Valparaiso University Occupational Therapy

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the brave men and women who serve our country. 🇺🇸

As occupational therapy practitioners, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to serve and support veterans, service members, and their families through compassion, advocacy, and meaningful care.

Today, we remember those who gave everything for the freedoms we enjoy every day. ❤️🤍💙

05/15/2026

Kicking off graduation weekend!

Today, we celebrate our inaugural OT cohort, Maria Camacho and Peyton Throw, defending their capstones and presenting their work! This inaugural class has truly paved the way for OT Valpo, and we know they’ll carry forward our threads of service, community engagement, scholarship, and leadership in their careers.

Tonight, they’ll be honored at the College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP) recognition ceremony, and tomorrow, they graduate! We are so proud of them and know they’ll be amazing OT practitioners!

05/01/2026

Wrapping up OT Month by celebrating advocacy, leadership, and scholarship at our university’s research symposium, SORCE!

This year, the OT program had 100% student participation in SORCE, and together our students made up 10% of all presentations across campus. Through research, education, and collaboration, our students helped increase awareness of occupational therapy and advocate for the impact OT has in healthcare and the community.

By presenting at SORCE, our students demonstrated our program’s curricular threads of scholarship, leadership, community engagement, campus involvement, and service. We are proud to see our future practitioners representing the OT profession.

A huge congratulations to third year student, Maria Camacho, for achieving the 2nd place award for all graduate student presentations, we are so proud of you!

04/30/2026

Our faculty and students had the opportunity to volunteer at Rebuilding Together National's rebuilding day. Opportunities like this demonstrate how occupational therapy can support individuals by promoting accessibility, safety, independence, and participation within the home and community.

We are especially proud of Program Director Sara Story and student Ally Thaxton, who both serve on the board for Rebuilding Together Duneland and continue advocating for the integration of OT into the community. Together, we can help create homes and environments that allow individuals to thrive safely and independently.

04/29/2026

So proud to have our program represented at AOTA Inspire this year!

Three faculty members and two students attended, including entry-level OTD student delegate Lisa Ham and post-professional student Dawn Sonnier, who also serves as AOTPAC Chair. We are especially proud of our faculty members presented their work at conference. Grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, advocate, and represent our program alongside OT professionals from across the country!

04/21/2026

Are you going to AOTA Inspire this week? You don't want to miss these events and the chance to learn from our wonderful educators! Our program is grateful and excited to support our faculty in presenting their work nationally.

Check out what the OT Valpo faculty is doing at conference!

- Theresa Carlson Carroll, OTD, OTR/L, CLA:
📖 Short Course 256 - Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration: Developing Student-Centered IEP Goals for Transition Success
🕒Friday: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

- Sara Story, EdD, OTD, OTR/L, BCG, CAPS:
📖 Short Course 140 - A Conversation With the Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission: Introducing Course-Based Certification
🕒Thursday: 4:00PM - 5:00PM

🚗Institute 006: CarFit Technician Training Plus Event Coordinator Training
🕒Wednesday: 12:00PM-6:30PM

04/21/2026

Are you going to AOTA Inspire this week? You don't want to miss these events and the chance to learn from our wonderful educators! Our program is grateful and excited to support our faculty in presenting their work nationally.

Check out what the OT Valpo faculty is doing at conference!

- Theresa Carlson Carroll, OTD, OTR/L, CLA:
📖 Short Course 256 - Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration: Developing Student Centered IEP Goals for Transition Success
🕒Friday: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

- Sara Story, EdD, OTD, OTR/L, BCG, CAPS:
📖 Short Course 140 - A Conversation With the Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission: Introducing Course-Based Certification
🕒Thursday: 4:00PM - 5:30PM

🚗Institute 006: CarFit Technician Training Plus Event Coordinator Training
🕒Wednesday: 12:00PM-6:30PM

04/16/2026

04/09/2026

This past week, our 2nd year OT students hosted a health fair at a local independent living facility. They presented on topics commonly addressed by occupational therapists in the older adult population, promoting health, safety, and independence.

We are proud of their dedication and commitment to excellence. This experience provided a meaningful opportunity to engage with the community and further develop client education skills.

04/09/2026

We have exciting news! 🎉

The Occupational Therapy program at Valparaiso University has earned national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools 2026 rankings. This recognition reflects our commitment to academic excellence, hands-on learning, and preparing future practitioners for meaningful, real-world impact.

From classroom learning to clinical application, our program equips students with the skills and experiences needed to support clients in living full, independent lives.

Ready to take the next step toward a career in occupational therapy? Join a program that is growing, evolving, and making a difference.

Learn more and apply at the link in bio 🔗

04/07/2026

Spring offers some great opportunities to engage in meaningful occupations and talk, read, and sing to your child!

Spring brings longer days, warmer weather, and signs of new life everywhere. There are so many ways to engage children with fun learning activities this spring, from talking about the colors of the flowers to playing and singing outside in the rain!