Dr. Dianne F. Simons
Assistant Professor
dfsimons@vcu.edu
(804) 828-2230
Professional interests
Dr. Simons holds a Masters degree in OT from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. The majority of her clinical career was focused on the treatment of adolescents with psychosocial disabilities. She worked in psychiatric hospitals, a chemical dependency treatment center, and the juvenile corrections system. She has taught in the VCU OT Department since 1995. Her research interests include the study of occupation-based practice, design and assessment of Web-based instruction and learning, and fostering resiliency in adolescents through engagement in occupation. Dr Simons has been recognized for her strong interest in the use of technology in education by the VCU Center for Teaching Excellence. She was selected as a Technology Mentor, a Technology Fellow, a Mentor in the Junior Faculty Mentorship Program and a participant in the Tablet PC Program and Live Classroom Pilot Program. She currently teaches OT theory and qualitative research courses in the entry and post-professional programs and practice activities and psychosocial evaluation and intervention courses in the entry-level program.
