About UsConnOTA was founded by Kathryn Root, the organization's first president, in 1923. Since its beginning, ConnOTA has spread to hundreds of practitioners statewide to support them in their practice on the clinical and legislative tiers. Our mission is to protect and promote Occupational Therapy while providing for our members. As an inclusive profession, Occupational Therapy maximizes health, well-being and quality of life for all people, populations and communities through effective solutions that facilitates participation in everyday living.
   Board Members Corrin Campbell, BS, COTA/L (2020-2024)
President
Corrin, the first COTA/L to be elected as ConnOTA President, has practiced in areas from home health to subacute to outpatient to Geri-psych and more. In every setting, she zeroes in on maximizing each client's level of function. After nearly a decade in the clinical settings, she took on higher education, supporting many students as an instructor, Fieldwork Coordinator, and Program Director. Though she continues to support former and current students, she has since returned to work with persons experiencing changes in cognition. Her desire to stay current with treatment and policy trends has driven her to attend ConnOTA and AOTA, topic-specific, and ALC and NEOTEC conferences, as well as present to the Alzheimer’s Association and other medical groups on identifying and treating changes in cognition as early as possible. She has also partnered with Dr. Margarita Reyes for her yearly education series. In addition to her COTA licensure, Corrin has received formal training in dementia care, vestibular rehab, cardiac rehab, and low vision. Corrin holds a BS in Early Childhood Development from Charter Oak College and an AAS in Occupational Therapy Assisting from Briarwood College.
 Amy Burton, OTD, OTR/L (2020-2024)Vice President
Amy is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Western New England University. Prior to her current position, she worked in school-based therapy and administration for 19 years. She received her doctorate from Quinnipiac University in 2015. Amy was a contributing author to the Guidelines for Occupational therapy in Connecticut Schools (2017) and currently is on the task force for the CT Scope of Practice. Her current research interests include OT practitioners' role in supporting Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the schools. Amy is excited to assist with conference planning and eagerly lends her organizational skills with the team.
 Kristina M. Krsiak, OTD, OTR/L (2019-2021, 2021-2023)Treasurer
Kristina has practiced occupational therapy since 2009, when she completed her master's in OT; her doctorate from Quinnipiac University came after further clinical experience in 2017. Kristina's clinical experience centers upon older adults in skilled nursing, long-term care, and homecare; her experience in management there was highlighted in 2014, when she was invited to participate in AOTA’s Leadership Development Program for Managers. Now, she works full-time at the University of New Haven as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
 Kristina Cuoco, MS, MOTR/L, CBIS (July 2022-2024)Secretary
Kristina completed her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2009. Kristina has invested many years into working with older adults in the skilled nursing setting and becoming a skilled rehabilitation director; currently, she focuses on mental health and adults with acquired brain injuries, earning her credentials as a certified brain injury specialist.
 Joyce E Rioux, EdD, OTR/L, SCSS, FAOTA (2023-2025)Member for Government Affairs Co-Chair
Joyce is a related service consultant at Capitol Region Education Council with more than 35 years experience in school system practice and a passionate advocate for occupational therapy practice. She facilitates a statewide community of practice for school occupational therapy practitioners in collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education and RESC Alliance. At the national level, Dr. Rioux is chair of the AOTA’s advisory Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development and actively monitors trends in occupational therapy practice, co-authors Official Documents, and addresses concerns about continuing competence and professional development. Dr. Rioux presents at local, state, and national conferences on topics specific to school therapy practice, advocacy, and professional development.
 Michelle Forfa, OTD, OTR/L (2022-2024)Membership Chair
Michelle is an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Hartford. She received her B.S. in Occupational Science, M.S. in Occupational Therapy, and post-professional OTD from American International College. Michelle has been a practicing occupational therapist since 2008, focusing on the adult and aging population.
 Maureen Leyes, M.Ed., COTA/L (2023-2025)
Membership Chair
Maureen currently serves as a professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at CT State Manchester, with a passion for raising up the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners as holistically as possible. She has clinical experience in physical rehabilitation and works per diem at Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital’s inpatient setting
Committee Member Bios Gus Schlegel, MPS, OT/LSIS Co-Chair
Gus is a professor and doctoral candidate at Sacred Heart University. Since 2008, he has worked in Haiti to support the healthcare system in the rural community of L’Acul, where he co-leads service learning and mission trips for graduate occupational therapy students, raises funds for the a clinic operated by the Bon Samaritan School, and consults on programs ranging from school lunch to reforestation. His past work in Haiti included reopening a medical clinic and co-founding an occupational therapy clinic. Prior to his work in Haiti, Gus owned a therapy company. During Operation Desert Storm, he served as Company Commander, Occupational Therapy Assistant, where he helped develop the combat stress doctrine. Gus holds a Master’s degree in Professional Students and a B.S. in Occupational Therapy.
 Morgan Rachel Villano, MPA, MSPS, OTR/LSIS Co-Chair
Morgan graduated from Suffolk University in Boston with a joint degree in Public Administration and Political science in 2009. She completed a fellowship through UMASS Medical School and the Eunice Shriver Center in Waltham, MA: Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, with a focus in policy development, policy implementation, funding, legislative mechanisms and advocacy within the healthcare arena. Her undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Occupational Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Quinnipiac University in 1998. Morgan served on the ConnOTA Board as the Member for Government Affairs between 2014-2018. Professionally Morgan has practiced as an occupational therapist in mental health, pediatrics, acute care, skilled nursing and home care. Morgan supports Sacred Heart University’s Masters of Occupational Therapy program as an adjunct instructor as well as Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital in the role of per diem O.T.
 Tessa Boston, MOT, OTR/LMember for Professional Development
Tessa earned her master’s degree from Saint Louis University in 2017. She is an occupational therapist with the Yale University School of Medicine, working on the Young Adult Services team at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. She also coordinates the Level II Fieldwork programming at her site and supports transitional housing programs facilitate independent living for young adults. Tessa is pursuing her ScD in Occupational Science at Towson University, with research interests in occupational justice and community participation for individuals with serious mental illness.
 Jaimee Hegge, OTD, OTR/L, CKTPMember for Professional Development
Contact
Jaimee has practiced as an occupational therapist since 2012 and teaches adult and geriatric physical rehabilitation in the Graduate Occupational Therapy Program at Sacred Heart University as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She received her Master of Science in OT degree from Sacred Heart University in 2012 and her Post-Professional Doctoral degree from St. Catherine University in 2018. She grounds her expertise in physical rehabilitation with focuses on home health, ergonomics, and pelvic floor dysfunction. She is also a Certified Kinesio Tape Practitioner.
 Anne Graikoski, MS, OTR/LMember for Public Affairs
Anne has been licensed and practicing in occupational therapy for 3 years. She received her bachelor’s degree at UConn with a major in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. She earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of New England in Portland, Maine, and began her clinical career at a dementia specialty SNF in Boston, MA. Her current role is non-traditional and focuses on supporting the caretakers of dementia patients in long-term care, and plans to begin practice in home care as well, working towards becoming a Skills2Care® certified practitioner. Anne is excited to connect with ConnOTA members through social media platforms. Her hope is to demonstrate the value of state association membership and support the job shadow and mentoring programs ConnOTA offers.
 Judi Sheehan, OTR/L, CFoHistorian
Judi has extensive experience with ConnOTA as the Historian (since 2000) and has served two terms as President (2016-2020), and as Vice President, (2010-2014) where she was instrumental in facilitating many major organizational improvements. She has assisted or held the chair position for the annual Spring Conferences for over 17 years. ConnOTA has awarded her with the Award of Service, the Award of Merit, and the President’s award. She has a passion for ConnOTA and ensuring that the organization continues to remain a strong and innovative organization where the state’s Occupational Therapists can share their ideas and skills and utilize its growing resources to further their work in the state.
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