Diego A. Lopez OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
THH B4
(213)-821-6359
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Diego Lopez earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology with a Minor in Occupational Science from the University of Southern California, and then went on to receive both his Master of Arts and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degrees from USC as well.
During his doctoral residency at Los Angeles City College, Dr. Lopez focused on implementing and building occupational therapy services in the Office of Special Services to assist students with stress management, time management, study skills, test anxiety, and other skills associated with promotion of college students’ health and wellness. He is currently part of the faculty on the main campus teaching undergraduate level courses such as OT 100: THRIVE: Foundations of Well-Being and OT 250: Introduction to Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
Research Interests
Dr. Lopez’s work centers on supporting students’ ability to thrive across their various roles by leveraging their inherent strengths, with a primary research focus on factors that promote success in academic settings. He emphasizes that “we are all the experts in our own lives—sometimes we just need support to recognize it.” Dr. Lopez is particularly interested in the application of evidence-based, occupation-centered interventions within higher education. His work explores the role of play in emerging adulthood and its impact on long-term well-being, which informed the development of his course, OT 213: A Life of Play.
