Name: Dr. Adam Svec
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Audiology
Research Topics:
Psychoacoustics
Hearing Aids

Fun Fact: Dr. Svec was awarded black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 11 years.

What has been the biggest challenge as a new faculty at SJSU so far?
In a program that is so dependent on in-person demonstration and clinical practice, it has been difficult to figure out ways for the students to get the proper amount of training for routine clinical protocols. Additionally, it has been challenging to gauge how the students have been doing, mental-health-wise and emotionally, outside of the virtual classroom. When the wildfires were stacked on top of the pandemic at the start of the term, the variability of experiences for each individual student made it difficult to figure out whether or not they were holding up well. I also haven’t been able to set up my research lab yet due to Covid.

What one piece of advice would you give to current/new incoming students starting at SJSU?
One of the largest challenges for certain students, staff, and faculty is the epidemic of loneliness that was beginning to surface even before the pandemic led to physical isolation. To the extent that is possible, I suggest finding safe ways to engage with friends and family during the semester. If you’re an extrovert like me, curbing loneliness will help stabilize the world, bringing certain priorities back into focus. Be kind to yourself during these trying times.

Name: Dr. Wei-Chen Tung
Title: Professor
Department: Valley Foundation School of Nursing
Research Topics:
HPV/HIV Prevention
Women’s Health
Health Promotion
Cultural Behaviors, Acculturation, Transtheoretical Model, and Social Media Use

Fun Fact: Dr. Tung loves to shop and hike. These activities reduce her stress and promote creativity in her research and teaching.

What has been the biggest challenge as a new faculty at SJSU so far?
My biggest challenges are unable to visit different university buildings and access in-person campus and community resources.

What one piece of advice would you give to current/new incoming students starting at SJSU?
Students could create/join a study group which can help them clarify course materials, build better communication and critical thinking skills, and maybe provide support to get through classes.

Name: Dr. Melisa Kaye
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Occupational Therapy
Research Topics:

• Technology to Enhance Healthcare Education
• Sensory Processing and Integration
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Development of Cognitive and Perceptual Skills in Children

Fun Fact: Founder and Director of Firefly Center for Children in Burlingame, CA

Name: Dr. Katrina Long
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Occupational Therapy
Research Topics:

• Assessments and Interventions for Individuals with Neurological Disorders
• Holistic Health and Movement of the Human Body
• Motor Control and Motor Learning Processes
• Behavioral Interventions that Facilitate Health-Promoting Habits and Routines as Part of an Effective Self-Management Program

Fun Fact:  Dr. Long enjoys hiking, cycling, figure skating, skiing, yoga and cooking.

Name: Dr. Charles Park
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Public Health and Recreation
Research Topics:

• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
• Immigrant Health
• Global Health
• Health Education
• Controlling Infectious Diseases

Fun Fact: Dr. Park is a salsa dancer!

Name: Jennifer Price Wolf
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Social Work
Research Topics:

• Community Effects
• Substance Abuse
• Child Maltreatment

Fun Fact: Dr. Wolf grew up in Quincy, CA (population of 5,000)

What has been the biggest challenge as a new faculty at SJSU so far?
The biggest challenge has been not getting to meet my students in person! Although we’ve been able to make connections online, I value getting more opportunities to chat before and after class and during breaks.

What one piece of advice would you give to current/new incoming students starting at SJSU?
SJSU has so much to offer! I would advise students to try and take a mix of classes to try out different majors and to come to faculty office hours just to say hi- we love getting to know our students.  Also- social work is a great major-check out the many opportunities in the field.

Name: Moctezuma Garcia
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Social Work
Research Topics:
Health Inequities Among Historically Oppressed and Highly Marginalized Populations

Fun Fact: Dr. Garcia is a first generation XicanX from the Southside of Chicago

The College of Health and Human Sciences’ Department of Occupational Therapy stepped up to the challenge despite COVID-19 and achieved distinguished awards from Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) and California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT).

Assistant Professor, Dr. Luis Arabit was awarded the 2020 Honored Lecturer for the California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT). The CFOT Honored Lecturer Award recognizes California occupational therapy practitioners who have demonstrated leadership and promoted ideas and visions in occupational therapy for the profession, and a presentation gives them an opportunity to share their insights and knowledge with the occupational therapy community at the CFOT Awards Luncheon and Symposium. According to Dr. Winifred Schultz-Krohn, “Dr. Luis Arabit is well recognized within the profession of occupational therapy as an advocate and leader.” His commitment to the profession can be noted by his many leadership positions; Dr. Arabit served as the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) Region V Chair since 2018 and as Chair of the OTAC Government Affairs Committee for over 10 years.

OT Department Chair, Dr. Gigi Smith received the Outstanding Service Award from the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC). This award recognizes practitioners who have sustained service in elected or appointed positional locally, statewide and nationally and have participated in special projects/tasks locally and statewide or nationally. With over 20 years of leadership experience in elected positions, Dr. Smith was recently elected as Vice President of OTAC. Dr. Schultz-Krohn commended Dr. Smith’s contributions as a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association Commission on Practice. Her expertise was instrumental in the documents discussing the role of occupational therapy practitioners with persons who experience feeding and eating disorders. With her dedication to advance the profession of occupational therapy, Dr. Smith was also awarded the prestigious Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) in 2017 for her “Excellence in Practice, Exemplary Service, and Mentoring.”

Former OT Department Chair, Dr. Winifred Schultz-Krohn received the OTAC Lifetime Achievement Award, a very prestigious award from the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC). This award recognizes an OTAC member who has made significant contributions to the field of occupational therapy in California and advancement in education. OTAC distinguishes Dr. Schultz-Krohn as a role model and inspirational example to the community. Dr. Schultz-Krohn has worked tirelessly at the local, state and national level in a multitude of ways to support and promote the profession, including active involvement in the areas of advocacy, policy, practice and service. According to Dr. Smith, Dr. Schultz-Krohn has mentored hundreds of students to not only engage in research, but to also present their findings at state and national conferences. She continued to commend Dr. Schultz-Krohn for her many academic and professional contributions throughout her 30+ year career in occupational therapy.

Congratulations to the amazing faculty and to the Department of Occupational Therapy!