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Equity-Oriented Mentoring For Occupational Therapy Students In Canada: A Narrative Assessment, Kaarina Valavaara, Tara Pride, Chris Mcwilliam, Jaime Blenus, Stephanie R. Bizzeth, Brenda Beagan

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In the health professions, mentoring has emerged as a key strategy for reducing the isolation and exclusion of students from equity-denied groups – including students who identify as Indigenous, racialized, disabled and/or queer. Mentoring often focuses on academic and professional skills, which implies students from these groups are somehow lacking. In contrast, ‘equity-oriented’ mentoring focuses on learning in the context of on-going, everyday isolation, exclusion, discrimination and even hostility. Mentors from the profession, who are also members of the same equity-denied groups, provide role models for thriving in the face of oppression. They may provide psychosocial support while helping students …

Assessing Supports And Barriers To Equitable Participation In Occupational Therapy Fieldwork For Students From Minoritized Backgrounds: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Kristin M. Nxumalo, Coalition Of Occupational Therapy Advocates For Diversity Cotad, Alexia Rebne, Janis Yue, Ryan Thomure, Ricardo D. Ramirez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork experiences in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) education introduce students to novel environments that they must successfully navigate. When examining the experiences of OT and OTA students from minoritized backgrounds, it is critical to understand their fieldwork experiences so that fieldwork educators and partners can create inclusive, supportive environments that promote success for all students. Within this study, a needs assessment was conducted to explore factors that impacted the OT and OTA fieldwork experiences of students from minoritized backgrounds. Using a mixed methods design, a cross-sectional survey was completed by non-faculty OT practitioners (n=48), Academic Fieldwork …

Development Of Soft Skills In Occupational Therapy Education: A Faculty Perspective, John Adkins, Alysha Skuthan

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Soft skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, and response to feedback, are critical for the success of occupational therapy students but are often underemphasized in educational standards and curricula. This qualitative study examined how faculty perceived, defined, and facilitated the development of soft skills during the didactic phase of occupational therapy education. Using a phenomenological design, 12 faculty members from accredited occupational therapy programs participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed six themes: Hidden Skills, Incorrect Assumptions, and What’s Trending addressed faculty perceptions, while What’s Developing, What’s On Us, and Why Does It Matter described faculty responsibilities and strategies to …

Using Video Analysis To Support Development Of Therapeutic Use Of Self In Occupational Therapy Education, Cynthia L. Selim, Katharine A. Ricks

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite recognition of the importance of therapeutic use of self, there remains limited research on effective, evidence-informed approaches within occupational therapy education. Video analysis has emerged as a method to enhance students’ critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and observation skills, however, its direct impact on therapeutic use of self has not been examined. This study evaluated the effectiveness of structured video analysis assignments in improving occupational therapy students’ self‑efficacy for therapeutic use of self and explored student perceptions of the learning experience. Two cohorts of first-year occupational therapy students (n=62) participated in a 10-week course based on the Intentional Relationship Model …

Disability Accommodation Implementation Within Occupational Therapy Academia: A National Descriptive Survey On Knowledge, Training, And Attitudes, Nicole Pawek, Julie Olson Rand, Rebecca Ozelie, Hannah Y. Oldenburg

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs are accredited health professional programs that have, anecdotally, seen an increase in requested disability accommodations among students over the last decade. There is limited knowledge regarding faculty preparedness, available resources, and attitudes related to implementing accommodations in accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs located in the United States. Researchers aimed to describe faculty knowledge and experience with disability accommodation implementation, as well as identify available training and resources related to accommodation implementation and faculty attitudes toward the accommodation implementation process. Researchers used the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) …

Toward A Critical Occupational Therapy Education: A Discrit-Informed Framework, Robert Niewiadomski, Chia-Yang Chiang

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy has long articulated commitments to equity, inclusion, and occupational justice, yet its dominant educational approaches often remain focused on interpersonal competence rather than structural analysis. This conceptual paper argues that contemporary occupational therapy education is insufficiently equipped to prepare practitioners to address the sociopolitical forces shaping occupational participation. Drawing on disability critical race theory (DisCrit), critical pedagogy, intersectionality, and occupational justice scholarship, the authors propose the Critical Occupational Therapy Education (COTE) framework as a structural, justice-oriented reorientation for occupational therapy education. COTE positions racism and ableism as interlocking systems that shape professional norms, knowledge production, and access to …

An Ecology Of The Monstrous: How Readers Shape And Are Shaped By Monster Romance, Allison D. Rayburn

Master's Projects

This thesis is a Composition and Rhetoric study of the monster romance genre, a growing yet often misunderstood site of rhetorical activity. It centers on a survey, “Reader Perceptions of Shame, Empowerment, and Genre in Monster Romance Fiction,” distributed through Instagram to 176 readers. From this data, the project analyzes both quantitative trends and qualitative responses to examine how readers describe their emotional and interpretive relationships to the genre. Grounded in rhetorical genre theory and affect theory, particularly the work of Kenneth Burke, Carolyn Miller, Charles Bazerman, Anis Bawarshi, Sara Ahmed, and Eve Sedgwick, this study approaches genre as something …

How Do Students Come Across Occupational Therapy And What Makes Them Want To Study Occupational Therapy? Implications For Recruitment, Mette Eg Bruun, Mette Krohn, Sofie Balle Riis, Lene Tanggaard, Tina Helle

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Recruitment challenges in occupational therapy education vary globally. To address workforce needs, it is necessary to examine the factors influencing students’ decisions to pursue occupational therapy. This study investigated how students discovered occupational therapy, what they found appealing about the profession, the influence of study location, and demographic differences between students enrolled in an urban university city and a rural district. Three focus group interviews with 15 occupational therapy students were conducted, supplemented by descriptive statistics comparing student characteristics across urban and rural programs. Qualitative analysis identified five categories: (1) discovering occupational therapy by chance, (2) the power of occupational …

Comparing Pre-Occupational Therapy Student Intercultural Competence Through Local And Global Service Learning, Leah S. Dunn, Diane Ceo-Difrancesco

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study examined undergraduate pre-occupational therapy student intercultural competence (ICC) development through a local or global service-learning experience. Using a mixed-method approach, responses to the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence among Healthcare Professions-Student Version (IAPCC-SV) were compared as well as a content analysis of student essays before and after the service-learning experience to determine ICC growth. Both groups demonstrated ICC growth, but global participants continued their development past the experience. Student essays revealed themes of dissonance, reflection, transformation, and advocacy, with local students focusing on clients and global students adopting broader advocacy goals. Immersive experiences in occupational …

Balancing Acts: Exploring Chronic Illness’ Impact On Achievement In Graduate Health Education, Olivia J. Fulton, Lizeth S. Iboy, Bonnie Decker

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Graduate students with chronic illness encounter barriers as they navigate graduate programs to achieve their personal goals. Chronic illnesses are often invisible, which makes it more challenging to navigate the educational system. This study aimed to understand participants’ ability to engage in their academic environment and how the severity of their symptoms related to their diagnosis impacted participation in lectures, laboratory activities, exams, and competencies. Nineteen participants completed the online survey with questions regarding demographics and perception of how their condition impacted their academic performance on their best days versus worst days. Three assessment tools were incorporated into the survey: …

Sketching Ot Theory: The Meaning Of Visual Notetaking To Learning Occupational Therapy Theory For Ot Students, Julia Henderson, Delainey Ebel, Ilona Jones, Katie Lee Bunting

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Visual notetaking is a creative learning strategy used in health professions education. This study defines it as any form of notes, recorded using physical or electronic means, that are not solely text-based, but incorporate some degree of color, symbolism, shapes, diagrams, and/or other visual imagery to represent concepts. While no previous studies have investigated visual notetaking in the context of occupational therapy education, occupational therapy’s prevalent use of visual representations to convey complex, relational, and holistic theoretical concepts suggests that visual notetaking may have potential as an inherently aligned and effective pedagogical approach for teaching occupational therapy theory. Our study …

Study Approaches And Mindset In Predicting Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Well-Being: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, Elena Wong Espiritu, Katie Eison, Maya Pakulski, Alandry Vise, Alexandria West, Ava Woessner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Academic factors (grades, assignments, study approaches, study strategies, rigorous curriculums, workload) and mindset factors (academic resilience, educational self-efficacy) are known individual factors that impact student well-being. However, if and how these factors in combination predict well-being in occupational therapy students has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to explore study approaches and mindset factors in predicting entry-level occupational therapy student well-being. Entry-level occupational therapy students (master’s and doctorate) from across the United States were recruited (N = 305). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data was collected using four standardized assessments and analyzed using a multiple linear regression. …

Validity And Reliability Of The Professional Belonging Scale For Occupational Therapy Students Version 2, Sarah Corcoran Otd, Otr/L, Pooja Patel Drot, Otr/L, Izabela Dubiel Drot, Otr/L, Theresa Rhett-Davis Edd, Otr/L, Nancy Green Ms, Drot, Otr/L, Emily Pasqualetto Drot, Otr/L, Amanda Carter Drot, Otr/L

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A strong sense of belonging supports student engagement, motivation, clinical competency, retention, and overall well-being; yet few tools specifically assess this construct in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. To address this gap, Corcoran et al. (2025) developed the Professional Belonging Scale for Occupational Therapy Students (PBSOTSv1). The current study aimed to revise the PBSOTSv1 for clarity, inclusivity, and alignment with emerging theoretical frameworks and to evaluate the revised version (PBSOTSv2) for content validity and internal consistency reliability. Revisions involved expert cognitive interviews and Content Validity Index (CVI) ratings, guided by Allen et al.’s framework of belonging, …

Perceived Impacts Of Confucianism On Placement Experiences Of Hong Kong Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy Students In The United Kingdom, Hin Yuet Li, Sarah Louise Mcginley, Rachel Dadswell, Rachel Houweling

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study explored the views of Hong Kong pre-registration occupational therapy (OT) students in the United Kingdom (UK) about how Chinese culture influenced their practice placement experiences. Students from diverse cultural backgrounds may encounter various challenges during OT placements, but little is known about how OT students from Hong Kong—where Confucianism traditionally shapes workplace expectations and the hierarchical teacher‑student relationship—experience placements in the UK. Two online focus groups to collect qualitative data were conducted in November 2022 with four participants who were UK-based OT students from Hong Kong (N=8 in total), two facilitators (OT students from Hong Kong, based in …

From Classroom To Care: A Pilot Level I Fieldwork Experience Building Acute Care Self-Efficacy, Hannah Y. Oldenburg, Jennifer Bergstrom, Traci Kruse, Tamra Trenary, Corey Mcgee

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Level I fieldwork provides an opportunity for occupational therapy students to be exposed to the occupational therapy framework and process across various practice settings. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding introductory fieldwork experiences for occupational therapy students in complex medical settings, specifically acute care. Researchers implemented a seven-week Level I fieldwork experience at two Midwest trauma centers, utilizing a mixed-methods, two-cohort design with 12 students and 16 practitioners. The program featured a blended Level I fieldwork supervision model, combining faculty-led and traditional on-site supervision. Over the seven-week period, students showed significant improvement in their perceived self-efficacy regarding …

Effectiveness Of The Aota Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Participants, Susan M. Higgins, Tiffany Benaroya

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork educators are essential in educating future occupational therapy practitioners, yet they are often not formally trained for this role. Fieldwork educator preparation programs may help strengthen educator effectiveness; however, limited research has examined the impact of these programs. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program (FWECP) is a two-day professional development course designed to enhance the supervisory and teaching competencies of fieldwork educators. This study examined the effectiveness of the FWECP from the perspective of participants who completed the program between June 2019 and June 2024. An anonymous retrospective survey was distributed to past participants, yielding …

Generative Artificial Intelligence Application In Occupational Therapy Education, James Wersal, Justin Mason, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a developing technology within Higher Education Institutions with substantial potential to transform teaching pedagogy, improve individualized learning experiences, and automate administrative functions. GenAI has the potential to bring significant enhancements by advancing adaptive learning interfaces, customized learning materials, and automate administrative support. Despite these benefits, ethical considerations, data privacy, and the risk of over-reliance should be considered prior to using GenAI. The authors highlight how GenAI is supported by adult learning theory and provide practical strategies for incorporating GenAI in the occupational therapy curricula and to support the faculty role. The impact of GenAI on …

The Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Competency Assessment, Revised- Pot-Ca(R), Jenna C. Yeager, Derek Piggott

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Competency Assessment (POT-CA) was originally published in 2017 as a framework for assessing student development of foundational skills in evaluation, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic interactions in an occupational therapy psychosocial theory and practice course. The COVID-19 global pandemic necessitated the adaptation of this final student competency assessment for virtual administration. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was selected as the performance-based element of the competency assessment in lieu of the previously required Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS-5), which was unavailable to students due to pandemic restrictions. The purpose of this article is to present an analysis …

Rosenberg Institute For East Asian Studies At Suffolk University Annual Report For 2025-2026, Rosenberg Institute

Rosenberg Institute Annual Reports

These reports summarize the activities of the Rosenberg Institute during the academic year, including information related to public programming, visiting scholars, cooperation with the Asian Studies program at Suffolk College of Arts & Sciences, promotion of Suffolk's Asia-related activities, community outreach, and funding. Most reports also contain photographs of scholars, staff, and events.

International Declaration On Gender Apartheid And Its Destructive Consequences, Georges Abi-Saab, Belquis Ahmadi, Hala Alkarib, Waheeda Amien, Penelope Andrews, Zainah Anwar, Marzia Babakarkhail, Cecilia Bailliet, Manizha Bakhtari, Karima Bennoune, Laurence Boisson De Chazournes, Roya Boroumand, Terry Boullata, Charlotte Bunch, Rebecca J. Cook, Roberta Clarke, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Suraya Dalil, Wesahl Domingo, Shirin Ebadi, Yakin Ertük, Alda Facio, Stephanie Farrior, Hannah Garry, James Thuo Gathii, Richard Goldstone, Pablo De Greiff, Mozn Hassan, Yoko Hayashi, Helena Kennedy, Sisi Khampepe, Fawzia Koofi, Viviana Krsticevic, Joanna Lewis, Marina Mahathir, Haanya Malik, Elham Manea, Gay J. Mcdougall, Juan E. Méndez, Davood Moradian, Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad, Elizabeth Odio Benito, Thandi Orleyn, Mikiko Otani, Tamana Zaryab Paryani, Pragna Patel, Fausto Pocar, Javaid Rehman, Mary Robinson, Kenneth Roth, Albie Sachs, Mariam Safi, Gita Sahgal, Sima Samar, Habiba Sarabi, Fatou Sou, Leigh Toomey, Melanne Verveer, Zarqa Yaftali, Ganna Yudkivska

Other Publications

The Declaration is the result of an 18-month process of global consultation with leading experts, including a series of virtual consultations with women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from Afghanistan in spring 2025 and an in-person convening of United Nations (UN) experts, Afghan and South African WHRDs, civil society representatives, and international law experts at the University of Michigan Law School in September 2025.

This effort builds on the precedent of other experts’ declarations, signed on to by leading international legal and human rights experts, which were very influential in developing a human rights jurisprudence on a range of issues, and …

Investigation Of A Global Mouse Methylome Atlas Reveals Subtype-Specific Copy Number Alterations In Pediatric Cancer Models., Melanie Schoof, Tuyu Zheng, Martin Sill, Roland Imle, Alessia Cais, Lea Altendorf, Alicia Fürst, Nina Hofmann, Kati Ernst, Dominik Vonficht, Kenneth Chun-Ho Chan, Tim Holland-Letz, Andreas Postlmayr, Ryo Shiraishi, Wanchen Wang, Alaide Morcavallo, Michael Spohn, Carolin Göbel, Judith Niesen, Levke-Sophie Peter, Franck Bourdeaut, Zhi-Yan Han, Yanxin Pei, Najiba Murad, Fredrik J. Swartling, Jessica Taylor, Monika Yadav, Garrett R. Gibson, Richard J. Gilbertson, Matthias Dottermusch, Rajanya Roy, Kornelius Kerl, Rainer Glass, Jiying Cheng, Martin A. Horstmann, Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld, Haotian Zhao, Dominik Sturm, Viveka Nand Yadav, Louis Chesler, Simon Haas, William A. Weiss, Paul A. Northcott, Lena M. Kutscher, Ana Guerreiro Stucklin, Olivier Ayrault, Julia E. Neumann, Daisuke Kawauchi, David T W Jones, Kristian Pajtler, Ana Banito, Stefan M. Pfister, Ulrich Schüller, Marc Zuckermann

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Copy number alterations (CNAs) are hallmarks of cancer, yet investigation of their oncogenic role has been hindered by technical limitations and missing model systems. Here we generated a genome-wide DNA methylation and CNA atlas of 106 genetic mouse models across 31 pediatric tumor types, including 18 new models for pediatric glioma. We demonstrated their epigenetic resemblance to human disease counterparts and identified entity-specific patterns of immune infiltration. We discovered that mouse tumors harbor highly recurrent CNA signatures that occur distinctly based on the tumor subgroup and driving oncogene and showed that these CNAs share syntenic regions with the matching human …

Efficacy Of Endophytic Fungi In The Management Of Spoladea Recurvalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) On Amaranth (Amaranthus Dubius), Druscilla Obonyo Nyamamba

All Master’s Theses

Amaranth is a Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) that in recent years has gained global popularity due to its exceptional nutritional, medicinal and economic attributes. However, its production is significantly limited by insect pest infestations, mainly lepidopteran defoliators. Spoladea recurvalis, commonly known as Hawaiian beet webworm has been reported as the major pest that feeds voraciously on the leaves leading to substantial yield losses of up to 100% under severe pest infestation. Chemical control remains a widely used method for the management of S. recurvalis. The use of fungal endophytes has emerged as a promising, sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to …

The Molecular Effects Of Microwave Irradiation Upon Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens, Alistair White

Peninsula Dental School Theses

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis due to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, driven by poor antibiotic stewardship, particularly in low to middle income countries where antibiotics can be bought over the counter. Currently, the molecular diagnosis of infections and genomic DNA extraction are both hindered by several factors including, expense, time, technical expertise, and the requirement of a laboratory-based setting. This makes it difficult to extract genomic material at point-of-care preventing the use of rapid molecular methods for the detection of antibiotic resistant genes. Thus, the gold standard for determining the appropriate antibiotics to treat infections …

Variability In Parainfluenza Virus Derived From Persistently Infected Lung Epithelial Cells, Cassidy R. Conte

Honors Undergraduate Theses

An acute infection (AI) with RNA virus can progress to a persistent infection (PI) where infected cells continue to grow and replicate while producing progeny virions. PIs with respiratory viruses are clinically important, as they can lead to prolonged shedding of viruses and generation of mutant viruses that are altered in pathogenesis and/or immune responses. Parainfluenza type 5 (PIV5) is a prototypic RNA virus shown to cause PIs in cell culture. Plaques in tissue culture from an acute infection with parental PIV5 were homogeneous in size and shape. By contrast, plaques from PIV5 persistently infected cells were heterogeneous, having a …

Factors Related To Deviant Behavior, Chiara S. Popp

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Understanding the factors that contribute to deviant behavior across the life span remains an important goal in psychology and criminology. Guided by life course theory, the present study examined whether childhood trauma, social connectedness, perceived childhood socioeconomic status, and key life transitions are associated with deviant behavior in adulthood. The purpose of this research was to better understand how early life experiences and social relationships may shape behavioral outcomes later in life. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with adult participants in the United States, aged 18 to 55. Participants completed measures assessing adverse childhood experiences, perceived childhood socioeconomic status, …

Honor Of Culture, Gender Socialization And Behavioral Outcomes In College Students, Ana Maria Moreno Henriquez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Honor of culture is a culturally based concept that involves holding a strong defense for  the dignity and reputation on one’s family and self. This thesis focuses on the relationship between this honor of culture and gender socialization in the behavioral outcomes of college students, who are in a highly important learning phase of discovering their identity and independence from familial values. Participants were University of Central Florida (UCF) students who completed an online Qualtrics survey, which included an Honor of Culture Scale (Rodriguez Mosquera et al., 2016), Gender Role Beliefs Scale (Kerr & Holden, 1996), the Short Dark Triad …

The Role Of The Amygdala In Huntington Disease-Associated Aggression, Luis Torres

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide CAG expansion in the huntingtin gene (HTT). HD is characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms that significantly impact patient and caregiver quality of life. Psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and irritability, are common manifestations of HD and can emerge years before the onset is clinically diagnosed. Aggression is a common and challenging psychiatric symptom in HD, often misunderstood and associated with caregiver stress, early institutionalization, and reduced quality of life. Despite its clinical impact, aggression in HD lacks effective, targeted treatment options. Similar to HD …

Freedom Beyond Colonialism: Fanonõs Critique Of Nžgritude As Liberation, Fiona Martinelli

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Report Open The Watermark (1993–2022): A Publication History And Reconstruction, Carston Anderson

The Watermark: A Journal of the Arts (1993-2014)

This record outlines the publication history of and background context for the legacy UMB student journal, The Watermark, which published from 1993 to 2022.

Integrating Web-Gis And Inquiry Learning To Enhance Spatial Thinking In Geography Learning, Nyokro Mukti Wijaya, Meri Herlina, Sugeng Widodo, Suhendro Suhendro

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the impact of integrating Web-GIS with Inquiry Learning on secondary school students’ spatial thinking skills. A 2×2 factorial experimental design was employed with 116 eleventh-grade students from SMA Negeri 13 Bandar Lampung, divided into four treatment groups: direct instruction with printed maps, direct instruction with Web-GIS, inquiry learning with printed maps, and inquiry learning with Web-GIS. The Spatial Thinking Ability Test (STAT), a widely validated international instrument, was used to measure outcomes. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA. The findings indicate that the learning media had a significant effect, with Web-GIS outperforming printed maps, whereas learning strategies …