Professional Background

PERSONAL

Name: Karen Jacobs

Date and Place of Birth:

January 13, 1951

Brooklyn, New York

Address:

Boston University

635 Commonwealth Ave

Room 511A

Boston, MA. 02215

(617) 353-7516 (office); (617) 353-2926 (fax)

kjacobs@bu.edu

FORMAL EDUCATION

Ed.D.  University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA 6/93

Major: Educational Leadership in Schooling

Dissertation Title: The Nature and Quality of the Optimal Flow Experience, A Form of Job Satisfaction Among a Selected Occupation: The Case of the Occupational Therapy Practitioner

M.S.   Boston University Boston, MA 9/79

Major: Occupational Therapy

B.A.   Washington University St. Louis, MO 12/73

Major: Psychology   Minor: Education

CREDENTIALS

Registered Occupational Therapist by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) by the Board for Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE)

LICENSED

Licensed Occupational Therapist, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of New Hampshire

Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of Maine

Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of Connecticut

Licensed Occupational Therapist, District of Columbia

POSITIONS HELD

2019 to date Associate Dean of Digital Learning & Innovation at the College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College

Responsible for the co-development of digital learning and innovative projects at the College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

2006 to date  Program Director, Distance Education Post-professional Occupational Therapy Programs

Responsible for the development and coordination of the distance education post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

2002 to date  Clinical Professor

Responsible for the instruction of graduate level occupational therapy courses; and the development and implementation of distance education graduate courses in occupational therapy.

Specialty: ergonomics, assistive technology, marketing/promOTion, educational theory & practice and health care management.

Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

1996 to 2002 Clinical Associate Professor

Responsible for the instruction of undergraduate & graduate level occupational therapy courses. Specialty: instructional design, ergonomics, and health care management.

Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

1989 to 1996 Clinical Assistant Professor

Responsible for the instruction of undergraduate & graduate level occupational therapy courses.

Specialty: technology, work practice, ergonomics, & marketing.

Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

2004 to date  Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor

Responsible for the instruction of graduate level occupational therapy course in emerging areas of practice in occupational therapy.

Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

1996 to date  Adjunct Faculty Member

Responsible for the development & instruction of weekend courses in ergonomics & entrepreneurship.

University of Indianapolis; Indianapolis, IN

1990 to date  Editor

Founding editor of the interdisciplinary, international, peer-reviewed journal, WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. IOS Press, The Netherlands.

1987-1989     Adjunct Clinical Instructor

Responsible for the development and instruction of a graduate level course and practicum entitled Work Assessments & Programming.

Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

1984-1986     Adjunct Clinical Instructor

Responsible for the instruction of undergraduate level occupational therapy courses.

Tufts University

Boston School of Occupational Therapy Medford, MA

1983-1987     Adjunct Clinical Instructor

Responsible for the development and instruction of a

Masters level course entitled Principles of Skilled Activity.

Boston University, Sargent College Boston, MA

1982-1987     Director of Development

Responsible for the public relations, fund raising and grant writing of a private nonprofit school for students with learning disabilities; Director of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy & Adaptive Physical Education services, Vocational Consultant & Job Placement Coordinator, 1980-1984.

The Learning Prep School West Newton, MA

1980-1982     Vocational Program Coordinator

Responsible for the development & coordination of a vocational work/study high school, supervision of staff, coordinator of occupational therapy student fieldwork, job placement coordinator, public relations liaison & grant writer.

The Learning Prep School West Newton, MA

1980 to date  Consultant

Consultant & lecturer to a variety of settings: business, industry, hospitals, school systems, educational collaborative, universities, rehabilitation centers, insurance companies, skilled nursing facilities, private practices, attorneys, a mass transportation agency, & publishers.

Specialty: Ergonomics, marketing, entrepreneurship, assistive technology, life coaching, and the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

1979-1980     Prevocational Occupational Therapist

Responsible for the development of the copyrighted, Jacobs Prevocational Skills Assessment, the development and implementation of a prevocational program & occupational therapy student supervision.

The Little People’s School West Newton, MA

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENT

2007-2012  Chairperson, Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments (ECEE) Technical Committee of the International Ergonomics Association

2010-2012-Chairperson, Science, Technology and Practice Committee, International Ergonomics Association (IEA)

NATIONAL APPOINTMENTS OR ELECTED POSITIONS

  • 1986-1990     Member, Standing Committee, Work Programs Special Interest Section, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1990-1993     Chairperson, Work Programs Special Interest Section, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1994-1997     Vice-President, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1994-1997     Personnel Liaison, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1997-1998     President-Elect, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1998-2001     President, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 2000-2001     Committee on Disability Determination for Individuals with Visual Impairments National Academy of Sciences
  • 2004-2007     Member, American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC)

STATE APPOINTMENTS OR ELECTED POSITIONS (MASSACHUSETTS)

  • 1981-1985 Continuing Education Editor, Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT)
  • 1982-1984  Standards & Practice Chairperson, MAOT
  • 1983-1993  Chairperson/co-chairperson, Annual Conference, MAOT
  • 1995-1998 & 2002-2017
  • 1984-1989  President, Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy
  • 1985-1987  Chairperson, Public Relations, MAOT
  • 1988-1994   Secretary, North Andover Commission on Disability Issues
  • 1999-2001 Member, Andover Commission on Disability, Town of Andover
  • 2008-2010 Program Chair, Environmental Design Technical Group, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
  • Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT)
  • Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES)
  • Women in Science & Engineering (WISE)

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

  • Brookline Rotary Club; Brookline, MA
  • Boston University Sargent College Rotaract Club, advisor
  • Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) Omicron Chapter, advisor