in the success of outstanding occupational therapy Ph.D. graduate
Hannah Burke is enthusiastic about crafting a career that seamlessly integrates the interests she cultivated during her Ph.D. program.
Young alumna Doris Servan-Alvarez earns prestigious fellowship
Doris Servan-Alvarez graduated in Summer 2023 and is now an Occupational Therapy Fellow with JFK Partners. She works in an early intervention and outpatient autism evaluation clinic, as well as completing coursework alongside other fellows from interdisciplinary professions.
Occupational therapy alumna Gail Strid pioneered OT practice across Alaska
From her days as a Girl Scout in Lakewood to her pioneering work as an occupational therapist and community advocate across Alaska, Gail (Keys) Strid (B.S., ’75) has had an expansive reach in supporting equitable experiences for people of all ages and abilities.
Occupational therapy alumna draws on her extensive experience as an OT to create universal accessibility in client workspaces
Suzie Scher (’07) is working to educate clients on the enhancements that can be made when looking at spaces through the lens of universal design practices with her consulting business Scher Spaces.
Farm to able: CSU’s RAM Scholars program trains adults with disabilities for agricultural careers
The RAM Scholars program for adults with an intellectual disability strives to facilitate meaningful employment.
CSU reaffirms commitment to accessibility by piloting revolutionary text-to-speech software
CSU continued its commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive campus by adding a new campuswide tool, ReadSpeaker.
A new CSU program to provide Northern Colorado businesses with access to occupational therapy students on a short-term or long-term basis
A new program called OT Share in CSU’s Center for Community Partnerships, aims to provide northern Colorado organizations in need with access to occupational therapy students on a short-term or long-term basis.
A grant awarded to the Department of Occupational Therapy strives to support school students with disabilities while diversifying the OT profession
A new grant awarded to CSU OT strives to meet dual needs: supporting students with significant disabilities while diversifying the OT profession. The Office of Special Education awarded a grant totaling nearly $1.25 million to Andy Persch and Patti Davies.
Supporting lifelong learners in occupational therapy classrooms
Michelle LeRoy is utilizing her strong background in pediatric occupational therapy and well-rounded teaching philosophy to guide OT students in learning.
Connecting occupational therapy classes with real-world clinical relevance
Janell Pisegna teaches and works with the AgrAbility program to support people in rural areas.
Researching interventions with older adults to increase participation in everyday life
Laura Swink brings her impressive research background to the OT classroom to further students’ exposure to evidence-informed practice and research with an active learning approach.
Creating learning communities in the Department of Occupational Therapy through empowering students
Bianca Doherty is bringing her experience working with unhoused youth in San Diego to further improve the lived experience perspectives of OT students in her courses.
From master’s student, to earning her Ph.D., and now instructor, Patricia Grady-Dominguez continues her occupational therapy journey at CSU
Two degrees and several major life events later, Grady-Dominguez remains in Fort Collins as she begins a new role as a post-doctoral fellow and assistant professor.
The fifth annual CHHS Research Day will be Tuesday, March 5, in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom. Join us for this celebration of research and creative scholarship!
CHHS Research Day Info
Volunteer to be a judge
Engage with stories and network with OT on LinkedIn
Find your classmates and mentors, track the latest research, connect with future employers, and more on LinkedIn with the Department of Occupational Therapy!