Faculty Profiles

John Fleming, PhD

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

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Julie D. Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Professor, Occupational Therapy

Dr. Julie D. Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor and past Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and the Founding Director of the Public Health Program in the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health at St. Catherine University. Dr. Bass also served as the Director of Research at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Dr. Bass is an established and well-published scholar who has been a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and an invited member on several AOTA task force committees. Her areas of expertise include population health and health disparities, program development and evaluation, statistics and research methods, educational methods and emerging areas of practice for occupational therapy.

Kristine Haertl, PhD, ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA

Professor, Occupational Therapy

Kristine Haertl, Ph.D., ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been with St. Catherine University since 1997. She loves teaching and outside of the department has taught additional courses in the psychology department and in the CORE. She too has served for a number of years on the CORE Lead committee.
Within the department, Kristi teaches masters and doctoral courses related to foundations of occupational science, educational methods and practice, sensory-perceptual-cognitive processing, and introductory and advanced mental health practice.

Kristi has been active in mental health research related to peer-supported mental health housing models and exploration of the nature and efficacy of services at a free standing psychiatric occupational therapy clinic.

Darla Coss, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

Darla joined the OCTH department at St. Catherine University full time in August of 2016. In addition to clinical expertise in areas of hand therapy and industrial rehabilitation, Darla has spent the past few years exploring the effects a cancer diagnosis has on one’s ability to participate fully in life. She is an active member and educator at Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, helping those living with cancer-related issues like fatigue and cognitive changes return to the activities they want and need to do.
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Jennifer Hutson PhD, OTR/L, ATP

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

Jennifer Hutson is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at St. Catherine University.  She teaches courses primarily in assistive technology and adult rehabilitation in both day and hybrid formats.  She facilitates problem based learning sessions and advises students on evidence or research based Doctoral Capstone projects and Master's projects, covering a range of topics some of which include twenty-four hour postural care, seating and positioning for wheeled mobility, sleep and nighttime positioning.   From 2002-2021, Jennifer's clinical practice has been at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in the area of assistive technology, primarily seating and positioning.

Teresa Wickboldt OTD, OTR/L

Fieldwork Specialist and Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Teresa has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist since graduating from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 2009 with an Occupational Therapy Doctoral degree. Clinical work includes serving individuals across the lifespan from pediatrics to older adulthood. Practice areas have included inpatient, ICU, pediatric outpatient, TCU, Skilled Nursing, and home based services; wheelchair assessment and home modification assessment as specialty areas. Areas of expertise and passion include older adult rehabilitation where her clinical practice continues on a monthly basis. Teresa teaches across many of the practice-based courses such as rehabilitation, older adults, assistive technology and wheelchair seating and positioning, and physical assessment and rehabilitation.

Kimberley Persons, DHS, OTR/L, CLA

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Kimberley Persons, DHS, OTR/L, CLA joined St. Catherine University's Occupational Therapy Department in August 2020. She teaches in the both the master's and doctoral program and mentors master's projects. Kimberley's current research is exploring community-based practice and the role of the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in occupational therapy education. In 2018, she became a Certified Leader in Academia. She has been an occupational therapy educator for more than 10 years including 6 years as an AFWC. Her clinical background is working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in home and community-based setting.

Stephanie de Sam Lazaro, OTD, MA, OTR/L

Associate Professor, IPE Director for the Institute of Simulation and Interprofessional Learning (I-SAIL)

Stephanie de Sam Lazaro is Associate Professor and Interprofessional Learning Director for the Institute of Simulation and Interprofessional Learning (I-SAIL). She is an occupational therapist by training and has practiced in pediatric and adult acute rehabilitation settings, outpatient pediatrics, K-12 schools, and early childhood intervention services. Her teaching focuses on the occupational therapy role and process with children, adolescents, and their families, evidence-based practice in occupational therapy and interprofessional healthcare, and graduate student advising through master's and doctoral projects.