Our Crowdfunding Groups
***Click the video above to see SMU faculty and supporters show their appreciation for Dr. Kate Hayner and her years of dedication to our University and students.
Honoring Dr. Kate Hayner, EdD, OTR/L
Dr. Kate Hayner has transitioned out of her role as the Chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy and back to fulltime teaching. She held the role as the Department Chair for the past 22 years after teaching in the new OT program as a faculty member six years prior to assuming the Chair role.
Kate has taught each of the cohorts since the inception of the program. During her tenure as the Chairperson Dr. Hayner created the Doctoral OT program, completed numerous successful accreditations, was proud of the exceptional faculty that she retained in the department - many of them for similarly long periods of time, increased the student diversity to be one of the most diverse OT programs in the nation, increased the faculty diversity in the department, and participated on many committees.
She received the teacher of the year award twice. Dr. Hayner created the first patient serving clinic at SMU, now called the Community Participant Labs (CPLs) to meet the needs of students and ultimately the clients they would serve. During her years, the OT program retained an excellent reputation with the community, graduating client centered, bright students that have furthered the solid reputation of excellence SMU provides.
Our goal is to raise $3,000 to honor Kate for her 22 years of outstanding service as Chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy. This will provide two (2) one-time scholarships in Kate's name to be used for OT students ASAP. We thank you for your consideration.
"As an alum, I cannot reiterate how important and how impactful Kate's leadership has been for so many Samuel Merritt OT students. I just want to thank you Kate!" - Quiara Smith, MOT, OTR/L, CEIM
Give today to honor Dr. Kate Hayner for her 22 years of outstanding service as Chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Kate held the role as the Department Chair for the past 22 years after teaching in the new OT program as a faculty member six years prior to assuming the Chair role.
In 1995 Kate joined SMU to begin teaching. In that time, she has observed many changes, including seeing Samuel Merritt advancing to become a fully independent University.
With decades of teaching students to become outstanding OT professionals (primarily in the Bay Area), Kate's impact echoes through the region and into the future.
$1,500 provides one (1) one-time scholarship in Kate's name to be use for an OT student ASAP.
