Faculty

Dr. Sherri Powers is the Director of the Occupational Therapy Program at Murray State University - Paducah Campus, with specialties in pediatrics, geriatrics, and leadership. She is interested in research/scholarly projects relating to improving function for her patients and improving the occupational therapy student’s grasp of occupational therapy concepts. More specifically, Dr. Powers focuses on the geriatric population with urinary incontinence issues and nursing home staff educational and programming needs, as well as textbook reading and learning strategies for college students. Additionally, Dr. Powers has implemented research projects focusing on occupational therapy delivery models for children in the school system. Dr. Powers graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, with a doctorate in occupational therapy (DOT) in 2010, focusing on Pediatrics, Ergonomics, and Leadership; received both MSOT (2007) and BSOT (2004) in occupational therapy from University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN; and, an AAS in occupational therapy assistant from SICCM, Herrin, IL, in 1999. Dr. Powers has several years’ experience teaching in both OT and OTA programs, has multiple publications and presentations, earned Master Teacher designation 2011, and has a certified therapy dog which she utilizes in pediatric and geriatric settings for animal-assisted occupational therapy service provision.

Dr. Candace Alvey is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy program at Murray State University - Paducah Campus. She received both her BSOT (2009) and MSOT (2010) from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana. She received her DOT (2018) from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Dr. Alvey has been practicing OT for the past 8 years with experience in acute, subacute, outpatient, and long-term care settings. She has special interest in research concerning the geriatric population with focus on oral care and the effects of poor oral hygiene on the health and well-being of those living in a skilled nursing facility. Dr. Alvey is a National rated women's gymnastics official where she officiates competitions through the collegiate level. Dr. Alvey had the honor of being selected to officiate both the 2018 Southeast Conference Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, and the 2018 Regional Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Kelly Taylor is an Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Program at Murray State University - Paducah Campus. She received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, in 2016, focusing on adult neurorehabilitation across the continuum of care. She has also earned a Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky in 2013. Dr. Taylor is also a graduate of Murray State University, receiving her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science in 2011. Dr. Taylor has special research interests focused on enhancing independence, performance, and participation of people with acquired neurological injuries through evidence-based practices, exercise and health promotion for individuals with neurological conditions, and community-based exercise and recreational programming for individuals with mobility disabilities. She has experience conducting a randomized-control trial investigating the impact of a 12-week evidence-based exercise program on physical, psychosocial, and occupational performance and participation factors in adults with spinal cord injury and has investigated the clinical feasibility of novel technology to assist with assessment and treatment of motor deficits in persons with acquired neurological injuries. She also collaborated with an Independent Living Center and adaptive health and wellness center to create a comprehensive assessment protocol and exercise program for adults with physical disabilities. Dr. Taylor has been practicing for the past four years, working with adults with various neurological conditions including traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis. She has worked at the nationally-renowned Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA, as an inpatient occupational therapist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) on the Acquired Brain Injury Unit working with adults and adolescents with traumatic brain injury and stroke. Prior to Shepherd Center, Dr. Taylor served as a Clinical Research Specialist for the Occupational Therapy Program at Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, MO, working with adults with various physical disabilities.