Bio:
   Having identified Occupational Therapy as my desired career, I attended Eastern Michigan University to earn a B.A. in the field--as that was the entry level requirement at the time. After graduating in 1995, I practiced as an OT, primarily with children and in a variety of settings including home health, early intervention, schools, and outpatient rehabilitation.  

     My motivation for going to graduate school was to gain a better understanding of the neurological mechanisms of behavioral change and to train as a researcher. I earned my Ph.D. in neuroscience from Northwestern University in 2006 and did a brief postdoctoral fellowship there.  I trained in cellular neurophysiology.  

     I came on faculty at UToledo in the summer of 2007 as an Assistant Professor. My teaching assignments have aligned with my clinical expertise and graduate courses.  I converted my research methods from animal model to human subjects and established my own lines of scholarship.  
   
    I gained the rank of Associate Professor according to the prescribed timeline.  At that rank, I progressed as an independent scholar and dedicated increasing time to peer review services.  I moved into the role of Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program in 2020.  

    I gained the rank of Professor and was awarded tenure in 2025.  I am guiding my program through curriculum modification to a) enhance students' clinical preparedness, b) align with the most recent accreditation standards, and c) moderately improve teaching efficiency.  I am active in efforts to stabilize applications and matriculation to the program.  We are gearing up for our next accrediation review.