Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy honored an array of students who graduated from its master’s and doctoral programs during the 2023-24 academic year.
The division is home to two hybrid Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs – one in Loudoun County, Virginia, and a weekend one in Winchester, Virginia – as well as two doctoral programs – Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD Entry-Level) and a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (for those who already hold a master’s degree in the field.)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Entry-Level
Kelly O’Brien Hubbard
In the OTD Entry-Level program, Kelly O’Brien Hubbard ’24 received the Dean’s Award, which goes to an outstanding graduate who demonstrates academic excellence, professionalism and potential for future contributions to the profession. Dr. Hubbard, who works as an occupational therapist at Fairfax Rehabilitation and Nursing, said she fell in love with occupational therapy when she was an exercise professional. “I worked as a Wellness Director at a YMCA, and as a General Manager at a Corporate Wellness Studio in Chicago. During my time in Chicago, I decided to go back and get my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. I maintained my American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer certification (ACSM-CPT) while going through the doctorate program, and still actively coach. During the program, I got married and my husband and I bought our first home.”
Victoria Courtright
Victoria Courtright ’24 received the OTD program’s Professional Writing and Communication Award, which is given to a graduate who has gone above and beyond to disseminate the work of their final research or capstone project. Dr. Courtright, who also earned a Performing Arts Medicine graduate certificate, said her capstone blended her two specialties and addressed the use of sensory-based coping strategies to promote mental health in collegiate dancers. “This upcoming October, I will be presenting my capstone research at the annual International Association for Dance Medicine and Science conference in Italy! To further promote interdisciplinary collaboration, I will be working with individuals from the athletic training and physical therapy fields to present a poster on how we can adapt my capstone to create workshops for dance studios and centers globally. My research article has also been submitted for publication to the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science.”
Manisha Joshi
The Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award for the OTD Entry-Level program went to Manisha Joshi ’24, whose capstone had an international, mental health focus. Winners of this award show a genuine interest in Shenandoah and involvement in public, community or school service. “I developed an assessment tool that was culturally relevant to the Nepalese population and focused on stigma due to its indicative prevalence and low utilization of mental health resources in Nepal,” Dr. Joshi said. “The aim of my project was to advocate for culturally and contextually appropriate psychometric tools in developing countries like Nepal and increase awareness regarding the detrimental effects of stigma. I presented my capstone paper at the Shenandoah University Research Expo (SURE). My manuscript is being prepared for submission to the Health Promotion International (HPI) journal for consideration for publication!”
Lea Gray
Lea Gray MS, OTR/L, CLT, CLWT, received the Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award for the OTD Entry-Level program for demonstrating excellence in teaching abilities, interpersonal relations, communication skills, and professional skills.
Gray is an occupational therapist with Retreat Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where she works half of her time in the Lymphedema Clinic and the other half in the Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Clinic, as well as mentoring and inspiring new and aspiring clinicians.
Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD-PP)
Kenneth Matthews
In the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, Kenneth Matthews ’17, ’24, who is a U.S. Navy occupational therapist and division officer for educational and developmental intervention services at the Navy Medical Readiness Training Unit in Sasebo, Japan, received the Dean’s Award. Dr. Matthews was also selected as Navy Medicine’s 2022 Occupational Therapist of the Year.
Molly Madison ’24, who works in outpatient adult neurology for Virginia Commonwealth University Health, received the Professional Writing and Communication Award.
Laura Serine
Laura Serine ’24, who works in outpatient adult neurology for the Inova Health System, received the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)
Logan Shuttleworth
Logan Shuttleworth, a December 2023 graduate of the MSOT program in Loudoun, received that program’s Dean’s Award as well as its Trailblazer Award. The Trailblazer Award is given to a student with the unique potential to improve occupational therapy. Shuttleworth started her private practice, Triumph Pelvic Health, in May 2024, to provide holistic and individualized pelvic health support to women in southern Delaware. She is also continuing her Shenandoah education in the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
“I find so much joy in finding evidence-based, trauma-informed, creative solutions that help women return to their meaningful occupations without hesitation and with exceptional confidence,” Shuttleworth said.
Deeanna Delcoco
Other award winners in the MSOT Loudoun program are:
Deeanna Delcoco ’23, who received the Professional Writing and Communication Award. “While at SU, I had the opportunity to present my group’s final research project, ‘Holistic Sexuality Among College Students, and its Relationship to Mental Health: an Exploratory Study’ at the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference,” Delcoco said. “This was a great opportunity to represent Shenandoah, and advocate for mental health and sexual health research.”
Jackie Sisk
Jamika Acevedo ’23 received the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award.
Jackie Sisk ’23 was given the Extra Mile Award, which is designed to recognize a student who has gone the extra mile as a classmate by being proactive, reliable, and courteous of their fellow classmates.
Kala Doss
Kala Doss, who earned an OTD-PP from Shenandoah in May 2023, received the Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award for the MSOT Loudoun program. Doss is an OT Senior Lead at Western State Hospital (WSH) in Staunton, Virginia, as well as an adjunct professor at the university level.
MSOT Weekend Program
Marlise Brunson
The MSOT weekend program boasted the winner of the James R. and Mary B. Wilkins Occupational Therapy Award. Marlise Brunson, who will graduate from the MSOT program in August 2024, received the award, which is given to a student who has demonstrated significant academic achievement and plans for a career in occupational therapy.
Allison Gilbert Morris
Allison Gilbert Morris, who will graduate in August 2024, received the Dean’s Award and hopes to work in a school or outpatient setting.
Leomi Spence
Leomi Spence, who will also graduate in August 2024, received the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award for the weekend program. Spence created a program now in use by first responders as a result of her Shenandoah education. “While in my level two fieldwork at an outpatient pediatric clinic, I recognized a gap between the autistic community and first responders (fire, police, and EMS). I found that many times the first encounter a child with autism has with a first responder is often in an emergency when there is already a heightened emotional factor. When meeting with local first responders I discovered many did not have training on how to interact with individuals with autism. With that, I developed a community safety resource that included each city’s policy and any training they have or do not have. It also provided caregivers with skills to plan an interaction with their child and their local first responders before an emergency. As a result of this project, one of the local fire departments immediately initiated training all of their personnel.”
Additionally, the weekend program named Corey Woodford as its Fieldwork Educator of the Year.
