USER

I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Southwest State University, Marshall, MN in 2002.  In 2004, I earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from the University of South Dakota. I earned a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree through the post-professional program at the University of South Dakota in 2016. I have clinical experience in the areas of hand to elbow rehabilitation, occupational health, and lymphedema therapy. I am a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), and I am also certified through the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA ®).

I joined the USD Occupational Therapy Department in 2017. I teach course content in the areas of upper extremity rehabilitation, preparatory methods and splinting, agriculture, occupational health and ergonomics, and professional identity. I coordinate the Level I fieldwork experiences. My scholarly interests include occupational therapy's role in promoting occupational performance and occupational therapy education.

In addition to my teaching and research activities at the University of South Dakota, I am Chair of the School of Health Sciences Faculty Council, an IPE Champion for OT on the School of Health Sciences Interprofessional Health Education Committee, a member of the USD OT Admissions Committee, and USD OT Scholarship manager. I am a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association.