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

Pickens, Noralyn, PhD, OT
Professor and Associate Director 
Denton Campus and Dallas Center
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.

Baxter, Mary Frances, PhD, OT, FAOTA
Professor and Interim 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: Pediatrics; Neuro-Rehabilitation; assistive and adaptive technology

Barnett, Linda, OTD, MA, OTR
Assistant Clinical Professor
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

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

Burns, Suzanne Perea, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Denton Campus 
sburns3@twu.edu

Education: BS, MOT, University of New Mexico; PhD, Texas Woman’s University, Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical University of South Carolina, American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Executive function impairments after stroke; community integration outcomes; mobile technology; health and participation disparities in adults with disabilities

Chan, Josephine, PhD, OTR
Professor 
Houston Center 
schan@twu.edu

Education: BS, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; MA, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, University of Houston

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Adult physical dysfunction; Hand Therapy; Ergonomics; Instructional Technology; Rehabilitation Technology; Certified Hand Specialist

Chang, Pei-Fen, PhD, OTR
Associate Professor 
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, CRC
Associate 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

Fletcher, Tina, EdD, MFA, OTR
Associate Professor 
Dallas Center
tfletcher1@twu.edu

Education: BS, University of Texas Medical Branch; MA, University of Alabama-Birmingham; BFA, MFA, EdD, Texas A&M University-Commerce

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Certified school therapy specialist; Creative Arts interventions; Cultural arts access programming; Creativity; International orphan relief

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

Hennigan, Mary, OTR, MBA
Associate Clinical Professor
Denton Campus
mhennigan@twu.edu

Education: BA, Rosary College; MOT, Texas Woman’s University; MBA, University of Dallas

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Physical Dysfunction; Advocacy; Occupational Therapist Job Satisfaction

Levandowski, Shannon, OTD, OTR, BCP, SCSS
Associate Clinical Professor
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Denton Campus
slevandowski@twu.edu

Education: BA Clemson University; BS University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; MS, Boston University; OTD, Boston University; AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics & AOTA Specialty Certification in School Systems

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Clinical education and professionalism; School system practice and educational team collaboration; Behavioral Interventions and family dynamics/sibling play with children with autism; Early childhood special education, inclusion practices and childhood participation in school and home

Lohmann, Alicia F., OTD, OTR, CBIS
Associate Clinical Professor 
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

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

Neville, Marsha, PhD, OT
Professor 
Dallas Center
mnevillesmith@twu.edu

Education: BS, Eastern Michigan University; MS, University of Texas, Dallas; PhD, University of Texas, Dallas

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Rehabilitation; clinical education; TBI; CVA; Falls in elderly; computerization of tasks

Poskey, Gail A. PhD, OTR, CNT 
Associate Professor
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

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

Smith, Theresa Marie, PhD, OTR, CLVT
Associate Professor
Houston Center
tsmith12@twu.edu

Education: BS, University of Florida; MHS, University of Indianapolis; PhD, Nova Southeastern University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Older adults, theory, therapeutic use of self and groups, program development; low vision rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, and disaster response

Vas, Asha, PhD, OT, CBIST
Associate Professor 
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

Washington, Leon, PhD, OTR, LMSW, C/NDT
Assistant 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