March 14, 2006 issue
I feel strongly that occupational therapy is a wonderful profession.
I felt that I could have the greatest impact by becoming an educator and
influencing future generations of practitioners.
I grew up in upstate New York and attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut
for my undergraduate degree. Then, I moved to Boston where I was an occupational
therapy practitioner in the area of mental health for six years. I continued
to work while I received my master's degree from Boston University and
later my Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
I began teaching occupational therapy at the University of New England
in Maine for two years before coming to EMU.
When I came to EMU in fall 1990 to teach, the occupational therapy program
was considered one of the top in the nation, as it continues
to be today. I was well aware of the caliber of faculty
here that made EMU an excellent place to continue my academic
career.
Three years ago, I became a department head. I continue to teach as an
administrator, primarily research methods and thesis advising.
I enjoy coaching and mentoring students through the research
process, to give them firsthand knowledge and to show them
how exciting research can be. At national conferences, as my students
present our research, it is so gratifying to watch them and to know that
I was part of that learning process. I hope they take away an appreciation
of the importance of using research in everyday practice. I think students
have this great energy that is fun to be around.
My position as department head of the newly created School of Health
Sciences, has been really rewarding because of the committed
faculty, staff and students. I have learned so much from
the faculty who come from six different disciplines. I
have wonderful colleagues with whom I can engage in meaningful
discourse that enhances both my teaching and research.
EMU offers a really wonderful combination of faculty who are strong teachers
and dedicated researchers. Further, being a faculty member at EMU has
allowed me to conduct the kind of research I want to do, the kind that
is meaningful and important to me and that is why I work at EMU.
