Alyssa Farrell MS

Alyssa Farrell is an Assistant Professor and the Founding Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) Bridge Program at St. Catherine University. A dedicated educator and practitioner, Alyssa is passionate about developing confident, compassionate occupational therapy professionals who are ready to thrive in both academic and clinical environments. Her journey at St. Catherine University began in 2015 as an adjunct instructor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Online Program. Her commitment to student success and excellence in fieldwork education led to her appointment as a full-time faculty member in the OTA program in 2019. As Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Minnesota and Virginia OTA cohorts, Alyssa built strong national partnerships with healthcare organizations and guided hundreds of students through the pivotal transition from classroom learning to professional practice. A lifelong learner herself, Alyssa will soon complete her post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), further enhancing her expertise in fieldwork education, leadership development, and the scholarship of teaching and learning (anticipated completion date: December 2025). A practicing occupational therapist since 2009, Alyssa earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The majority of her clinical career has been in acute care hospital settings, where she focused her practice and research on early mobilization in the intensive care unit (ICU). In 2015, she transitioned to outpatient pediatrics, where she further expanded her clinical expertise. She continues to maintain clinical practice on a PRN basis in a community hospital, ensuring her teaching remains informed by current clinical trends and evidence-based practice. Alyssa’s scholarly interests include emotional intelligence and its influence on Level II fieldwork success, the role of simulation in healthcare education, and compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals. She is also deeply committed to fostering student engagement and professional identity through participation in professional and social organizations. Residing in Minnesota with her husband and three children, Alyssa finds joy in camping, exploring the outdoors, running, cooking, and lifelong learning.