December 10, 2024
Kelly Neal, a student in the SSU Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program, is set to graduate this December. On October 12, 2024, she presented her capstone project at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference in Columbus. Her project was completed under the mentorship of SSU’s Dr. Mikel Stone.
Neal’s capstone project was entitled: “Development of a Site Mentor Capstone Manual for an Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program.”
“The Site Mentor Capstone Manual addresses the pressing need for structured guidance in facilitating occupational therapy capstone experiences,” said Dr. Mikel Stone, SSU Director of Post-professional Doctoral Studies in Occupational Therapy. “Developed to facilitate capstone placements and aligned with the University of Cincinnati's curriculum, the manual equips site mentors with essential resources to effectively navigate the complexities of entry level occupational therapy doctoral capstone placements.”
Neal stated that the national and state organizations do not have a resource available that is comparable to the one she created. She expressed hopes that it will help equip community members and site mentors in hosting and increasing the mentorships for occupational therapy students.
Neal currently teaches at the University of Cincinnati. She credits the flexibility of her online classes in SSU’s graduate program in reaching her goals. For those curious about pursuing a higher degree in the field, she said to take that first step.
“Just start,” she said. “There will never be a perfect time. I didn’t wait, which has ultimately led to achieving my goals and becoming a full-time professor.”
For more information about the OTD program at SSU, visit shawnee.edu/otd.