PhD Graduates

Alondra Ammon, PhD, 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, PhD, 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

Brooke King, PhD, 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

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

Dissertation: Association Between a Power Mobility Driving Assessment and Cognitive Screening Tool for Older Adults Living in Residential Care Settings
Chair: Catherine Hay, PhD, OTR 
Committee: Noralyn Pickens PhD, OT, FAOTA; Katy Mitchell, PhD, PT
Education: University of Toledo, BS in Recreational Therapy; University of Toledo, OTD; University of Toledo, Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Practice
Residence Location: Morgantown, West Virginia

Kristin Jones, PhD, OTR/L

Dissertation: Developing an Early-Career Occupational Therapy Mentorship Program for Occupation-Based Practice
Chair: Noralyn D. Pickens, PhD, OT, FAOTA, FNAP
Committee: Catherine Cooper Hay OTR, PhD,Kristine Morris, PhD, RN, CNE
Education: Santa Clara University, BA in Theater Art; Colorado State University, MS in Occupational Therapy; Texas Woman's University, Post Professional OTD
Residence Location: Danville, CA

Emily Rich, PhD, 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

Savitha Sundar, PhD, MS, OTR/L

Dissertation: Occupational Therapy in Inclusive Education for Students with Extensive Support Needs: A Multiple Case Study
Chair: Asha Vas, PhD, OT, CBIST
Committee: Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Claudette Fette, PhD OTR, Deborah Taub, PhD, Lou Ann Hintz, PhD OTR/L
Education: M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India,  BOT; Western Michigan University, MSOT
Residence Location: McKinney, TX

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