CHAIR
RACHEL PARK
CREIG SMITH
In the brief time that we’ve spent at USC, I feel that I have been privileged to meet so many of you and begin to create strong friendships built on a combination of intellectual curiosity and good humor. I anticipate that this approach will be helpful to be a facilitator working with the other chairs so that together we can make the organization meet its advocacy, social, and academic goals to best serve your interests.
SOCIAL CHAIR
LIZ PHELPS
JACKSON WATTS
Hi everyone, for those of you that don’t know me, I’m Jackson Watts from Brooklyn. I want to be your social chair. I’m qualified for this position because I come from a diverse background, I want to and enjoy bringing people together and I understand what goes into planning events. I also think it is very important for people to come together to share ideas and their culture. Being the social chair will give me the opportunity to help OT students create and develop lifelong relationships witch each other and meet other people from different departments within our university.
When I was in High School a teacher told me my best quality is bringing people together. I’m an out going and social person who thrives when working with people. Before coming to USC I worked for City Year where I planned 10 afterschool events. The biggest event I had to organize was an NBA math hoops tournament between the 10 different schools that we were partnered with. I organized everything in this event from where we held it, to acquiring funds for food and who catered it. Besides helping to plan the annual OT Vegas trip and the tailgate I have a few ideas for future events. I would like to plan something that allows the 1st and 2nd years to come together to get to know each other better like a karaoke night. I would also be open to hearing any other event ideas that anyone else would have.
TREASURER
NICHA THUMWANIT
Like many of you, I understand the pains of managing budget as a graduate student while also seeking to maintain a healthy life balance, especially as someone whose favorite occupations include eating out and traveling. So, I would like to translate those skills to managing the funds allotted to OTSC. As we are aware, the first step to strengthening occupational therapy’s foothold in the world of health and rehabilitation is to advocate to other healthcare disciplines and the public at large. Developing strong ties within our community through networking with other occupational therapy schools and organizations is just as important. As treasurer, I would like to aide the cause however I can while also making sure that we keep our spending at a reasonable level via effective communication and collaboration with my fellow council members so that their goals and the funds needed to achieve them are made explicitly clear to everyone. Thank you all for your consideration!
SECRETARY
JENNIFER LEE
My name is Jennifer Lee and I am running for the position of Secretary for the Occupational Therapy and Science Council. I am a first year Master of Arts student of the Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy program. I believe I am a qualified candidate for this position as I am a well-rounded and amiable individual as well as a great team player.
As an undergraduate at UC Irvine, I majored in both Art History and English so writing comes naturally to me. Additionally, I held the positions of Administrative Vice President of my sorority as well as Vice President of Communications for the UCI Panhellenic Association. As Administrative Vice President, I was in charge of internal reports and standards. As Vice President of Communications, I was responsible for inter-sorority communications, which included a quarterly newsletter.
After graduation from UC Irvine, I worked for a real estate firm in the Investor Relations department. A portion of my responsibilities included written, oral, and, electronic communications to investors, IRA companies, transfer agents, and vendors. Additionally, I maintained client files, both hard-copy and electronic. I did this for almost ten years prior to changing my career. While taking my prerequisites to apply for graduate school, I worked part-time as a Behavior Technician for an ABA company. Part of my duties as a Technician was to keep notes on each client’s progress during client specific lessons as well as any behavioral outbursts. Also, I collaborated well with each of my clients’ Behavior Consultant.
Thank you for your consideration.
HISTORIAN
JULIAN PRADO
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CHAIR
CARLOS JUAREZ AGUILAR
Were I chosen by my peers to serve as the International Relations Chair, I would gladly strive to raise awareness of international matters within the field of occupational therapy among my fellow students at USC. Of particular interest to me is being able to work with the faculty, staff, and other students to identify global populations that may be currently underserved or not served at all. This could be accomplished via the gathering of literature, media, and other materials, or even by seeking out guest speakers that would illuminate us regarding this topic. The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is a leader in our field within America, and by extension, the entire world. I would like to explore what our role as current students and future leaders looks like in promoting global awareness of the benefits occupational therapy affords society.
ASHLEY HVIDT
My name is Ashley Hvidt, and I am running for the international relations chair of the OTSC. A bit of background about me: I really love people, especially the little people, and I plan to work in pediatrics. I have worked with kids consistently throughout my life, and after my experiences interacting with children with disabilities I knew that I wanted to do something for that population. I also have a passion for serving the underserved and seeking justice for those who face injustice. I have been involved in mission trips to Native American reservations and to Kenya, and I would love to find myself back in Kenya one day, hopefully with the resources to help the children there get off the streets. One of my primary professional goals is to understand the knowledge and practice of occupational therapy in other cultures and to learn the best ways to implement the practice in cultures that do not currently have occupational therapy. As international relations chair, I would love to continue creating opportunities for the education of international issues and practice, and I would love to provide a focus on occupational justice. I believe it is important for us as future practitioners to know how occupational justice is being implemented here nationally, as well as how it is being implemented internationally, and to discuss the populations and cultures that are facing occupational deprivation and ways in which we could serve them. Feel free to ask me questions, and please vote for me!
YOKO ELLIE FUKUMURA
I am currently a first year Master’s student at the T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. I am very interested in international occupational therapy and its unique needs and practice methods. I would like to both promote and learn about occupational therapy abroad because I believe that exchanging knowledge will help occupational therapy professionals and clients.
I come from a musical background and have many international and leadership experiences. My past work experience includes working as a Piano Department Assistant at New England Conservatory Preparatory School and teaching piano and music theory. I recently started working for USC American Language Institute as a One-on-one Conversation Partner, a resource for international students to practice conversational skills as well as consult for advice with transitioning to a new environment. I am also a Research Assistant at USC, working with Dr. Shawn Roll in the Musculoskeletal Sonography and Occupational Performance Laboratory.
As a first generation Japanese American, I am familiar with the unique challenges of healthcare in different cultures. One of the reasons I became interested in occupational therapy is because of the lack and need for holistic care worldwide. When I first became familiar with the profession, I was very inspired by its philosophy but also wished that more people had access to it. I would love to become the International Relations chair to learn more about occupational therapy practice in different countries and to help promote awareness of global occupational therapy.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
JOYCE SEO
Hello everyone, my name is Joyce Seo, and I am running for the International Relations Chair position! I have always had a heart to serve internationally, and am excited to take advantage of the opportunities that USC has to learn about what OT is like globally. As USC students, we are learning to become leaders in OT, and thus, have a responsibility in promoting healthy engagement in meaningful occupations worldwide. In order to do this successfully, we have to be mindful of the different cultural values and stigmas that exist. As a diverse community, USC has given us an amazing opportunity to learn first hand from each other about issues regarding occupational justice, international practices of occupational therapy, and more. By continuing to bridge the gap between the MA-I and MA-II students, I hope to work with the co-chair in promoting and providing a space for discussion regarding the ways that OTs can provide our services to global societies that are in need of them. Furthermore, I would like to collaborate with Global Initiatives to create more opportunities to engage with visiting OT students or therapists in order to receive a greater insight into how our discipline is able to serve various populations. Here, we all know that OT is the best profession ever, but I strongly believe that through fostering our global connections, we can spread that sentiment worldwide. Thank you! J
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
MELINDA LY
My name is Melinda Ly and I am a first year MA-II student. I am interested in running for the Fundraising Chair position.
Previously in my undergrad years, I was involved in a community service co-ed fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, where I began my leadership as fundraising chair. I then went on to become Pledge Master and President within the same organization, while maintaining stellar grades and a part-time job. I believe skills in time management as well as creativity and gusto are key to a successful fundraising team. I hope to bring these qualities to the fundraising chair position as well as fun new ideas to raise money and awareness for future of occupational therapy.
Additionally, I enjoy working in a team and developing a sense of cohesion amongst my cohort. Being involved in school organizations can help make a large university become more personal and meaningful. I hope by getting involved and encouraging my fellow students to engage in fundraising and school spirit events together, we can achieve that feeling of home within a large institution.
JOYCE YOO
Click. Click. Click.
It was tab after tab, looking, researching, and deciding the type, fabric, color, and price of each outfit. In the past, I had the opportunity to be the costumes director and media chair organizer for my hip hop dance team. With months of research and planning, I created my team's aesthetic look and brand. My heart fluttered when the general audience asked where my team bought these clothes! If given the opportunity, I want to create USCOT into a strong marketing brand. This will include designing items for purchase. I have also helped organize and market a huge hip hop dance show that raised $5000 in one night! I want to use both my organizational and creative skills to bring fun, meaningful fundraising events and products to our division! Ultimately, I want to use my skills for designing, marketing, and creating to give USCOT it's very own aesthetic look.
PHILANTHROPY CHAIR
ELISSA LEE
JESSICA PEDERSEN
My name is Jessica Pedersen and I am one of the Bachelor to Master’s students, joining the MA-II Class of 2019. As a first year master’s student, I am so excited to get even more involved in the department by hopefully taking on a leadership role, specifically philanthropy chair for OTSC. After serving as the OT student ambassador for the summer, I realized how much I thrive and enjoy having a leadership role as part of our amazing profession and the USC program. I have always been passionate about philanthropy and I have been involved in many throughout high school and college. I have served as the Co-President of USC PressFriends for the past three years, so I have extensive background in philanthropy, non-profit management, and organizing events.
I would love to really dive into this position and help bridge the gap between our students and our community’s needs. Living in such a diverse city, such as Los Angeles, gives us so many opportunities to get involved hands-on. As philanthropy chair, I hope to continue to build on USC’s efforts in participating in the NAMI Walks. Additionally, there are many existing USC organizations that I know as a department we could work with in order to promote health and wellness across the community, such as: Peer Health Exchange, WYSE, and Connect Health Education and Fitness. Working in a collaborative effort can maximize the effect we have as students on our community.
AMY ZHAO
My name is Amy Zhao and I believe I am the best fit for philanthropy chair because of my past experience and my passion for justice and service. I participated in JEP at USC, a service-learning organization where I was a TA for a local special needs classroom. I saw the direct need for OT’s in the LA school system. I have interned at two non-profit organizations where the need for occupational therapists is great: Starlight Children’s Foundation, a non-profit that improves the experience of children and families who spend a large part of their life in a hospital, and Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, a non-profit that connects families and individuals with resources and services. My position at Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles was reaching out to the Asian Pacific Islander community who often have difficulty accessing services due to cultural and language barriers. In leadership, I served as Vice-President of Service of USC’s Alpha Phi Omega, the nation’s premier service-based leadership organization. I worked with many non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area, helping fulfill their needs whether it be tutoring or serving food. I also served other leadership positions Historian of USC’s Pre-Occupational Therapy Club and President of USC’s Pre-Occupational Therapy Club. As philanthropy chair, I would take my experience to reach out to organizations I know to see how OT can help fulfill needs. I also would want to work with organizations that help marginalized populations such as Dwelle Collaborative and their work with trafficking victims.
OTAC LIAISON
TABITHA LIN
Hello, I’m Tabitha Lin, and I’m excited to be running to be your OTAC liaison! My favorite occupations are hiking, snowboarding, and listening to podcasts—please feel free to share your favorite podcast or hiking spot! My motivation for running is to make a difference not only on an individual scale as a clinician, but also on a wider scale as an advocate. As an undergraduate, I was the president of Special Olympics at UCLA, an organization that provided an inclusive environment for adults with disabilities to play recreational sports and build valuable friendships. Through my four years working with these adults, most of whom were African- and Latino-American men from South Los Angeles, I learned about the disparities in access to healthcare services that they experienced. I was frustrated that people I cared about were not getting occupational therapy services they needed due to lack of awareness. I believe that this sentiment is common among most of us OT students. As your OTAC liaison, I would connect you to ways you could advocate for the profession in the patient populations you are passionate about, especially with respect to our unique political and socioeconomic climate in California.
We students have a unique role in policy change; our points of view as critical thinkers and change-makers bring innovative and daring ideas to the table. Whether it’s access to educational resources or opportunities for professional development and networking, I plan to speak up for your enrichment as your OTAC liaison.
EVAN NICHOLAS
I am so excited to be running for the position of OTAC Liaison! I am a natural communicator with a passion for advocacy, so this opportunity is really thrilling for me. What’s more is I believe my personality, work ethic, and background makes me an ideal candidate for the job. My main experience is in the field of mental health. Before returning to school I worked with a patient population suffering from severe OCD, and have also worked on a large OCD Genetic Study funded by the NIMH. This experience, along with years of managing teams in the entertainment industry, has not only been tremendous preparation for a career in OT but also has given me confidence and world perspective that I believe would be valuable in OTSC leadership. Last week I attended a function where I got to hear from the OTAC Political Action Committee chair, as well as reconnect with our Region 2 Director Ingrid Leu. It was an inspiring evening, and I am enthusiastic about the prospect of working with them on a variety of legislative issues, including amending a current state law that forbids OT’s from becoming minor stakeholders in California Psychological Corporations. I am also looking forward to AOTA Hill Day, where we can get to work advocating for OT immediately!
Thanks sincerely for your consideration. It would be such an honor to represent my school with OTAC, and I most especially look forward bringing knowledge and resources back to all of you.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
CATHERINE SHIN
Greetings, my name is Hyon Min Shin, but I go by Catherine, and I would like to run for the position of Professional Development Chair to represent my fellow students and future colleagues in the MA II Class of 2019. To tell you a little about myself, I am a native of South Korea but received my B.A. in Government from Smith College and an M.B.A. in Mergers and Acquisitions from Ewha Womens University in Seoul, Korea. I have work experience in various industries including the arts and entertainment, finance, marketing, and communications. I have worked for companies in the U.S., China, and in South Korea, in addition to experience of running a small online business operation in women’s fashion retail. With a desire to be positive influence and contributor to society, I have found my calling in occupational therapy. I believe my unique background and diverse work experience can be of some service to the USC Chan Community. I humbly hope, and offer my services to the USC Chan community. Through my commitment to needs and wants of my peers, an active attention to trends and forecasts in our industry and other, I hope to bring forth positive outcomes in the the promotion of occupational therapy and science to the general public and other professional, and provide useful learning opportunities for professional development for my future colleagues.
FACULTY LIAISON
MICHAEL VAVNTRUB
My name is Michael Vayntrub and I am applying for the Faculty Liaison/Student Needs & Development position. Before discovering occupational therapy, I was on the pre-dental track throughout my undergraduate career at USC. As such, I was a member of the USC Pre-Dental Honor Society and was eventually elected as their Community Outreach Director before going on to serve as President for two terms. Under the leadership of my executive board and I, the USC Pre-Dental Honor Society became the #1 ranked pre-dental organization in the nation according to the American Student Dental Association. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the organization, as President, it was my job to coordinate professional speakers for bi-monthly meetings and organize interactive manual dexterity activities for our members. Fortunately, I was able to work closely with the faculty, students, and staff of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC to optimize the experience and education of the pre-dental students in the honor society. Conversely, I communicated all feedback from the members to our Ostrow faculty aide in an effort to improve future experiences for pre-dental Trojans. In some regard, because of my affiliation with Ostrow and the subsequent relationships I developed as President, I acted as the liaison between the faculty and staff of the dental school and the pre-dental members of our organization. I believe this, along with the necessary teamwork skills I developed, makes me a qualified candidate for the position.
I thank you in advance for this opportunity!
JESSE ZHAO
Hello, I am Jesse. I am applying for the Faculty Liaison/Student Needs Development position on the OTSC. When I was an undergraduate freshmen, my creative writing professor non-judgmentally described the protagonist (me) in an autobiographically-inspired piece as an “a**hole.” Despite the initial shock, this rare moment of critical interaction successfully challenged my self-awareness and reaffirmed an education worthwhile. I believe our professional development as occupational therapists and healthcare practitioners comes from these potential interactions within our student context. Mirroring OT’s PTE model, the quality and success for student learning are enhanced by improving access to these opportunities, resources, and connections within our division. Each individual, peer or faculty, can inspire mentorship and new perspective, and I hope to serve with this purpose.
Having experienced my undergraduate years in various academic settings, from a suburban state college, then as a transfer to USC, then as a commuter at a community college, I constantly reflected upon how to advocate for meaningful learning. My service as a Residential Advisor for USC and as a student leader in a community service organization that produced over 3000 hours of service annually to the Los Angeles Community allowed me to practice facilitating student development and familiarized me with USC resources. Currently, I continue to pursue greater ownership of my learning and development through my current research involvements and continue to reflect on the potential interactions for my evolving professional needs. I look forward to applying my abilities to serve in this position.
GRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT SENATOR
SARINA TETLEY
I believe that my experience, and established network, as a liaison between the student body and the university, will greatly contribute to my success as your GSG Senator. Thank you for your support!
ASSEMBLY OF STUDENT DELEGATES REPRESENTATIVE
SUYOUNG CHUNG
Hi, my name is Suyoung Chung. I am a SoCal native and I went to undergrad at the other side of town, UCLA. Even though I love UCLA, I’m SLOWLY starting to integrate myself into the Trojan family. When I’m not at school, you’ll definitely yelping and eating at every brunch spot in LA, hiking, or traveling. I am running to become the next ASD Representative. In the short period we’ve been in school, I have become fully convinced of the pivotal role of AOTA in the OT profession. Even as students, we can exchange best practices, network with professionals and advocate for our profession, simply by being AOTA members. As ASD Rep, my goal is to promote AOTA membership among USC OT students and increase the ways we can leverage AOTA’s resources. (As famously quoted, “We’re all winners when we’re all AOTA members.”) For example, something exciting we could participate in is Boardroom to Classroom, which is an opportunity for a AOTA board member to Skype with us about a topic of our interest. As ASD Rep, I want to facilitate opportunities for us to maximize what AOTA has to offer to us. Thank you for your time and FIGHT ON!
BRITTANIE FUENTES
Hello fellow Trojans! My name is Brittanie Fuentes and I am running to be your next Assembly of Student Delegates representative. I graduated from UCLA (I know, I know) earning a Bachelor’s in Linguistics and Psychology. During the past several years, I had the privilege of working in a special education classroom, where I saw the impact of occupational therapy first-hand and fell in love with OT. I am incredibly passionate about this field as I hope to absorb myself into the culture of like-minded professionals and gain everything that this field has to offer. I have experience holding positions in student government and advocating for the needs of my peers. I am deeply committed to representing the USC OT student body at AOTA sponsored events so that you remain informed about all things OT. As future practitioners, I think that it is imperative that we are presented with the current and future trends of OT, remain informed about policies regarding the state of OT, and participate in fun activities that allow us to network with others in the profession. If given the opportunity, I look forward to working as a liaison between the student body, OTSC, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Thank you and Fight On!
ELISSA TAYLOR
I will bring my passion for learning and my excitement toward becoming an awesome OT to the ASD Representative position to help my fellow peers engage in scholarship and education opportunities. To further scholarship engagement I would like to work toward planning fundraising opportunities and events so we can provide more scholarships to the many students that want to attend AOTA events. To increase engagement in educational activities I would like to start hosting events that will help students learn more about AOTA, how we can make a difference, and how we can contribute to upcoming conferences.
I am so excited for the chance to represent the voices, concerns, and questions of my peers and my school at the national level and to make education and scholarship opportunities more accessible and motivating for all of us!
