Annemarie Connor Profile

Connor, Annemarie (Ph.D.,OTR/L)

Associate Professor

Occupational Therapy Program

MARIEB 0430

239-590-7552

aconnor@fgcu.edu

Occupational Therapy | Human Development

CV/Resume

Annemarie Connor, PhD, OTR/L is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of the Community Autism Network (CAN) at Florida Gulf Coast University. After 15 years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist (OT), Dr. Connor transitioned to academia to research the needs of an underserved segment of the disability community, adolescents and young adults with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. While ample funding and attention goes to research related to early identification, biological causes, and potential cures for autism, historically only 1-2% of federal research dollars has gone to understanding lifespan issues, such as employment and independent living.

Dr. Connor’s research agenda focuses on these complex needs and is informed by her OT clinical background and PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling, which honed her research skills to be team-based, interprofessional, population-specific, and clinically relevant. She has presented her work at the state, national, and international levels; published more than 12 refereed journal articles and book chapters, and is the principal investigator of multiple community-based participatory research projects. In addition to her work with CAN, Dr. Connor’s service commitments include co-chairing the Florida Occupational Therapy Association Research Special Interest Section, non-profit board work, and reviewing for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.  She is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Florida Occupational Therapy Association.

Clinical Experiences:

Occupational therapy practice with children in schools, residential programs, outpatient, and private practice; adult practice in outpatient, private practice, and home health.

Education
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- PhD in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, Michigan State University
- MS in Occupational Therapy, Western Michigan University
- BA in Biology and English, Lehigh University
Specialties
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- Autism
- Lifespan Development with an emphasis on postsecondary transition
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Holistic health
Research and Teaching Interests
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As an educator training the next generation of practitioners, Dr. Connor's teaching focuses on the:
- Translation of research to practice
- The development of her students' professional identity and therapeutic affect through explicit use of teacher-student working alliance.
Dr. Connor greatly enjoys engaging her students in intervention research and field experience through offering community-based group interventions, such as:
- Assistive Soft Skills & Employment Training program (ASSET),
- Employment Preparation and Skills Support (EPASS) program
- WorkWell - an interdisciplinary, holistic approach to employment readiness for young adults with autism.
Courses Offered
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- Research
- Practice with Children
- Community Practice
- Human Development
Publications
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- As an applied interdisciplinary intervention researcher with a focus on disability, wellness, and vocation Dr. Connor's work has been published broadly in peer-reviewed journals, including top-tier autism publications (Autism, and The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders); Rehabilitation Psychology, Epilepsia, Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education; The Journal of Rehabilitation; The Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, and the Global Educational Review
Conference Presentations
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Dr. Connor has presented at:
- United Nations General Assembly Global Science Collaboration
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- Florida Occupational Therapy Association
- American Psychological Association
- American Counseling Association
- American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- National Council on Rehabilitation Education
Grants & Awards
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- 2021 Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
- 2020 Communities in Transition Grant
- American Occupational Therapy Foundation Intervention Research Grant
- Best Research Paper - American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- FGCU Student-Faculty Enrichment Support Award
- FGCU Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow

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Connor, Annemarie (Ph.D.,OTR/L)

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