Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty and Staff
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Tara%20Ruppert-2.jpg?itok=gXVdrMWD)
Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
truppert [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/CSMHeadshots%2718-1774SMA.jpg?itok=y9oe1ocm)
Ellie Cusic, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
ecusic [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Jaime%20Garafalo-Peterson%20Crop.jpg?itok=OdFLqsLo)
Jaime Garafalo-Peterson, OTD, OTR/L
Director of Clinical Education
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
jgarafalo-peterson [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Maureen%20Hoppe%20Crop.jpg?itok=ve_FmPt4)
Maureen Hoppe, EdD, MA, OTR/L, CHSE
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
mhoppe [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Whitney%20Rubin-2.jpg?itok=Hcgm9Etb)
Whitney Merz, OTD, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
wmerz [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/CSMHeadshots%2718-1970SMALL.jpg?itok=llAxVWle)
Mary Smith, EdD, MOT, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
mesmith [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/CSMHeadshots%2718-1686.jpg?itok=r32GCwvc)
Kristan Pilakowski, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
kpilakowski [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Adebimpe%20Obemde-2.jpg?itok=1a8TTNvb)
Adebimpe Obembe, DPT, PhD
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
aobembe [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Nicole%20Chipy-2.jpg?itok=f1LXFbUc)
Nicole Chipy EdD, OTR/L CLT
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
Certified Lymphedema Therapist
nchipy [at] csm.edu
![](https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/profiles/Jodi%20Kava%20Crop.jpg?itok=St7JIf3e)
Jodi Kava
Occupational Therapy Program Support Specialist
jkava [at] csm.edu