New Occupational Therapy Faculty - Fall 2021
The School of Occupational Therapy welcomed five new faculty members to its impressive ranks this fall.
Tanya Benjamin-Thomas, PhD, OT
Assistant Professor
Houston Campus
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
Tanya enjoys travelling, experiencing new cultures and being outdoors!
Jerilyn Callen, MSOT, OTD, OTR
Clinical Associate Professor
Houston Campus
Education: BA, California State University; MA, California State University; MS, Touro University; OTD, University of Utah
Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Infant and Pediatric Mental Health; LSVT BIG; Adult and Geriatric Mental Health; Community Health
In her spare time, Jerilyn retreats with her family to Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. They love to kayak, hike and sit around the campfire in the piney woods. Additionally, she likes to bake and crochet. She is currently working her way through yarn remnants and making a piecemeal afghan.
Camille Ko, MOT, OTD, OTR, CBIS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Denton Campus
Education: BS, Brigham Young University; 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
In her free time, Camille enjoys playing the ukulele, running, inline skating, playing board games and playing with her two cats.
Lydia Royeen, PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor
Dallas Campus
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
Lydia enjoys running when she’s not hanging out with her 1.5 year old son.
Supriya Sen, MS, OTD, OTR
Clinical Associate Professor
Houston Campus
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.
Supriya’s favorite pastime/hobby is world travel. She has visited every continent extensively, except Antarctica, and finds travelling and experiencing other cultures, customs, and foods very stimulating and liberating. She also enjoys the unique flora fauna and geography of each country/region. She says, “I know now from my travels that we truly are Global Citizens and that we as global people have more in common than differences.”
Page last updated 7:08 PM, November 18, 2021