Students in the Occupational Therapy program spend their last three semesters creating a capstone project. This major academic achievement represents a synthesis of content learned throughout the program.
Subject matter such as theory, research methodology and analysis, program development, and education of clients are applied to either faculty lines of research or projects that will serve the community.
Students gather in teams to complete the thesis under the mentorship of their faculty thesis advisor. Completed theses are disseminated to a wide audience of constituents either in poster sessions, workshops, or peer-reviewed journals.
Theses/Capstones from 2025
Exploring the Synergy of Executive Functions and Sensory Processing in Shaping Occupational Participation, Isabella Aguirre, Kaitlin Mulvaney, and Sophia Zertuche
Impact of Sensory Diets on Occupational Performance, Kyndra Holloway, Cassandra Howard, Makena Collin, and Princess Pillos
Increasing Awareness of Occupational Therapy for College Students at Dominican University of California, Joshua James King Ng, Connor Efstathiu, Audrey Nakashima, Rylee Sarasua, and Katie Szoboszlay
Life After Pediatric Hemorrhagic Stroke: Family and Survivor Perspectives, Dylan Frank Wallis, Sophia Marie Rose Bonk, Ashley Palacios, Sydney M. Spina, and Jason Ryan Wong
Mentorship Treasure Chest: Toolbox of Resources to Support Mentee & Mentor Connection, Lluvia Angel Gonzalez-Castro, Bridget Elizabeth McCarron, Sarah Christine Donaldson, and Austin Michel Muniz-Bottomley
Resilience Programming for Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed-Methods Exploration, Meghan Shellooe, Jalina Madriaga, Valerie Perez, and Gabriela Velazquez
Technol-OT and CreATivity: Implementing Occupational Therapy (OT) and Assistive Technology (AT) into Art and Music for Adults with Disabilities, Camille Alexandra Aquino, Aarti Subramanian, Austin Yee, Joshua Darrin Montano, and Angelica-Kjristen Antonio
The Impact of an OT-Led Universal Design Training for Planetarium Presenters, Katherine Yessenia De Leon-Ruiz, Jasper Patrick Perez, Mckell E. Calder, and Yu Pan
The Occupation of Drag Through The Voices of Performers, Anna Ranario, Alicia Montes, Eileen Spahle, Lilibeth Rosales, and Nathan Gelman
Theses/Capstones from 2024
Addressing the Occupational Needs of College Students, Amanda Lam, Ashley Keates, Marissa Heirich, Noreen Pervaiz, and Albert Andrew Mendoza
Creating Sensory Friendly Spaces and Accessibility to Support Inclusion at the California Academy of Sciences, Ariana Sales, Elizabeth Weintraub, Gabriele Alviz, Nicole Conyers, and Julia Karczewski
Life after Brain Injury: Family Perspectives, Brenda Yamileth Escobar, Edith Elaine Leslie, Caroline Nicole Mendoza, and Arianna Masako Inouye
Life After Pediatric Hemorrhagic Stroke: Family Perspectives, Louis Barnett, Sabrina Montano, Deana Vander Meulen, Charissa Thompson, and Alma Martinez Pamatz
Participating in Formal Occupational Therapy Mentorship Programs: Mentees Experiences, Amanda Yumiko Raigosa, Erin Elizabeth Heckelman, Isabelle Jenkins Abrahams Pisano, Alyssa Cailin Reyes Manuel, and Alice Thien Nguyen
Perspectives of OT Students on Co-Curricular Resilience Activities and Resources, Dan Kavin Agbayani, Stephen Beck, Nicole Colombo, Danielle Tirpack, and Mikayla Hilario
Relationship of Resilience Levels, Makenna Rubinstein, Breeana Montoya, Alana Martinez, Alexis Perez, and Emily Xiong
The Barriers to Adult Play in Graduate Students, Rosalind Nolde, Sabrina Solis, Catherine Salomon, and T Monelli
What is the Form, Function, and Meaning of Play for Adults in the U.S.?, Tillden Tecson, Camille Howell, Michelle Lee, Oscar Rubio, and Nerwel Zhao
Theses/Capstones from 2023
An Exploration of the Occupational Needs of College Students, Christian D. Gabon, Jennifer Brady, Kaela Jules Antonio, Kayla Twite Lehnen, and Beatriz Go
A Qualitative Study on Long-Term Adherence to Home Exercise Programs in People with Parkinson’s Disease, Caroline Stafford, Brennan Decena, Shawn Lopez, and Judith Thepkaisone
Exploring the Occupational Transition of Leaving a Cult, Justine Thompson, Baylee R. Chelossi, Emily Osborn, and Christian J. Quitoriano
Life After Brain Injury - Family Perspectives, Shaina Snyder, Everlee Anderson, Allison Wyek, Elijah Tolentino-Medios, and Cathyisabella Kintanar
Life After Brain Injury - Survivor and Family Perspectives, Brandon Duenas, Gary Eng, Haleli Moalem, and Miguel Regidor
Life After Pediatric Hemorrhagic Stroke: Family Centered Outcomes, Janice Brown, Jordan Ng, Reilly Todd, and Alyssa Vo
Measuring Outcomes of Occupational Therapy Facilitated in Natural Settings with Young Children, Amie Smith, Deepak Dale, Brinda Saini, Zoe Peters, and Amanda Laccone