Meet our OT Faculty
Valparaiso Occupational Therapy is thrilled to be starting our program with experienced and well-respected faculty. Today we are featuring Program Director Dr. Story and Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Carroll. Both are well recognized for their contributions to occupational therapy.
Dr. Sara Story earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Spalding University. She was awarded a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2011 and earned a Doctorate in Leadership (EDD) from Spalding University in 2020. Dr. Story is board-certified in gerontology through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). She has maintained her status as a clinician to bring the current clinical practice to the classroom. Her primary areas of practice include gerontology and mental health with a research interest in aging in place, community mobility, and mental health services. She has delivered presentations at the state and national level. Dr. Story is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and was recently elected to the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Board of Directors as Mental Health Special Interest Section Chair. Dr. Story is a small-town Kentucky girl who loves a variety of occupations. She loves to spend time with her family, make baked goods, see new things, and is always ready for a good concert or sporting event.
Dr. Theresa Carlson Carroll earned her Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008. Her clinical occupational therapy practice experience includes working with children and youth in schools, community, early intervention, and outpatient clinic environments. She has experience working with children and youth with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her scholarly work has focused on best practices for supporting youth transition to adulthood, self-determination, and leadership in school based practice. Dr. Carroll has also worked with a number of community organizations as an Occupational Therapy Consultant, collaborating with organizations to identify needs and develop effective programming. Dr. Carroll is an active member of American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and currently serves as a co-facilitator for the AOTA Transition Community of Practice. Dr. Carroll was recently elected to the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Board of Directors as Children and Youth Special Interest Section Chair. Dr. Carroll has delivered presentations at state, national, and international conferences. She has published articles and book chapters in numerous OT publications. Dr. Carroll loves hiking the Indiana Dunes, reading, gardening, and making pizza on Fridays at home with her family. She was born and raised in Delaware and has lived in Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, the Chicago suburbs, and Northwest Indiana.
Dr. Katie Zromkoski earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) from Indiana University. She earned an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) from Indiana University in 2017. Dr. Zromkoski has worked as an occupational therapist in acute and inpatient rehabilitation settings. She has experience in neurorehabilitation and has treated neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and brain injury. Dr. Zromkoski has lived and worked in Northwest Indiana, Wisconsin, and the United Kingdom but has recently moved back to her hometown of Valparaiso. During her time in the United Kingdom, Dr. Zromkoski acted as the therapy team lead on an acute ward specializing in dementia care. Her scholarly interests include differences between occupational therapy practice and treatment internationally. Some of her favorite occupations include traveling, dancing, and spending time with her family.
We are in the process of hiring additional faculty and are looking forward to being able to introduce them. Look for more information to come soon. Our talented team of faculty is growing!
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Theresa Carlson Carroll, OTD, OTR/L