Shannon Strate

Shannon Strate, PhD, MS, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) in the College of Health & Wellness since 2020. With over 20 years of experience as an occupational therapy practitioner, she specializes in gerontology, working with older adults in short-term rehab, long-term care, and home health settings. She leads interdisciplinary teams in skilled nursing facilities and mentors clinicians and managers. Strate holds an OTD-PP from New England Institute of Technology, an MS in Occupational Therapy, a BS in Communicative Disorders from the University of Rhode Island, and an AS in Occupational Therapy.

Her research focuses on improving quality of life for older adults through purposeful activities, as highlighted in her doctoral project at Steere House Nursing and Rehab Center. She integrates practical experiences into teaching, emphasizing interprofessional education (IPE) and leadership. Strate is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), representing Rhode Island in the Representative Assembly.

Teaching interests include older adult care, healthcare systems, and leadership. She teaches courses such as Neuroscience, Leadership & Advocacy, and Healthcare Policy. Beyond academia, she advocates for reducing stress through creative interventions, including bringing her dog into clinical and classroom settings.