Occupational Therapy PhD Candidates

Alondra Ammon, MSOT, OTR/L

Dissertation: Diversity meets equitable and inclusive fieldwork: A qualitative phenomenological study  
Chair: Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR
Committee: Aimee Myers, PhD; Angela Shirk, PhD, OTR
Collaborator: Vanessa Yanez, MSOT, OTR/L
Education: San Francisco State University, BS in Kinesiology; Samuel Merritt University, Master of Occupational Therapy 
Residence Location: Bay Area, CA

Christopher Goffredo, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, ATP, CPAM

Dissertation: Occupational Stress and Pediatric Occupational Therapists: A Mixed-Methods Study
Chair: Patricia Bowyer, EdD, MS, OTR, FAOTA, SFHEA
Committee: Tina Fletcher, EdD, MFA, OTR; Heather Roberts, PhD, OT; Anastasia Miller, PhD.
Education: California State University Fullerton, BS in Child & Adolescent Development; University of St. Augustine, MOT; University of St. Augustine, OTD 
Residence: Santa Ana, CA

Richelle Gray, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, CDP

Dissertation: Expanding Generalizability of the Power-mobility Indoor Driving Assessment for Older Adults in Residential Care Settings 
Chair: Catherine Hay, PhD, OTR & Noralyn Pickens PhD, OT, FAOTA
Committee: Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR & Sabrina Pickens PhD, RN, ANP-BC, GNP-BC
Education: University of Toledo, BS in Recreational Therapy; University of Toledo, Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD); University of Toledo, Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Practice
Residence Location: Morgantown, West Virginia

Brooke King, MSOT, OTR/L

Dissertation: Social Participation and Quality of Life for Geriatric Stroke Survivors: A Retrospective Study
Chair: Catherine Hay, PhD, OTR & Francie Baxter, PhD, OT, FAOTA
Committee: Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR; Katy Mitchell, PhD, PT
Grant Funding: Jean A Spencer Research Award
Education: Eastern Kentucky University, BS in Occupational Science; Eastern Kentucky University; MS in  Occupational Therapy, 
Residence Location: Nashville, TN

Emily Rich, MOT, OTR/L

Dissertation: "Self-Management of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) using the Theory of Occupational Adaptation."
Chair: Asha Vas, PhD, OT, CBIST 
Committee: Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR; 
Grant funding: TBD
Education: University of Arizona, BS Psychology; Texas Woman's University, MOT
Residence Location: Tucson, AZ

Michelle S. Scheffler, OTR, MOT

TWU email: mshannahan@twu.edu
Dissertation: Effectiveness and Feasibility of Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training in Young Women Post Stroke: A Pilot Study
Chair: Asha Vas, PhD, OT, CBIST
Committee: Lori Cook, PhD; Catherine Cooper Hay, PhD, OTR
Grant funding: 2023 Texas Occupational Therapy Foundation Grant 
Education: University of St. Thomas, BA in Music; Texas Woman's University, MOT
Residence Location: Sugar Land, TX

Orley Templeton

Dissertation: Examining the Impact of a Model of Human Occupation Training on Occupational Therapy Students’ Professional Reasoning
Chair: Patricia Bowyer, EdD, MS, OTR, FAOTA, SFHEA
Committee: Noralyn Pickens, PhD, OT, FAOTA; Sarah K. McMahan, PhD
Grant Funding: Miscordia University Faculty Research Grant
Education: Boston University, BS in Therapeutic Studies; Boston University, MS in Occupational Therapy; Misericordia University, post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Residence Location: Dallas, PA

Jennifer Whittaker, MS, MS/OT, OTR/L CHES®

Dissertation: Examining an Application of Occupation-Based Theoretical Models to Population-Based Occupational Therapy Practice: A Foucauldian Critical Discourse Analysis
TWU email: jwhittaker@twu.edu
Chair: Cynthia Evetts, OTR, PhD
Committee: Teresa Grettano, PhD; Asha Vas, PhD, OT; 
Research Team member: Kyle Karen, PhD, OTR/L
Grant funding: TWU Center for Student Research: Student Research Grant
Educational background: BS Occupational Therapy, The University of Scranton;
The University of Scranton, MS in Occupational Therapy; Texas Womans' University, MS in Health Studies with an emphasis in community and population health
Residence Location: Scranton, PA

Vanessa Monique Yanez, MSOT, OTR/L

Dissertation: Through the Lens of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO): A Phenomenological Approach to the Exploration of the Psychosocial Experiences and Occupational Participation of Community-Dwelling Cancer Survivors in the Survivorship Phase
Chair: Patricia Bowyer, EdD, MS, OTR, FAOTA, SFHEA
Committee: Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR & Wyona Freysteinson, PhD, MN, RN, FAAN
Education: University of California Irvine, BA in Psychology/Cognitive Sciences; California State University, Dominguez Hills, MS in Occupational Therapy
Residence Location: San Antonio, TX; Los Angeles, CA