Jane Olson, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Practice

• Offered community-based physical and mental health navigation and consultation
• Served older adults’ productive aging with environment modifications (CarFit and HomeFit)
• Planned for intergenerational engagement in occupations and wellbeing
• Taught, learned from and mentored students
• Developed and directed OT education programs

Education

• Ph.D. in curriculum & instruction at Marquette University, Milwaukee Wisconsin, 1994
• MS in health administration at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee Wisconsin, 1986
• BS in occupational therapy at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee Wisconsin, 1982
• BA in psychology at University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, 1971

Scholarship

• Curious about how people learn and translate learning to professional practice
• Curious about profession’s advancement to doctoral level practice
• Learning about universal design for learning and ways to make learning easier
• Presented Designing Doctoral-Entry Accessible Scholarship and Feasible Capstone Experiences (AOTA,2023)
• Presented “Closing the Gap Between Practice, Education, and the Professional Doctorate” (AOTA, 2016)

Organizations

• American Occupational Therapy Association to support expanding occupational therapy practice to communities in need.
• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education to ensure quality in occupational therapy education

Occupations

My favorite occupation is visiting Walt Disney World in Florida. Walt Disney designs the environment and attractions to engage people of all ages in timeless stories of good overcoming obstacles. I experience the hope that leads people to seek meaning and healing in their lives.

I enjoy exploring different neighborhoods and figuring out how grocery stores reflect their neighborhood culture.