MOTA President
Claire Schueler, MSOT, OTR/L
Claire has worked in school-based practice for 11 years and also worked PRN in inpatient rehab for 8 years. She’s volunteered with the Missouri OT Association for an accumulative 13 years. In addition, she’s taught break out groups for pediatrics in the OT program at Washington University in St. Louis and owns a small, online, international OT business through Teachers Pay Teachers
MOTA Vice President / Nominations Committee Chair
Christy Gorman, COTA/L
• Years in Practice/Teaching: 11 Years
• Place of Work: Coxhealth
• Current Title:
• Specialties/Setting: Acute care
• Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: I love working with MOTA members because they increase my awareness of my duty to involve myself in the promotion of the profession. I really would like to see our districts and our communities of practice grow through improved engagement with our specific areas.
MOTA Treasurer
Carrie Miller, OTD, OTR/L
Carrie Miller, OTD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and educator currently serving as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Cox College in Springfield, MO. With clinical experience in inpatient rehabilitation and school-based services, she is dedicated to preparing the next generation of OT practitioners. She holds a graduate certificate in Administration and Management in Family and Community Service and serves as Treasurer for Southwest MOTA. Outside of work, Carrie is active in RepMO Rotary and the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness, and enjoys life in Republic, MO with her husband and three active boys.
MOTA Secretary & OTA Liaison
Kristi Peterson, BGS, COTA/L
Kristi serves dual roles on the MOTA board as secretary and OTA liaison, showcasing her dedication to professional leadership. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri, she specializes in fieldwork education across pediatrics, psychosocial aspects, adult physical disabilities, and assistive technology. Kristi’s diverse clinical background includes experience in neuro, acute care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, memory care, and schools, which informs her teaching in geriatric care and community-based interventions. Passionate about emerging technologies, she is exploring AI’s role in OT and incorporating simulated client experiences into education to enhance student learning. Kristi’s contributions continue to advance the profession through leadership, innovation, and education.
MOTA Director of Education
Wendy Stav, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
• Years in Practice/Teaching: 35 years
• Place of Work: Saint Louis University
• Current Title: Department Chair
• Specialties/Setting: Occupation-based practice
• Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: The Director of Education role is important to me because I believe the profession can only survive and thrive through our participation in education and professional development related to the current science and latest trends. Professional and continuing education allows us to provide better clinical services, document more clearly, justify our contributions more soundly, and advocate for clients and the profession with more evidentiary support. In this role, my goal is to ignite an interest and passion for education beyond the obligatory expectations.
MOTA Director of Organization
Gordon Bernerd Tsubira, OTD, MSc, OTR/L, C/NDT, CPAM
Gordon Bernerd Tsubira, OTD, MSc, OTR/L, C/NDT, CPAM, is a licensed occupational therapist with 20 years of clinical, leadership, teaching, and program development experience across the United States, United Kingdom, and Uganda. He earned his Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of South Dakota and his MSc in Occupational Therapy from Sheffield Hallam University, UK.
Gordon has practiced across diverse settings including inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, pediatrics, mental health, home health, and community-based rehabilitation, with specialized expertise in neurological rehabilitation, challenging behavior management, orthopedics, and rehabilitation program development. His professional experience includes leadership positions such as Director of Rehabilitation, Team Lead, Program Coordinator, and Clinical Assistant Professor at Missouri State University, where he supervised student clinicians and coordinated experiential learning programs.
He has extensive experience in strategic planning, team leadership, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and organizational development. As an active member of the Missouri Occupational Therapy Association since 2020, he is committed to advancing the occupational therapy profession and supporting practitioners through leadership and professional service.
MOTA Director of Membership
Jessie Bricker, OTD, OTR/L
- Years in Practice/Teaching:14 years in full-time OT practice, 11 years in teaching and administration
- Place of Work: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Program in OT
- Current Title:Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy and Medicine
- Specialties:school-based practice, adolescent/ young adult transition
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: I teach my OT students about the importance of advocating for our profession. It’s important to me to lead by example.
MOTA Nominations/Awards Committee
Miranda Myrick, OTD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA
- Years in Practice/Teaching:6 years in practice and 1 year teaching
- Place of Work: Missouri State University
- Current Title: Clinical Assistant Professor
- Specialties: certified lymphedema therapist, mental health, outpatient rehab
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: MOTA leadership matters to me because as a profession we need to be responsive to the changing needs of individuals and the communities we serve. As an organization, we can advocate to improve healthcare and educational policy, and ensure occupational therapy continues to demonstrate its value in improving health, participation, and quality of life.
MOTA Co-Director of Practice
Lindsay Bright, OTD, OTR/L
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 3 years
- Place of Work: WashU – School of Public Health
- Current Title: Occupational Therapist
- Specialties: n/a
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: MOTA is a tool to help other OTPs realize that advocacy is approachable (and fun). I hope to bring others to the table and expand to voice of occupational therapy in Missouri.
MOTA Co-Director of Practice
Maria Lindbergh, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 12 years
- Place of Work: WashU – School of Public Health
- Current Title: Occupational Therapist
- Specialties: Executive certificate in home modifications
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me:I’m a part of MOTA leadership to drive efforts towards occupational therapy practitioners becoming an instrumental part of health care decision-making at the state and local level.
MOTA Nominations / Awards Committee
Tyler Hood, OTD, OTRL
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 12 years
- Place of Work: WashU – School of Public Health
- Current Title: Occupational Therapist
- Specialties: Executive certificate in home modifications
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me:I’m a part of MOTA leadership to drive efforts towards occupational therapy practitioners becoming an instrumental part of health care decision-making at the state and local level.
MOTA Kansas City – District Co- Chair
Laura Carder OTR/L
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 34 years
- Place of Work: Raytown School District
- Current Title: Occupational Therapist
- Specialties: Schools
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: MOTA is important to me because of the professional collaboration, friendships, continuing education, and ability to learn about and make a difference in policies that impact my job and me personally. I hope MOTA continues to grow.
MOTA Kansas City – District Co -Chair
Haven Herndon, OTD, OTR/L
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 8 years
- Place of Work: Kansas City Public School District /adjunct faculty Rockhurst University OTD program
- Current Title: Occupational Therapist
- Specialties: Schools
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: Haven hopes to foster genuine connections with other OTPs throughout the state of Missouri by being a MOTA district chair.
MOTA Southwest District Chair
Haley Isbell, OTD, OTR/L
- Years in Practice/Teaching: 4 years
- Place of Work: Mercy Pediatrics Outpatient Therapy
- Current Title:Occupational Therapist, Probono Clinic Educator at Missouri State University
- Specialties: SOS Feeding Therapy, Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, ASTYM
- Why MOTA Leadership Matters to Me: MOTA leadership allows me to give back to an OT community that has done so much for me and my practice. I value the community, networking opportunities, wisdom, professional development, and inspiration that comes from sitting on his board of leaders.