College of Saint Mary
Find and connect with occupational therapy alumni and currently enrolled students from College of Saint Mary—and learn more about the program and faculty!
Bethany Vitko
OTR/L, CLT, Women's health
Bethany Vitko Wellness; B | Well OT
Lincoln
Anxiety, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Fitness, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health
Megan
MOT, OTR/L, ASDCS, CTP, CIA
School based therapist, prn OT for outpatient peds, CDE OT/PT specialist, public speaker
Fountain, Colorado
ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Grant Writing, Leadership, Neurodiversity, Trauma & PTSD
Crystal Bennett
OTR/L, CLT-ALM, CWT, NLN Expert Clinician
Syracuse Area Health
Syracuse, Nebraska
Cancer, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal
Isabelle Krones
Student
Student
Blue Springs, Missouri
Chelsey Crenshaw
OTD
Omaha, Nebraska
Pelvic Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Lori Volin
OTR/L,CLT-LANA
Lymphatic Rehab, LLC
Lincoln, Nebraska
Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Dementia, Lifestyle Medicine, Lymphedema, Prevention, Aging in Place, Rare Diseases
Sophia Kirwan
OTD, OTR/L
Valley
Aging in Place, Dementia, Home Modifications, Parkinson’s, Stroke
Ava Dross
OTS
Student
College of Saint Mary
Omaha, Nebraska
Cassidy Stussy
OTS
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Kamryn Anderson
OTS
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
Tara Harris
OTS
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
Marissa Ruhl
MOTR/L, CLT-LANA, CPAM
Thrive Occupational Therapy Health and Wellness PLCC
Omaha, Nebraska
Cancer, Chronic Pain, Fitness, Health Promotion, Lifestyle Medicine, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Jordan Bell
MOT, OTR/L, BCP
Des Moines University
Newton, Iowa
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Health Promotion, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Trauma & PTSD
Ashlynn Schmaderer
OTS
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
Carrie Griffin
OTD, OTR/L, MBA, CPAM
MaxAbility Therapy Services
Council Bluffs, Iowa
ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Neurodiversity, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Rare Diseases
ELLIE
MOT, OTR/L
West Point, Nebraska
Melissa S Kimmerling
EdD, MOT, OTR/L
Administrator
Augustana University
Papillion, Nebraska
Aging in Place, Autism, Ergonomics, Home Modifications, Leadership, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Seating and Mobility, Stroke, Hippotherapy
Jennifer Dessoye
EdD, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
King's College
Mountain top, Pennsylvania
ADHD, Autism, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Neurodiversity, Trauma & PTSD
Monika Lukasiewicz
OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
MollyLu P-LLC
Mesa, Arizona
Aging in Place, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Dementia, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Nature-based, Parkinson’s, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Hannah Wieger
MOT, OTR/L, CLT
Nebraska Methodist Health System
Omaha, Nebraska
Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Leadership, Lymphedema, Neurorehabilitation, Prevention, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke
About College of Saint Mary OT Program
The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program at College of Saint Mary prepares you to deliver services that help people improve their lives. As an occupational therapist, you will be able to help patients develop and maintain vital living and working skills. Occupational therapists evaluate physical and mental abilities, track progress and design therapy programs.
CSM’s new doctoral degree focuses on the development of clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education and theory development. In addition, students must complete two 12-week field work experiences along with a 14-week doctoral experience that culminates in a scholarly project.
College of Saint Mary OT Faculty
Below is a list of the College of Saint Mary faculty and staff. Find out more information about all of the faculty here!
Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Ellie Cusic, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Maureen Hoppe, Ed.D., MA, OTR/L, CHSE
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
Whitney Rubin, OTD, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Mary Smith, Ed.D., MOT, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Kristan Pilakowski, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Adebimpe Obembe, DPT, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Nicole Chipy EdD, OTR/L CLT
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
Certified Lymphedema Therapist