Jenny Womack

Dr. Jenny Womack serves as Professor and Founding Director of the Occupational Therapy program within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Appalachian State University, where she joined in August 2022. Previously, she held significant leadership roles at UNC Chapel Hill including Program Coordinator, Admissions Coordinator, and Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy (2018) from Lulea University of Technology, Sweden
• Graduate Certificate in Public Health (2011) from UNC Chapel Hill
• M.A. in Folklore (2009) from UNC Chapel Hill
• M.S. in Occupational Therapy (1989) from UNC Chapel Hill
• B.A. in Biology/German (1984) from Wake Forest University

Dr. Womack's research centers on aging dynamics, examining dementia caregiving, community living sustainability, senior housing adaptations, and transportation access through occupational therapy frameworks. Her neurorehabilitation expertise spans spinal cord injury and stroke recovery within community contexts, emphasizing occupation-focused interventions that maintain functional independence across the lifespan.

Her 2019-2024 publications reveal consistent focus on aging-in-place solutions, with increasing emphasis on systemic interventions in senior housing and caregiver support networks. These works in OTJR, Geriatric Nursing, and AJOT demonstrate methodological rigor through qualitative analyses and scoping reviews that bridge research with practical community applications.

Award recognition includes:

• Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA, 2012) for advancing community-engaged occupational practice

As Founding Director of Appalachian State's new OT program, Dr. Womack integrates her decade of Orange County Department on Aging experience into curriculum development. Her teaching portfolio spans neuroscience, gerontology, and qualitative methods at master's and doctoral levels, with current focus on building a practice-oriented program that prepares students for community-based rehabilitation settings through agency partnerships and real-world projects.

Her leadership establishes a research trajectory centered on transdisciplinary collaborations addressing aging challenges, particularly through senior housing interventions and caregiver support systems that promote occupational participation in later life.