Dr. Brenda Stuart-Howell: Shaping the Future of Occupational Therapy Education
As I sat at my desk, I heard the notification sound of my email, indicating the arrival of a long-awaited response from a highly influential figure in the field of occupational therapy education. Dr. Brenda Stuart-Howell is an experienced occupational therapist, published author, and adjunct professor with over a decade of experience in academia. She is a founding member of the Student Caucus for Diversity in Occupational Therapy and a past ACOTE Roster of Accreditation Evaluator, highlighting her numerous credentials. However, her story, rooted in a modest upbringing, truly defines her.
Raised in a close-knit country family, Dr. Stuart-Howell was instilled with values of hard work, honesty, kindness, perseverance, and the importance of finishing what one starts. A pivotal moment in her childhood came in the form of a promise to her father amid a wasp-infested pea patch. “I told my dad, if you ever let me get out of this, I promise I will go all the way with my education,” she recalls. This promise became the catalyst for her future academic pursuits. It ultimately led her to become the first and only Black Occupational Therapist in her town to hold a doctorate in the field.
The path to becoming an educator, wasn’t as straightforward. “I never saw myself as anything other than a clinician,” Dr. Stuart-Howell admits. However, a sudden vacancy at a local Occupational Therapy Assistant Program led a colleague to enlist her help, and despite initial apprehension, she embraced the opportunity with faith and prayer. Now, she’s a beloved faculty member, having served the institution for 11 years.
When asked about her philosophy as an educator, Dr. Stuart-Howell emphasizes a student-centered approach rooted in the mission of the profession. “Learning by doing” is her mantra, and she sees her role not as a master of information but as a partner in the learning process. This method, she believes, fosters an environment of trust, confidence, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning, all crucial for a thriving clinician.
Navigating academia as a black woman hasn’t been without challenges. Micro-aggressions, stereotypes, biases, wage disparities, and questions surrounding competence are just some of the obstacles she’s encountered. Her strategy for overcoming these barriers is anchored in a strong support system, including her program director, who values diversity, and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Stuart-Howell’s journey has been marked by significant triumphs. She’s helped her institution become more inclusive and diverse, from the teaching methods and textbooks used to student diversity assignments and health fairs targeted at minority high school students. The impact of her presence and representation is evident in her students’ achievements, some of whom have gone on to pursue leadership roles, further education, and even host continuing education courses on enhancing diversity in the field.
Dr. Stuart-Howell believes that the lasting impact of her work lies in the hope and inspiration she provides to minority students. “Having a black teacher enhances a student’s critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity,” she asserts. Being a black woman educator allows her students to visualize their own potential for success, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of life and diversity in the working world.
To fellow educators, her advice is a reaffirmation of their uniqueness: “You are amazing, significant, and brilliant in your own right. God created you different for a reason. Stay the course and seek out mentorship and support. You are important, and your diversity and uniqueness is necessary.”
Dr. Stuart-Howell is an educator and a contributor to the Centering Our Voices anthology. This anthology is a collection of writings by black women educators that highlight their experiences, brilliance, persistence, and significance. In her chapter, Dr. Stuart-Howell discusses how God designed her to pursue occupational therapy (OT) education. She shares how she accidentally attended an OT informational forum instead of a physical therapy (PT) one at a career fair in high school. This led her to discover her calling in OT.
Throughout her chapter, Dr. Stuart-Howell shares her brilliance, persistence, and significance and how God has been using her to shape the future of OT. She believes this anthology will spark conversations and promote greater inclusion and diversity in the education community.
You can connect with Dr. Stuart-Howell on Facebook: Brenda Stuart-Howell and TikTok: @brendastuarthowell, where she continues to inspire, educate, and break down barriers in her field.
