Our Faculty

Evetts, Cynthia, PhD, OTR
Professor and Director
All Campuses
cevetts@twu.edu

Education: BS, Texas A&M University; MOT, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Mental health; supporting community participation; occupational stress

Baxter, Mary Frances, PhD, OT, FAOTA
Professor and Associate Director
Houston Center
mbaxter@twu.edu

Education: BS, Colorado State University; MA, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, University of Houston

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Occupational Adaptation and Participation of cancer survivors; Neuroscience across the lifespan especially motor control and learning and postural control; Creativity in occupational therapy practice

Brown, Diane, PhD, OTR
Visiting Associate Director
Denton Campus
dbrown@twu.edu

Education: BS, Music Education; MOT, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, Higher Education, University of North Texas

Rice, Martin, PhD, OTR, FAOTA
Professor and Associate Director
Denton Campus
mrice7@twu.edu

Education: BS, Pennsylvania State University; MS, Western Michigan University; PhD, Pennsylvania State University

Special Areas and Research Interests: Motor learning and motor control strategies that promote enhanced learning and efficient movement dynamics with respect to therapeutic occupation; “meaning” and its influence upon human movement and behavior; safe patient handling issues including required forces and upon caregivers during patient repositioning and transfers via manual techniques, mechanical lift systems.

Vas, Asha, PhD, OT, CBIST
Associate Professor and Associate Director
Dallas Center
avas@twu.edu

Education: BS, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India; MOT, St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul, Minnesota; PhD, University of Texas at Dallas

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Neuroscience, Traumatic Brain Injury, Translational Research

Bowyer, Patricia, EdD, MS, OTR, FAOTA
Professor and Coordinator of Post-Professional Programs
Houston Center
pbowyer@twu.edu

Education: BA, Milligan College; Certificate in OT, Eastern Kentucky University; MS, Eastern Kentucky University; EdD, East Tennessee State University; Postdoctoral Research Affiliate, Johns Hopkins University; Postdoctoral Research associate, University of Illinois at Chicago

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Children and Youth as it relates to the Model of Human Occupation; assessment development specific to the Short Child Occupational Profile and Child Occupational Self Assessment as well as other MOHO based pediatric assessments; treatment effectiveness that is based on the Model of Human Occupation

Cecil, Angela PhD, MBA, OTR
Associate Clinical Professor, Capstone Coordinator and Director of Experiential Learning
acecil@twu.edu

Education: BS, Eastern Kentucky University; MBA, University of Louisville; PhD, Nova Southeastern University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Adult rehabilitation, interprofessional education, community and international collaboration, advocacy, occupational science

Lohmann, Alicia F., OTD, OTR, CBIS
Associate Clinical Professor and interim Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Houston Center
alohmann@twu.edu

Education: BS Texas A&M University; MOT Texas Woman’s University; OTD South University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Neuro Rehab with emphasis in brain injury; Brain injury Specialist; geriatric care; wheelchair seating & positioning

Barnett, Linda, OTD, MA, OTR
Assistant Clinical Professor and Fieldwork Associate
Dallas Center
lindabarnett@twu.edu

Education: BS, Texas Woman's University; MA, Texas Christian University; OTD, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Pediatrics; early childhood intervention; spirituality and community partnerships

Benjamin, Tanya, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Houston Campus
tbenjamin4@twu.edu 

Education: BS, Christian Medical College, India; MS, Colorado State University;  PhD, University of Western Ontario

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Qualitative research; participatory action research; creative research methodologies; children and youth; children with disabilities; occupation-based social transformation; global health

Chang, Pei-Fen, PhD, OTR
Associate Professor and Assistant Director
Houston Center
pchang@twu.edu

Education: BS, National Taiwan University; MS, in Gerontology, University of Southern California; PhD, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Patient satisfaction and quality of life in persons with disabilities; Rehabilitation outcomes; Fall prevention for older adults in the community; Health disparities

Fette, Claudette, PhD, OTR
Clinical Professor
Denton Campus
cfette@twu.edu

Education: BS, Texas Woman’s University; MS, University of North Texas; PhD, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests Strength-based practice and assessment; Mental health promotion and early intervention; Psychosocial Rehabilitation; Family engagement and Wraparound; School-based practice and School Mental Health; Community-based practice and facilitating meaningful occupation

Hay, Catherine Cooper, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Houston Campus
chay1@twu.edu

Education: BS, University of California at Santa Barbara; MS, Tufts University; PhD, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Stroke and brain injury; patient centered outcomes in rehabilitation; cognition; sex differences in rehabilitation intervention and outcomes; Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist

Hintz, Lou Ann, PhD, OTR

Assistant Professor
Dallas Center
lhintz@twu.edu

Education: BS, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University; MA, Occupational Therapy Administration, Texas Woman's University; PhD, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Children and youth, school-based occupational therapy, multi-tiered systems of support, and occupational adaptation

Ko, Camille, MOT, OTD, OTR, CBIS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Denton Campus
cko2@twu.edu 

Education: BS, Brigham Young; MOT, Texas Woman's University; OTD Texas Woman's University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Certified Brain Injury Specialist; LSVT BIG; Functional cognition; Community reintegration; Health Literacy

Martin, Jennifer, OTD, OTR, CHT, CLT
Assistant Clinical Professor
Dallas Campus
jmartin28@twu.edu

Education: B.S. Hearing and Speech Sciences, Ohio University; M.S. Occupational Therapy, College Misericordia; O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Boston University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Adult physical dysfunction, hand therapy, oncology and non-oncology related lymphedema, and self-care adherence related to chronic illness

Pickens, Noralyn, PhD, OT, FAOTA
Professor and Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education and Strategic Initiatives
College of Health Sciences and College of Nursing
npickens@twu.edu

Education: BS, Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; MS, Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; PhD, Kinesiology: Therapeutic Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Aging in place and end of life care; specializing in qualitative research and mixed-methodologies

Poskey, Gail A. PhD, OTR, CNT
Associate Professor and Assistant Director
Dallas Center

Education: BS, East Central University; MOT, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Pediatrics, Pediatric TBI and SCI, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), fatherhood, evidence based practice, and prevention of abusive head trauma

Roberts, Heather, PhD, OT
Assistant Professor
Denton Campus

Education: BSOT, Saint Louis University; MS Healthcare Administration, University of Texas at Arlington; PhD Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Pediatrics; cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities; constraint induced movement therapy; promoting evidence based practice

Royeen, Lydia, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Dallas Campus
lroyeen@twu.edu 

Education: BS, Saint Louis University; MS, Saint Louis University; PhD, Western Michigan University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Primary Care; Chronic Conditions; Telehealth; Health Promotion and Prevention; Community Based Practice; Mindfulness

Sen, Supriya, MS, OTD, OTR
Associate Clinical Professor
Houston Campus
ssen1@twu.edu

Education: BS, BA, University of Queensland, AU; MS, La Trobe University, AU; OTD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Interprofessional education and collaborative care; Community based practice with focus on refugees/forced immigrants populations and underserved minority/immigrant populations; Work participation and Ergonomics; Culturally relevant/sensitive occupational therapy

Angela Shierk, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Denton Campus
ashierk@twu.edu

Education: BS Exercise and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University; Masters Occupational Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; PhD Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Pediatrics, neurodevelopmental disabilities, upper limb motor control, home programs and knowledge translation

Sit, William, PhD, OTR, BCPR
Associate Clinical Professor 
Dallas Center 
wsit@twu.edu

Education: Prof diploma, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; MA, PhD, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Adult physical dysfunction; Hand Therapy; ICU critical care; Low vision; Stroke rehabilitation; kinesotaping & Certified Sensory Integration & Praxis Test

Washington, Leon, PhD, OTR, LMSW, C/NDT
Associate Clinical Professor
Denton Campus
fwashington1@twu.edu

Education: BS, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University; MSW, Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake University; PhD, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Children with special needs and their caregivers, children who are abused and exposed to violence, pediatric neurological deficits, qualitative methodologies