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Student Ambassadors
2024–2025 Ambassadors

The USC Chan Student Ambassadors are current occupational therapy students. The role of a student ambassador is to help raise awareness for the field of occupational therapy and our programs here at USC. They provide tours, give informational presentations, help with events, blog about their experiences, post to Chan Division social media accounts, and answer questions from prospective students.

Below you can find information about the current USC Chan Student Ambassadors. If you have questions or feedback, you can contact the ambassadors at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Avery(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Avery Lord. I am currently in my second year of undergrad in USC Chan’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Doctorate program. I was born and raised on a tree farm in a small town in Oregon.

Before I discovered Occupational Therapy I had always been drawn to working in healthcare. The knowledge that I could dedicate my life to healing people and helping them live healthier, fuller lives excited me. I quickly discovered, however, that blood and surgeries weren’t for me, but my desire and drive for helping others still persisted. In high school, I had the privilege to be involved with some amazing organizations where I discovered my passion for working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was then that I learned about Occupational Therapy, and I haven’t looked back since. My current career plan is to go into pediatrics and work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, one of my favorite parts of OT is how broad the field is, and I aspire to be a well-rounded therapist who can work in any setting. I can’t wait to continue my studies and start my fieldwork in the coming years.

When I am not in class or studying, some of my favorite occupations include being active, lifting weights, running, kayaking, hiking, baking, listening to music, painting, and spending quality time with my friends and family. I love being outdoors and am always striving to sit outside and soak up some sun. At USC I serve as a trip leader for Peaks and Professors, and am a research assistant studying the effects of caregiver social touch in young children with ASD.

I am ecstatic to be an undergraduate student ambassador this year. I love meeting new people, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions; about OT, the BS-OTD program, USC, or life!

Cara

Hello! My name is Cara Ishisaka, and I am from Sacramento, CA. I am a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Psychology with a minor in Occupational Science (OS). After my undergraduate studies, I intend to attend graduate school to become an Occupational Therapist.

My admiration for OT grew out of my community involvement from working with children and the elderly. Whether it was assisting with homework, leading enrichment activities, or helping nursing home residents exercise, I found satisfaction in seeing that something I did was helpful to someone else in some way — be it academically, emotionally, mentally, or physically. And through my sister, who works alongside occupational therapists as a physical therapist, I learned how OT combines teaching and medicine to help individuals reconnect with their passions and find greater fulfillment in their lives. This resonated with me, affirming my decision to pursue this career. Plus, I couldn’t let my sister have all the fun as our family’s go-to therapist!

In laying the groundwork for my future career, I met Dr. Uyeshiro Simon at orientation and asked for advice on graduate school preparation. She suggested pursuing the OS minor to enhance my skills and knowledge. What I thought was a mere addition to my resume, transformed into an opportunity for greater self-discovery and growth. From practicing self-compassion to learning adult life skills and using animal-assisted therapy to improve patient morale and promote humility, I recognized the various ways that occupational therapy can be applied and gained the skill set needed to be the best OT possible.

During my free time, I love baking, exercising, traveling, and exploring scenic city spots, especially in good company. You can also find me trying new cafes and indulging in overpriced lattes around the city! I am grateful for the opportunity to become a Chan Student Ambassador and look forward to sharing my experiences with you. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Fight on!

Dana(she/her/hers)

Hello! My name is Dana Nguyen, and I am in the Class of 2026 Entry-Level OTD Program. I was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the US when I was 7 years old. I have been an Orange County resident since then, but now temporarily live in Monterey Park for grad school. As a first-generation college student, I attended Santa Ana College before transferring to USC where I obtained a BA degree in Psychology.

My journey to occupational therapy was very self-driven since my senior year of high school. I found OT through searching different healthcare careers on Google as I knew I wanted to go into healthcare after seeing my mom battle cancer. When I read what occupational therapists can do to help cancer patients, it immediately sparked a light in my eyes because it was exactly what I wished my family was provided with during my mom’s treatment. With caregiver education and improving patients’ quality of life through occupational participation, it would have relieved many stressors my family faced. Although time cannot be reversed, I want to focus on becoming an OT for future families faced with cancer diagnoses across the lifespan and advocating for their needs.

While I am interested in oncology, I love that this profession holds no boundaries to different population health, so I am also interested in exploring pediatric school-based OT, mental health population, and inpatient acute rehabilitation. I know that no matter where I end up, OT is a fulfilling profession that fits my passion for healthcare.

Outside of school, I enjoy partaking in crocheting, caring for my indoor plant babies, watching Korean dramas, and most importantly, attending K-Pop concerts (hit me up if you want to talk about all things K-Pop :D)! I’m looking forward to serving as this year’s Chan ambassador and can’t wait to meet you all as you settle into this amazing program! Fight on!

Jowy

Hello! My name is Jowy Cenat, and I am in the Class of 2026 Entry-Level OTD program. I was born in Queens, New York. I spent most of my life on the East Coast. When I was young, my father said you could do anything you wanted with your life. You just have to be willing to work hard to get it. My family were French-speaking foreigners who sacrificed a lot to give me a privileged childhood. I attended undergrad at Stockton University in New Jersey with a Health Science degree and a dual minor in public health and holistic health.

Free-To-Be, an early intervention school I taught at during my undergrad, introduced me to occupational therapy at a young age. Many of the children’s professors were seasoned physicians and therapists. The school emphasized the Montessori learning style. This learning style emphasizes self-directed learning and hands-on activities, as well as developing skills like leaving the environment better than you found it, understanding how someone else feels, and understanding that even interacting in the snow (and rain) can be therapeutic as part of an immersive learning experience. Educating one another on validating all parts of being human, including the entire spectrum of emotions, is essential and vital to us as occupational beings. Our occupations are more than simply things we do; they are filled with social connections, feelings, and purpose. Acknowledging and validating the emotional experiences that accompany these occupations enhances our well-being and sense of belonging.

I look forward to gaining experience as a future occupational therapist and learning from my clients. Therapeutically, a Chinese proverb says the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. Psychologically, this could be why I have a strong passion for early intervention. I look forward to being a well-rounded therapist. Geriatrics, adults, etc. Yet, knowing my history, I will always have a love for pediatrics.

Outside of class, I enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling near the beach, and spending quality time with loved ones. I love being outdoors and the spontaneity of being adventurous.

Kimberly(she/her/ella)

My name is Kimberly Rochin Quiroa, and I’m from Azusa, California. I am a proud first-generation student majoring in Health and Human Sciences with a double minor in Occupational Science and Individuals, Societies, and Aging, all on the Pre-Occupational Therapy track.

Growing up, I was passionate about supporting children in their development, and like many, I initially aspired to become a teacher. Over time, this grew into a desire to help neurodivergent students thrive in academic settings. However, during my first few weeks at USC, everything changed. A guest OT lecturer visited my class and introduced me to Occupational Therapy. Suddenly, everything clicked. Here was a profession that not only aligned with my passion but also allowed me to support others in meaningful ways, whether it was something as small as mastering fine motor skills or as essential as navigating daily life with greater independence. While OT is expansive and ever-changing, my current interests lie in pediatric neurorehabilitation and early intervention.

Outside of my jam-packed schedule, I love exploring new coffee shops (and always trying to justify an overpriced latte for the aesthetic), seeing my favorite artists live, going on long walks with my puppy, and soaking up the sun while lap swimming.

Occupational Therapy has opened a world of possibilities for me, and I’m excited to share my journey and experiences with others as a student ambassador. Please feel free to connect — I love chatting with new people!

Mason(he/him/his)

Hello everyone! My name is Mason Suba (he/him/his) and I am from Sandy Hook, Connecticut. I am currently finishing my first year of the Entry-Level OTD program and fourth year at USC as a student in the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Doctorate program.

I was lucky enough to have a mother who is a pediatric occupational therapist, so for me, I had the unique opportunity to grow up around occupational therapy. Watching my mother practice and change the lives of her patients through fun games and activities is what first drew me to the practice. What I loved about OT was that to the outside eye, my mother was simply playing games with kids, making them laugh, and having a great time. However, as many would say, through the lens of your OT goggles, my mother was creating unique and personally tailored skilled interventions to support these children’s development. Every game and activity was meticulously crafted and therapeutic, promoting skills like sensory integration, fine motor, and self-regulation. It was these experiences of watching my mother practice that sparked my initial love for OT. I was accepted to USC’s BS-OTD Program and despite a global pandemic changing our lives as we know it, I began my studies at USC, my first step towards my goal of becoming a clinician.

Four years later I am now officially a graduate student and I couldn’t be more excited to continue my journey here at Chan. Although when I began my time here at USC, pediatrics was the only thing on my mind, one thing you will hear from everyone in the program is that OT school will open your eyes to so many fantastic practice areas you had no idea you would enjoy. So far, completing my first practice immersion in adult physical rehabilitation has made me realize that I have a passion for working with adults in a hospital setting. What I love most about this setting is that you have the opportunity to support your patients in some of the most fundamental human occupations and witness the meaning that comes with independence in them. Although I may not know exactly where I want to end up once I graduate, what I do know is that I will be helping people and that I will have the skills needed to be the best clinician I can be.

I like to define myself as mostly a homebody and I love cats. In my free time, I enjoy making and trying all different kinds of coffee, playing video games, and getting out of the city and into nature on hikes and bike rides. Please feel free to reach out, I would love to chat and am happy to answer any questions!

Patricia

Hello! Hola! My name is Patricia Vargas and I was born and raised in East LA. I graduated from CSULA with a BA in Child Development.

A year after I graduated with my BA I decided to go back to school and while I was researching physical therapy I stumbled upon an online brochure: ‘What is OT?’ After reading about it I was fascinated about the quality of care and the holistic approach of the profession. Since then, I have volunteered in different opportunities and currently work as a therapy aide where I continue to learn and grow my passion towards the profession. Currently I am interested in pediatric in-patient rehabilitation and/or community based mental health.

Outside of class, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing video games, cooking, eating, and sleeping. I am excited to share with all of you my experiences and journey as an OT student.

Shivani(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Shivani Mehta, and I’m currently a first-year (soon to be second-year) in Chan’s Entry-Level OTD program. I’m a hardcore Cali girl, as I was raised in Chino Hills, CA and graduated from UCSD with a BA in Human Developmental Sciences in 2022.

I was introduced to occupational therapy at a young age through a non-profit organization I volunteered with. However, my love for the profession didn’t develop until 2021, when I shadowed an OT in an outpatient clinic in Westminster, Maryland. During that experience, I got to witness first-hand what the holistic approach associated with OT looked like. Seeing the client-therapist relationship blossom and understanding the benefits of using meaningful occupation to promote healing and independence completely captivated me and led me to apply to OT school.

When I entered the program, I was immensely interested in Adult Rehab, specifically working with clients in inpatient rehab. However, after going through my first immersion experience, I began to comprehend the plethora of settings that OTs can work in. With that being said, I’m currently considering either Adult Rehab or Geriatrics with more of a focus on working with individuals with neurological conditions in a skilled nursing facility or outpatient clinic. 

When I’m not in school or studying, I’m usually watching a movie, at the gym, cooking, eating ice cream (Handel’s is the best), or hanging out with my friends in the program! I love traveling with friends and family and exploring new places and experiencing various cultures. I love meeting new people and am always here if you need some advice or just someone to talk to!

I’m so excited to be one of the Chan Student Ambassadors this year and sharing my experiences with you. Please reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting you all! Fight On!

Tanya

Hello! My name is Tanya and I am from Singapore. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy in the United Kingdom. I have been working within the pediatric setting in Singapore since graduating in 2013. Working in a school-based setting has been my favourite setting. It is a place where theoretical and clinical knowledge are synthesized within the natural environment of the child while working alongside parents, teachers and other allied health professionals.

I first got interested in the field of Occupational Therapy while visiting a booth enquiring about Physical Therapy. The enthusiasm that the Occupational Therapists had changed my mind in wanting to pursue a better-known profession in Singapore. That serendipitous decision to pursue Occupational Therapy is something that I have never regretted. It is truly an occupation that allows me to not only delve into the scientific knowledge of things but to have a chance to take on the hat to be creative and make modifications, to be a cheerleader and celebrate the small victories and to be a resource guide as I journey and share information with the people I meet. I am excited to further and learn more as I take up the Post-Professional Master’s degree here at USC Chan. To be able to learn, delve deeper and integrate knowledge on Sensory Integration and to learn how to advocate for the profession is something I am thrilled to study more about.

Outside of work and being a graduate student now, I enjoy being creative and taking on sewing projects with both the sewing machine and the needle doing embroidery or bead work. You can also find me enjoying a good cup of coffee with a book.

I guess that’s it for now. Fight On!

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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 fully 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) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status 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. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.