Kellie Abbott
Kellie Abbott is a 2000 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a part time school-based occupational therapist for Eanes ISD in Austin, Texas.
When asked how MUO helped her achieve her professional goals, Kellie states, "My education at MUO allowed me to quickly secure an OT position during a time in which many new graduates were applying for the same position."
When asked what was special about the MUO program, Kellie states "the amount of fieldwork experience, research, the grant writing experiences, and the completion of a professional dossier."
When comparing MUO graduates with that of other institutions, Kellie states, "I feel that MUO graduates have a great sense of 'occupation'. I feel that MUO graduates have confidence in their abilities which allows them to take on new responsibilities in their OT position, including taking on leadership roles."
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Tricia (Archbold) Barton
Tricia Barton is a 2002 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an occupational therapist at Paulding County Hospital.
When asked what is special about occupational therapy, Tricia states, “It is a profession I can feel good about doing every day, knowing I am helping others to achieve their daily goals.
When asked what is special about the MUO program, Tricia states, “The faculty were always there encouraging the students to learn.” Tricia further states that her MUO education “helped me to be a self-starter and to be resourceful, knowing where to look to provide the best care for my patients.”
When comparing MUO to other institutions, Tricia states, “I feel I am more creative and more prepared to think on my feet, to reason and analyze situations I encounter.”
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William Benoit
William Benoit is a 1999 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as the Supervisor of Occupational Therapy at Brownwood Regional Medical Center in Brownwood, Texas.
When describing the MOT program, William states, "It gave me the skills and knowledge to practice holistically in all practice arenas. It played the key role in my transformation from technical support staff to professional health care team member."
When asked what was special about the MUO program, William states, "The small class sizes with world renowned doctoral staff. MUO's education appears to have a greater depth than many others. I think the MUO program has a positive can-do environment which is special."
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Sheri Branum 
Sheri Branum is a 1995 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an occupational therapist at Erie Huron Ottawa Educational Services in Sandusky, Ohio.
As an occupational therapist in the schools, Sheri states, "My education at MUO gave me the knowledge and skills to practice in the schools. When I was at MUO, the anatomy and physiology classes were thorough and gave me a good knowledge for serving all populations. The fieldwork coordinator worked diligently to find a placement for me that matched my interests."
When asked what was special about occupational therapy, Sherri states, "What truly matters to me is to be able to sit and listen to people and to care and to be dedicated to make a different no matter how big or small that difference may be." Sherri further states, "The profession of OT is perfect for me in that I can work part-time and maintain my clinical skills while also raising my young children. I realize that many other professions do not offer people this opportunity."
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Kristan Carter
Kristan Carter is a 2000 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a staff occupational therapist for Rehab Dynamics in Toledo, Ohio.
When asked what is special about occupational therapy, Kristan states, "The best part of OT is helping people do things, occupations that they want to do but don't think they can do. As an OT, you have the unique opportunity to treat the whole person and in the case of pediatrics, the family as well."
As a pediatric occupational therapist, Kristin states, "The MUO OT program really gave me the desire to keep learning. If I have questions about a treatment approach, I take a course on it or research it. Then I am able to use this information to help the children I treat in clinical practice."
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Melanie Criss 
Melanie is a 2000 graduate of MUO and is currently employed at Erie, Huron, Ottawa Education Service Center as a school-based occupational therapist.
Melanie believes that the field of occupational therapy is special because of "the wide range of opportunities available to work in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, or the community. The opportunities are endless!"
When asked what is special about the MUO program, Melanie states, "the wide array of field experiences or hands on opportunities, especially in pediatrics." Melanie further states that MUO's "emphasis on research has played an important role in assisting me with developing a school based research project."
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Katrina Dyce
Katrina Dyce is a 2000 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a staff occupational therapist at Laurels of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and Heartland Homecare of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Katrina believes that occupational therapy is special "because our unique approaches to treatment sets us apart from other disciplines. We address physical and cognitive deficits in relation to outcome and function. We affect people's ability to do every day tasks."
When asked how the MUO program helped to achieve your professional goals, Katrina states, "MUO provided me with the opportunity to tailor my education based on my interests. We were given liberty with many special projects to focus on the populations or settings of choice. For me, geriatrics was initially my primary focus. I also learned leadership and communication skills at MUO which have helped me transition into my current position as a rehab manager."
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Amy Gheres
Amy Gheres is a 1997 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as the Therapy Program Manager at Lutheran Memorial Home in Sandusky, Ohio.
Amy states, "The program at MUO gave me the knowledge to provide effective treatment for our residents and the confidence to 'branch out' into new areas. Since working in long term care, I have been able to go through the lengthy Medicaid forms to have several of the residents approved for customized wheelchairs that will enhance the quality of their lives."
When asked how the MUO program helped to achieve your professional goals, Amy states, "I was able to step into a clinical coordinator position shortly after starting my first OT job. The MUO program provided me with the supervisory skills needed to succeed in that position."
When comparing MUO to other institutions, Amy states, "After having had students from other OT programs, I discovered the major differences in MUO's program is the emphasis on functional treatments. MUO graduates focus on functional tasks, which require more creativity and in the end develops a more therapeutic rapport with their patients. MUO graduates also tend to have confidence in their clinical skills."
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Beth Ann Hatkevich
Beth Ann graduated from Lourdes College in 1982 as a COTA. After practicing for several years as a COTA, Beth Ann returned to school to receive her Master of Occupational Therapy Degree from MUO in 1995. Beth Ann is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with specialization in Teaching and Learning from Capella University. Beth Ann is currently employed as Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Clinical and Educational Programming in the Occupational Therapy Department at The University of Toledo Health Science Campus.
When describing the MUO program, Beth Ann states, "my MUO education taught me about curricular design and helped me to develop my capabilities as a leader in the community. My education at MUO also helped me to develop life long learning skills and to think outside of the box. I am very proud to tell others that I am a graduate of the MOT program at MUO!"
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Emelie Imrick
Emelie Imrick is a 1999 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a staff occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s Mercy of Macomb Hospital-Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department in Clinton Township, Michigan.
When asked how the MUO program helped to achieve your professional goals, Emelie states, “MUO gave me the tools I need to think, reason, and treat patients to the best of my ability. I feel fully competent as a staff OT. I have been offered two positions in management at my facility due to my professional leadership qualities, which I believe is a direct result of my MUO education.”When asked what was special about the MUO program, Emelie states, “The professors are so amazing and dedicated, which ‘rubs off’ on the students. I am very proud of MUO and thankful to all of my teachers!"
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Kate Johnson
Kate Johnson is a 2001 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a staff occupational therapist at Lafayette General Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana.
When asked how the MUO program helped her to achieve her professional goals, Kate states, “The support I received from the MUO staff provided information for career development. At MUO I received leadership skills and knowledge of management and business which helped with my current position.”
When asked what was special about the MOT program, Kate states, “The small class sizes and the approachable professors. Staff was also supportive during fieldwork and were available for questions and had good contacts."
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Lisa (Glass) Johnson
Lisa is a 1999 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as the Director of Rehabilitation for Zandex Healthcare.
When asked how the MUO program helped her to achieve her professional goals, Lisa states, “Quite simply, I would not be able to function as a Rehabilitation Director without the education I received from MUO. While at MUO, the leadership, models of practice, and advocacy courses didn’t seem important, but they have proven invaluable to me in my current position.”When asked what was special about the MOT program, Lisa states, “I feel that the professors really get to know each student as an individual. They know each person’s strengths and weaknesses. They push each student to be his or her best, never letting anyone settle for O.K."
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Jennifer Kelly Mundwiler
Jenny Kelly is a 2001 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist II at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Jennifer states she feels OT is special because of the "ability to help someone each day. Dealing with an individual's ADL is very personal and you need to establish trust quickly, but the patient is very grateful once you help them." When asked about the education she received at MUO and the role it played in helping her achieve her professional goals she sates, "it gave me the skills to be assertive and evaluate what is best for the client. My education helped me be aware of the importance of identifying a client's occupation and being able to analyze and create a plan within an interdisciplinary group. The emphasis on research has been influential. It provided me with the background to help initiate projects regarding Evidence Based Practice as well as author an abstract for conference."
Regarding the MUO program and what is special about it, Jennifer says, "that it is a graduate program at a school with "just" graduate programs. I believe the focus of the institution is on a higher level of education. I believe this overall attitude promotes better graduates in comparison to larger state universities." Finally, Jennifer states she "believes she was much more prepared especially in the amount of fieldwork experience."
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Maggie Maloney
Maggie Maloney is a 1998 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
When describing the MOT program, Maggie states, "MUO has a strong research reputation in the field and is known for challenging students to assume advocacy and leadership roles fairly soon after graduation. The faculty modeled professional behaviors on many levels. The faculty conducted research to broaden the OT knowledge base and served on many national and state professional boards and committees."
Maggie further states, "As a second career, non-traditional student at MUO, I appreciated the faculty's friendly support and individual attention. Now that I am a professor and a doctoral student at the same time, I can fully appreciate and utilize the self-directed learning skills that I developed at MUO."
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Marcia J. Nagel
Marica is a 1999 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a school-based occupational therapist with the Lucas County Educational Service Center in Toledo, Ohio.
When asked what is special about occupational therapy, Marica states, "the opportunity to help someone improve the quality of his/her life and the opportunity to help someone accomplish a task that they could not do before treatment."
When asked about her MUO education, Marica states, "MUO taught me how to take apart any task into manageable steps and how to locate the needed resource to accomplish the task." Marica believes MUO is special because students receive "clinical experience early on in the program. Students receive up-to date ideas, methods, and technology. Finally, the instructors are knowledgeable in current trends, and they are also contributing to the current trends."
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Lisa Ross
Lisa Ross is a 1998 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an outpatient occupational therapist at Edwin Shaw Hospital for Rehabilitation in Akron, Ohio.
When asked what is special about occupational therapy, Lisa states, "Therapy is focused on the patient, not on a set script. We use the patient's own goals, individuality and motivation and combine that with our creativity and knowledge to achieve wellness and independence."
When describing the MUO program, Lisa states, "MUO taught me about 'graduateness' which is a level of professionalism that I carry with me as soon as I step into the hospital. Because of this, I am a very respected therapist and co-worker."
When comparing MUO to other institutions, Lisa states, "MUO graduates start their profession with a plethora of tools already being utilized to make them great therapists. The graduates are used to high expectations and working to fulfill those expectations."
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Emily Scott
Emily Scott is a 1998 graduate of MCO and is currently employed at York Hospital, York, PA.
When asked what is special about OT, Emily had this to say: "I have returned to adult care in a acute hospital setting after four years in the schools. That is the one thing I love about OT is there are so many areas and so many different jobs you can do, that I feel as if I am always learning and never getting bored with my career. We recently relocated here from Toledo and we love the area and the people." York Hospital is a trauma center that strictly does acute care.
Emily had the following to say when reflecting on the role her education at MCO played in helping her achieve her professional goals: "I always feel proud to say that I graduated from MCO as I not only have very fond memories from my studies there, but I feel so well prepared to do any of the areas OT might work in. With my recent change from pediatrics to adult care, I had to draw on some of those basic foundations that I learned at MCO."
Emily lives in York with her husband, Tony, and their two children, Abbey (5) and Jacob (2) and their dog, Nittany.
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Julie Wilkerson Smith
Julie Wilkerson Smith is a 1998 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a staff occupational therapist at Bay Park Community Hospital in Oregon, Ohio. Julie is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the OT program at MUO.
In describing the MUO OT program, Julie states, "The program prepared me well for clinical, as well as program development aspects of my current position. It gave me basic skills needed in addition to making me a self-directed learner. It addresses individuals in a holistic manner. The faculty is approachable and allows individual assistance. Also, the curriculum extends beyond clinical skills into research in order to promote the future of OT."
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Steve Vojtko
Steve Vojtko is a 1999 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as an occupational therapist/transitional work developer. Steve is also the State Treasurer of the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association.
When asked what is special about occupational therapy, Steve states, "The diversity of practice areas!"
When describing the MUO program, Steve states, "The program taught me how to deal with adversity. I meet challenges head on now and feel more comfortable with advocating for myself as an entrepreneur, business professional, and leader." Steve goes on to state, "I believe that the intense educational portion which focuses on research, anatomy, and neurology are special aspects of the MUO program that really helped me to develop as a complete clinician. MCO provided the foundation in which I continue to grow. I would rank MCO superior." Steve was married in 2006 to a girl named Loretta who also works in the therapy business as a physical therapist.
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Julie V. Zalar 
Julie Zalar is a 1993 graduate of MUO and is currently employed as a Supervisor of Occupational Therapy at Work F.O.R.C.E. in Troy, Ohio. Julie is also the President of the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association and Co-Chair of the Ohio Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Industrial Committee. Julie expresses the following about her experiences at MUO:
"As a supervisor, I am required to complete statistical analyses, prepare yearly budgets, develop new programs, perform employee and program evaluations, and provide education to community and professional groups at the local and state levels. I feel my education at MUO prepared me well for these responsibilities. While fulfilling my education requirements at MUO, I acquired professional knowledge and confidence that has enabled me to feel comfortable and competent to sit on the State Ohio Association of Rehabilitation Facilities board and serve as the District Chair for the Dayton District Occupational Therapy Association.
"What was special about MUO was the fact that we were the first MOT class. The seven of us were family and our professors were personal friends. Our class was small enough for individual attention. We held classes at the park, had barbecues and bowling parties for the study of 'occupation'. What made MUO special was that MUO made us feel special."