Nine faculty and alumni to receive AOTA, AOTF awards
March 20, 2025

Nine USC faculty members and alumni will receive annual awards presented by the American Occupational Therapy Association and American Occupational Therapy Foundation during the association’s annual conference, which runs from April 3–5 in Philadelphia.

Assistant Professor Leah Stein Duker MA ’06, PhD ’13, Postdoc ’15 will receive the 2025 AOTF Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence. The award recognizes an occupational therapy clinician who demonstrates sustained commitment to evidence-based practice through participation in research that advances theory in the area of brain–behavior relationships and/or sensory processing disorders.

Interim Associate Chair of Occupational Therapy Clinical Services and Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Chantelle Rice Collins ’07, MA ’08, OTD ’09 will be inducted into the AOTA Roster of Fellows. The designation as a fellow of the association is to recognize those who have made a significant contribution over time to the profession, with a measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services and AOTA.

Professor Mary Lawlor will receive the AOTF Fred Sammons Volunteer Recognition Award, which recognizes generous, selfless service to AOTF and the advancement of occupational science through achievements, accomplishments or service.

Alumni awardees

Annie Baltazar Mori MA ’00, OTD ’03, Jayson Davies ’11, MA ’12 and Heather Thomas MA ’98 will be inducted into the AOTA Roster of Fellows.

Donald Fogelberg PhD ’08, Postdoc ’10 will receive the AOTF Leadership Service Commendation. Fogelberg is an associate professor at the University of Washington.

Krysti Teng OS Minor ’14 will receive the AOTA Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award. Teng is a school-based practitioner at the UCLA Lab School.

Jennifer Weaver MA ’11 will receive the AOTF Early Career Research Excellence Award. Weaver is an assistant professor at Colorado State University.

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