OTD, Occupational Therapy (2017) Philadelphia University (PA)
BS, Occupational Therapy (1997) Temple University (PA)
About Me
I have been a practicing occupational therapist for over 20 years. Clinically, I have worked with populations from infancy to older adulthood in a multitude of settings including NICU, outpatient pediatrics and adults, acute hospital, inpatient spinal cord injury rehab, work hardening, long-term care and skilled nursing. I have spent the majority of my career working with the older adult population specializing in dementia care. I continue to practice clinically mentoring occupational therapy students in a community-based setting that serves clients with HIV, AIDS, and addiction.
I am an active member of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) currently serving on the board as the chairperson for the Commission on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Prior to joining the faculty of Widener University as an assistant professor, I have held several academic positions including adjunct professor at Penn State's Berks campus Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, instructor and part time fieldwork coordinator at Philadelphia University's OTA program and, program director for Thomas Jefferson University's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. My past teaching responsibilities have included assessment and intervention for the adult and older adult; management, leadership and human service systems, and writing for workplace culture.
I earned my bachelor of science in occupational therapy from Temple University in 1997 and my post professional doctorate in occupational therapy from Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University). My doctoral work focused on occupational therapy adjunct faculty's self -perceptions of their readiness to teach
Research Interests
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Occupational Justice
Trauma Informed Practice
Clinical and Professional Reasoning
Role of Occupational Therapy in Healing Police & Community Relations
Publications
Lockhart-Keene, L., & Potvin, M. (2018). Occupational Therapy Adjunct Faculty Self-Perceptions of Readiness to Teach. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.15453/ 2168-6408.1415
Coviello, J. M., Potvin, M. C., & Lockhart-Keene, L. (2019). Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perspectives about the Development of Clinical Reasoning. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1533
Potvin, M., Coviello, J. M., Rothacker, E., Taylor, C., Pettigrew, T., Thomas, M., & Lockhart-Keene, L. (2021). Clinical and Professional Reasoning Development in Level II Fieldwork: Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perception. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 5 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2021.050311
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
American Occupational Therapy Association
Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association
Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
The Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
Noteworthy
Occupational Therapy Faculty Recognized by Professional Association
LaRonda Lockhart-Keene, assistant professor in the Institute for Occupational Therapy Education, received the award of appreciation at the annual Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, or POTA, conference. The award celebrated her contributions to occupational therapy, specifically in the areas of education, advocacy, and inclusion.
