CURRICULUM VITAE SUSAN NOYES SPEAR, PhD, OTR/L sspear@maine.rr.com EDUCATION Doctorate PhD in Educational Studies, Adult Learning Specialization, 2011 Lesley University, Cambridge, MA Master of Science Adult Education, 2006 University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME Bachelor of Science Occupational Therapy, 1984 Tufts University, Medford, MA PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE University of Southern Maine, Lewiston, Maine, 2012-present Assistant Professor, Masters in Occupational Therapy Program Responsible for teaching courses in mental health OT practice, OT foundations, and research; engaging in scholarship and community service; and advising students. TriCounty Mental Health Services, Lewiston, Maine, 2006 2012 Occupational Therapist, Community Housing Unit As first occupational therapist in the agency, performed needs assessment and designed occupational therapy program for 23 adult residents with severe and persistent mental illness in four community residential settings. Conducted occupational therapy assessments and interventions with residents; hired and supervised occupational therapy assistant; developed OT/OTA level I and II student fieldwork program and supervised students every semester; developed new treatment programs and outcome measures. Provided leadership for Housing Unit and Community Rehabilitation Services teams, as well as staff education and training; coordinated resident care with five interdisciplinary teams. State of Maine Department of Education, Adult Education Division, Augusta, Maine,2009 2010 Trainer, Learning to Achieve National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) training Co-facilitated eight trainings with teachers in adult basic education programs throughout southern Maine. Participated in 40-hour training in Durham, New Hampshire (July 2009) on current research on adult learning disabilities. University of Southern Maine, Lewiston Auburn College, Lewiston, Maine, 2007 2009 Part-time Instructor, Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program Taught 6 credits each semester in courses covering occupational therapy foundations and theories, communication for health professionals, mental health theory and practice, fieldwork seminar; advised students; assisted with curriculum planning and revision and program accreditation. University of Southern Maine, Lewiston Auburn College, Lewiston, Maine, 2006; 2011, 2012 Adjunct Instructor, Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program Planned curriculum and taught 6-credit mental health course including group process, spring semester. Building Partnerships Group, Maine Department of Education, Augusta, Maine, 2006 2009 Consultant Analyzed data from pilot research project studying the incidence and prevalence of learning disabilities in
Maine adults, in collaboration with Adult Education Consultant and Partnership members. Portland Adult Education, Portland, Maine, 2006 Teacher, New Directions Program Taught workplace communication, job readiness, and business English courses in customer service certificate program for 15 recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funding. OT Consultation and Rehabilitation Service, Lincolnville, Maine, 2001 2002 Occupational Therapist Consultant Provided in-home functional assessments for clients referred to community-based private practice. Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, 1989 2006 Occupational Therapist, Department of Psychiatry Provided case management and OT evaluation services to Odyssey Program-Youth in Transition Team. Performed comprehensive OT evaluations with individuals in inpatient, partial hospital, outpatient mental health settings, and in Employment Intervention Demonstration Project (EIDP) and TANF grants. Administered variety of assessment tools; synthesized results into thorough summary of functional/vocational recommendations for patients/clients. Facilitated psychoeducation groups with topics such as life skills, stress management, vocational planning, and problem solving. Designed and ran therapeutic task group interventions to facilitate cognitive, motor, and sensory skill development to support participation in activities of daily living. Facilitated multi-family psychoeducation groups and trained other providers in the model. Trained/mentored/supervised new staff in outpatient OT division; developed strategic plan for division; provided formal staff education both in-house and for community agencies. Supervised OT students on level I and II fieldwork. McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, 1988 Rehabilitation Coordinator Provided OT evaluation to adult patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit, determined and coordinated necessary rehabilitation services; designed individual treatment interventions, facilitated task and psychoeducation groups, supervised level II OT fieldwork students. Maine Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Portland, Maine, 1984 1987 Occupational Therapist Provided OT evaluation and group and individual treatment to patients on a 26-bed inpatient psychiatric unit. Supervised level I and II OT fieldwork students. Served as Acting Director. CREDENTIALS Maine Occupational Therapist license, #OT13 National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), #AA517011 Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) certified, 1998 Certification in Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counseling (MHRT III), University of Southern Maine, 1996 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MEOTA) Maine Adult Education Association (MAEA) Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) PUBLICATIONS Spear, S. (2011). Whatever works: Teaching adults with learning difficulties in Adult Basic
Education programs (Doctoral dissertation). Cambridge, MA: Lesley University. Spear, S. (2007). Adult education: What s OT got to do with it? Mental Health Special Interest Section Quarterly, 30(2), 1 3. American Occupational Therapy Association: Maryland. Spear, S. (2006). A passion for education. Profiles of Intentional Teaching and Liberal Learning. (R. Sanford, Ed.). Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine. pp.11-20. Leavitt, R. & Spear, S. (2002). The power of work. Rehab Management, June/July. Leavitt, R. & Spear, S. (1998). Cognitive assessments and work. OT Practice, March. SCHOLARLY WORKS IN PROGRESS: Clark, L. & Spear, S. (in press). Ethical Leadership. New chapter in revised volume of An Occupational Therapy Perspective on Leadership. Dunbar, S., Winston, K. (Eds.) SLACK: Thorofare, NJ. Spear, S. IRB Protocol # 13-07-228, University of Southern Maine: (in preparation). Occupational Therapy Intervention with Compulsive Hoarding Behaviors: A Single Case Study Spear, S. (in preparation). Friendly visitor : An occupational therapist s experience of supporting a person with compulsive hoarding behavior. OT Practice. American Occupational Therapy Association: Maryland. Spear, S. (in preparation). Living in the community with serious mental illness: Occupational therapy s role in a community residential setting. Mental Health Special Interest Section Quarterly. American Occupational Therapy Association: Maryland. Spear, S. (in preparation). Doing whatever works : ABE teachers perceptions of teaching adults with learning difficulties. Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education. Commission on Adult Basic Education: Western Kentucky University PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS Spear, S. Sensory Considerations in the Adult Education Classroom, Sanford Community Adult Education Program teacher training, Sanford, ME, September, 2013 Spear, S. Hoarding: Occupational Therapy s Role, Maine Medical Center, Occupational Therapy Department staff training, Portland, ME, August, 2013 Spear, S. Sensory Considerations in the Adult Education Classroom, Maine Adult Education Association (MAEA), Waterville, ME, June, 2013 Spear, S. Living in the Community with Serious Mental Illness: Occupational Therapy s Role in a Community Residential Setting, Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA), Bangor, ME, June, 2013 Grainger, E., Spear, S., Cote, S. Hoarding 101: Occupational Therapists Role, panel presentation; Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA), Bangor, ME, June, 2013 Spear, S. Living in the Community with Serious Mental Illness: Occupational Therapy s Role in a Community Residential Setting, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) annual conference, San Diego, CA, April 2013 Guest lecturer, Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Mental Health, University of New Hampshire, April, 2013
Spear, S. Whatever Works: Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties in Adult Basic Education Programs, Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) annual conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2013 Guest lecturer, Understanding Learning Styles, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Lewiston, ME, February, 2013 Spear, S. Whatever Works: Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties in Adult Basic Education Programs, Maine Adult Education Association annual conference, Waterville, ME, June, 2012 Guest lecturer, Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Mental Health, University of New Hampshire, April, 2012 Spear, S. Public dissertation presentation: Whatever Works: Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties in Adult Basic Education Programs, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, October 2011 Guest lecturer, Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Mental Health, University of New Hampshire, May, 2011 Guest lecturer, Cognitive Assessments in Occupational Therapy, Central Maine Community College, Auburn, ME, November, 2010 Spear, S. Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties: Adult Basic Education Teachers Perspectives, American Association of Adult and Continuing Education annual conference, Clearwater, FL, October, 2010 Spear, S. Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties: Adult Basic Education Teachers Perspectives, Maine Adult Education Association annual conference, Waterville, ME, June, 2010 Iwama, M., Spear, S., Levesque, A., Tobey, T., Johnston, S. (Invited presentation) Exploring Use of the KAWA Model of Practice in a Variety of Clinical Settings, Are you plugged in: Get connected, USM/MOT Symposium, Lewiston, ME, April, 2010 Spear, S. (Invited panelist) Open Forum on OT Practice, University of Southern Maine, Lewiston, ME, March, 2008 Spear, S. Adult Education: What s OT Got To Do With It? MEOTA Fall conference, UNE, Portland, ME, 2007 Guest Lecturer, Kennebec Valley Community College COTA program, Waterville, ME, 2006 2009 Black, R. & Spear, S. Exploring Occupational Justice: Global and Personal Perspective, MEOTA Fall Conference, Portland, ME, October, 2006 Spear, S. Evaluation Tools, presented to Vocational Services Dept, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, 2005 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern Maine, MOT program, Lewiston, ME, 2005 Spear, S. Using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, presented to Community Health Services, Portland, ME, 2004 Spear, S. Mental Health Assessments in the Community, presented to Community Health Services, Portland, ME, 2003 Spear, S. How to Run Groups, presented at Augusta Mental Health Institute, 2002 Spear, S. Cognitive Remediation, presented to Maine Medical Center OT Department, Portland, ME, 2002 McFarlane, W., Jacobson, L., Perry, K., Orr, M., & Spear, S. Workshop in Family Psychoeducation, South Portland, ME, 1998 REVIEWER Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education, 2013-present COMMITTEES and SERVICE University of Southern Maine:
Master of Occupational Therapy Program, faculty advisor for Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), 2013-2014 Work-Family Balance Working Group, USM NSF Advance Planning Grant, 2013-present Master of Occupational Therapy Program Search Committee for Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, USM-LAC 2013 Master of Occupational Therapy Advisory Board Member, USM-LAC 2008 -present Master of Occupational Therapy Program, Admissions Committee, USM-LAC, 2008-Present Maine Occupational Therapy Association: Chair, Communities of Practice, 2013-present Chair, spring conference committee, 2013 Continuing Education Committee, 2012-present Secretary, 2008 2010 Chair, Mental Health Special Interest Section, 2006 2012 Hoarding Task Force: City of Portland, Maine, 2011-present CONTINUING EDUCATION (as participant) American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) annual conference, San Diego, CA, April 2013 Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) annual conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2013 Understanding Compulsive Hoarding, Shalom House, Portland, Maine, November 2011 Mental Health Support Staff (MHSS) Trainer Certification Program, Augusta, ME, 2011 Advancing the Dialogue: Medication and Mental Illness, University of New England, Portland, ME, 2011 Mental Health Support Staff (MHSS)certification training, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Lewiston, ME, 2011 Brain Injury and Homelessness Forum, Augusta, ME, 2010 Memory: A Seminar for Health Professionals, Portland, ME, 2010 Locating Culture in the Contexts of Occupation-Based Practice: Evening with a Scholar, USM, Lewiston, ME, 2010 Leadership Workshop, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Lewiston, ME, 2009 Managing Performance and People, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Lewiston, ME, 2009 Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City, 2009 Research Findings and Clinical Tools for Preventing Psychosis, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, 2009 Maine Occupational Therapy Association Legislative Workshop, Augusta, ME, 2009 Introduction to Foundation Grant Writing, South Portland, ME, 2009 Fall Practice Symposium, Maine Occupational Therapy Association, Portland, ME, 2008 Literacy Volunteers Training, Scarborough, ME, 2008 Neuro-Occupation: Context for Complex Practice, UNE, Portland, ME, 2008 The Power of Work: Employment and Disability, Augusta, ME, 2008
7 th Annual Cognitive Symposium: Interweaving the Cognitive Disabilities Model with Other Intervention Models, Boston, MA, 2008 Maine Occupational Therapy Association Fall conference, UNE, Portland, ME, 2007 Maine Occupational Therapy Association Spring conference, Fairfield, ME, 2007 Models for Community-Based Psychosocial Practice, American Occupational Therapy Association, online continuing education, 2007 Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City, 2006 Neuropsychology of Reading, Portland Adult Education, Portland, ME, 2006 Learning Disabilities Association of Maine annual conference, Portland, ME, 2004 Contemporary Assessment Practices in Pediatric Therapy, New York City, 2003 The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, Danvers, MA, 2002 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Yarmouth, ME, 2001 Brain-Compatible Learning, Portland, ME, 2001 Memory, Portland, ME, 1999 Multi-Context Approach to Cognitive Rehabilitation, New York City, 1999 Connecting with Challenging Teens, Portland, ME, 1999 Understanding Anxiety, Portland, ME, 1998 Assessment of Motor and Process Skills certification training, Clearwater, FL, 1998 Use of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Substance Abuse, Portland, ME, 1997 Managed Care and Mental Illness, Portland, ME, 1997 Developing Natural Supports in the Workplace, Portland, ME, 1997 Alcoholism Treatment in the 21 st Century, Portland, ME, 1996 Accuracy with the Cognitive Levels and Modes, Boston, MA, 1996 Social Security Benefits Training, Portland, ME, 1996 Listening to the Body: Understanding the Language of Stress-Related Symptoms, Portland, ME, 1996 Motivational Counseling: Beyond the Basics of Change, Augusta, ME, 1995 When Love Hurts: Feminist-Informed Treatment of Violent Men and their Partners, Portland, ME, 1995 School to Work Transition: The Natural Supports Way, Portland, ME, 1995 Just Doing It: Helping People with Disabilities Get Employed, Portland, ME, 1994 Motivational Counseling: Prescriptions for Change, Augusta, ME, 1994 Psychoeducational Approach to Management of Schizophrenia, Portland, ME, 1993 Maine Occupational Therapy annual conference, Portland, ME, 1993 Patient Education: The Key to Successful Outcomes, Portland, ME, 1993 Tufts University Fieldwork Forum, Medford, MA, 1993 University of New England Student Conference, Biddeford, ME, 1993 Maine Occupational Therapy annual conference, Portland, ME, 1992 Symposium on Health Care Reform, Portland, ME, 1992 Growth in Connection: The Stone Center Model of Relational Development, Portland, ME, 1992 The Therapeutic Triangle: An Approach to Couples Treatment, Portland, ME, 1991 Applying Cognitive Rehabilitation to Mental Health: Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Schizophrenia, New York City, 1990 American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, Minneapolis, MN, 1986