Occupational Therapy Faculty
Janet M. Nagayda, OTD, MS, OTR
Chair - Department of Occupational Therapy
Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
279 Wickes Hall
(989) 964-7353
jnagayda(at)svsu.edu
Janet Nagayda, OTD, MS, OTR is a registered occupational therapist with over 30 years of practice experience and nearly 15 years as an educator. Dr. Nagayda’s primary practice focus is in school-based services for children with special needs.
Dr. Nagayda has published, lectured, and developed workshops on topics related to pediatric intervention, evidence-based practice activities, and educational practices. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Nagayda is currently completing the thesis phase of her Doctor or Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayne State University.
Dr. Nagayda is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at SVSU and serves as the Program Director and Department Chair. She teaches courses pertaining to theories of occupation and occupational performance, lifespan concerns, leadership and professional development.
"SVSU’s Occupational Therapy students have the opportunity to participate in projects that we as faculty are working on. For example, my students actively participated in the book I published recently; three students are currently helping me with a major research study; and when I or other professors deliver conference presentations, we always try to include one or more students in the preparation and presentation process. We are a hands-on department and get to know each student individually, so that each experience is tailored to that student’s interests and career goals. Individual attention is a key component of SVSU’s program in Occupational Therapy."
Donald Earley, OTD, MA, OTR
Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
276 Wickes Hall
(989) 964-4689
dwe(at)svsu.edu
Donald Earley, OTD, MA, OTR is a registered occupational therapist with over 19 years of experience in both medical- and community-based practice.
Dr. Earley has published, lectured and developed workshops at regional, state, and national levels on constraint-induced movement therapy, shoulder impingement syndrome/shoulder adhesive capsulitis, physical agent modalities, chronic pain, and lifestyle redesign. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s degree in Counselor Education at Central Michigan University and his Doctorate in OT from Creighton University.
Dr. Earley is associate professor at SVSU, teaching courses on physical disabilities and clinical research.
"SVSU’s occupational therapy program is guided by client-centered and evidence-based practice. Rather than just teach facts, we teach students how to think—professors concentrate on the theoretical ideals of therapy and rehabilitation, but we also recognize the importance of the clinical reality. Students are taught to strike an intelligent balance between the two."
Jean Prast, OTD, OTR
Field Work Coordinator, Department of Occupational Therapy
Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
281 Wickes Hall
(989) 964-4153
jekruege(at)svsu.edu
Jean Prast, OTD, OTR is a registered Occupational Therapist with over four years of experience in both medical- and community-based practice. Dr. Prast’s clinical areas of expertise include neurological rehabilitation, geriatric/well-elderly care, psychosocial impacts throughout the lifespan, community-based rehabilitation, and program development.
Dr. Prast has published, lectured, and developed professional presentations at local, state, and national levels on topics related to fieldwork education, community education and resources, lifestyle redesign, and professional development. She received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Saginaw Valley State University and her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Dr. Prast is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in Occupational Therapy at SVSU. She teaches courses pertaining to field work education, professional development, research application, and professional role transitions.
"SVSU’s Occupational Therapy Programs offers a unique curriculum designed to educate students on the core of our profession/occupation, using a client-centered approach to therapy. We take pride in our students and are committed to their success as practicing clinicians, future leaders, and contributors to research. Academic coursework and fieldwork experiences are uniquely designed to meet the student’s individual interests and professional goals while assuring exposure to diverse areas of practice."
Timothy Blasius, EdD, MOT, OTR, LMSW
Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
280 Wickes Hall
(989) 964-2617
tlblasius(at)svsu.edu
Timothy Blasius, EdD, MOT, OTR, LMSW, is a registered occupational therapist and licensed master social worker with over 28 years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist and nearly 15 years as a mental health administrator. Dr. Blasius's primary focus has been in the areas of treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and children with special needs including autism.
Dr. Blasius has lectured and presented workshops on topics related to autism, sensory integration, and fine motor skills pertaining to handwriting in children. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University, a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Western Michigan University, and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University.
Dr. Blasius is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at SVSU. He teaches courses in psychosocial conditions, assessment, and interventions; assistive technology; community integration; and leadership.
"SVSU is unique in offering students the opportunity to apply concepts learned in class with individuals in the community. The department has developed many partnerships with local community organizations to offer experiences for students to develop skills to complement the learning done in class. The students therefore learn the value of the information presented in class and the impact that it has on an individual's life. As a result, the student is able to develop professional and leadership skills to succeed in their future employment as an occupational therapist."
Ellen Herlache, MA, OTR
Research Coordinator, Department of Occupational Therapy
Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
202 Wickes Hall
(989) 964-2187
echerlac(at)svsu.edu
Ellen Herlache is a Registered Occupational Therapist with over five years experience in a variety of settings including acute-care inpatient, outpatient, and community-based practice. Ms. Herlache's areas of clinical expertise include orthopedic/upper extremity rehabilitation, return-to-work rehabilitation, low vision rehabilitation, and clinical research. She also works with Paws With A Cause, an organization that trains assistance dogs that enable people with physical disabilities to lead more independent lives.
Ms. Herlache has lectured and developed professional presentations at local, state, and national levels on topics related to community-based practice/lifestyle redesign, return-to-work rehabilitation, low vision rehabilitation, assistance dogs, and clinical research. She received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Saginaw Valley State University and her Master of Arts in Counselor Education from Central Michigan University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University.
Ms. Herlache is the Research Coordinator in Occupational Therapy at SVSU. She teaches courses pertaining to clinical research, and assists students at all stages of the clinical research process.
"The SVSU Occupational Therapy program encourages a hands-on approach to learning. Students are continuously challenged to use critical-thinking skills to evaluate the effectiveness of their work with clients in a variety of settings, and develop creative solutions to address problems encountered in the field. This participation in community-based programs and projects throughout their education gives SVSU OT students the skills necessary to become leaders and innovators in the field."