Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

While a still a student at USC, I embarked on an international fieldwork experience to Ghana, Africa that opened my eyes and heart to serving people with disabilities in developing countries. As an occupational therapist and a person with a disability, I find that I have a unique perspective and skill set that allows me to connect with and serve people with disabilities around the world. Over the course of my career, I have travelled on over 10 different trips to provide therapy for people with disabilities in Ghana, Thailand, Peru, Mexico, and China. As an occupational scientist, I have developed a particular interest in the role occupational therapy can play in increasing the quality of life for people with disabilities in developing counties. Specifically, I am highly interested in learning and understanding more about how using occupational therapy to engage people with disabilities in meaningful activities can have a positive impact on global health issues.
I love being an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the OT master’s program at UNC because it allows me to support students as they grow into compassionate, skilled occupational therapists. Collaborating with dedicated fieldwork educators across diverse settings inspires me daily and reinforces the impact of real-world learning. It’s incredibly rewarding to help bridge classroom knowledge with clinical practice in a way that transforms both students and the communities they serve.
While I was a student at Carolina I was a member of the women’s varsity rowing team (Row Heels!). My personal interests include: cooking, traveling, playing and watching sports, watching my Carolina Tar Heels beat Duke and win national championships, rooting for the USC football team (Fight On!), and engaging in a competitive game of skee-ball.

My work is centered around OT education and practice. Among my responsibilities in the education realm are coordinating the admissions process for the MSOT program and supporting that program through teaching, student advising, administrative, and organizational activities. My practice of OT is focused on children (ages 0-21) who have delays, disabilities, or other health conditions that impact the ways they and their families participate in everyday life. I have a particular interest in neurodevelopmental disabilities and serve as the OT faculty for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at UNC, housed at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. I also have a strong interest in very young children and their families, and am working with the UNC Hospital Newborn Critical Care Center (NCCC).