Secretary

Sandra Rogers, PhD, MS, OTR/L

Professional Affiliations: Associate Professor and Program Director for the OTD program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Business manager and book review editor, Journal of Occupational Science; Developmental disabilities editor for AOTA’s special interest section

Position Statement: Sandra has been a long standing member of SSO:USA since 2003 and she has served in a number of roles for the society over the past 15 years. I am excited and eager to facilitate occupational science and am proud to be a member of an organization that embraces change and the understanding and use of occupation. I have long been interested in the relationships between behavior and health. I have conducted research and fostered community-based programs that seek to build evidence for and understand the relationship between health and occupation.

SSO Email: [email protected]

 

 

Secretary-Elect

Daisy Celeste Alvarado, OTD, OTR

Professional Affiliations: Occupational Therapist, El Paso Children’s Hospital; Adjunct Faculty, The University of Texas at El Paso; PhD Student, Texas Woman’s University

Position Statement: I joined the SSO:USA as a first-year occupational therapy student in 2019 and have since served as a member of the Conference Committee managing the virtual conference platform and app, coordinating the silent auction, gathering sponsors and donors, and engaging students. My participation in SSO:USA networking events and conferences enhanced my occupational therapy education and transition from student to occupational therapist in 2022. Currently, I am a pediatric acute care occupational therapist in my hometown of El Paso, Texas, and adjunct faculty at The University of Texas at El Paso. Additionally, I am a PhD student at Texas Woman’s University focusing on the concept of occupational identity and the changes following illness or injury. As a therapist and scientist, I leverage the relationship between meaningful doing, health, and quality of life outcomes. My goal is to advance the understanding of occupation as a means of impacting biopsychosocial health and well-being. Occupational science has taught me to value the uniqueness of individuals as occupational beings and the importance of capturing their journeys of lived experiences. I hope to continue serving the mission of SSO:USA through my role as secretary and support the society's continued growth.

Past Board Secretaries

2017-2019: MaryEllen Thompson, Eastern Kentucky University

2013-2017: Katie Serfas, Saint Louis University

2011-2013: Maggie Maloney, Saint Louis University

2009-2011: Beth DeGrace, University of Oklahoma

2005-2009: Judy Olson, Eastern Michigan University

2003-2005: Sandee Dunbar, Nova Southeastern Univeristy

2002-2003: MaryLou Henderson, St. Catherine University