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Leiyanne Roldan MA ’23

What brought you to USC?
USC felt like the ideal school for me since I knew I wanted to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career while being close to my home city. USC has exceeded my expectations in providing academic rigor as well as exceptional school spirit and so many familial bonds!

What brought you to Occupational Therapy?
Growing up with my parents who are both nurses, they always advised me to pursue a job in the medical field. My parents would often tell me how impactful Occupational Therapists were on their patients and as a volunteer at Keck Hospital, I found a deep interest and appreciation for Occupational Therapists. After much research and deliberation between majors and jobs, I decided to apply to USC as an Occupational Therapy major. To this day I am incredibly grateful for the academic and professional opportunities I have encountered through this program.

Describe your favorite occupational therapy course.
In fall of my sophomore year, I took OT-260: Human Functional Anatomy. Although this course was heavy on memorization, I still found it enjoyable to prepare for quizzes and exams because it was primarily through visual learning. Having access to the cadaver lab through this course was an experience that I am incredibly grateful for as well.

If your childhood has a smell, what would it be?
Crayons and watercolor paint!

What are some small things that make your day better?
Matcha lattes and cloudy weather.

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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.