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Ten students from the University of New England’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) Class of 2027 were recently inducted into Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), the national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni.

PTE’s mission is to advance research and scholarship within the field of occupational therapy while fostering authentic, collaborative practice that enhances the lives of those who receive OT services, according to the American Occupational Therapy Foundation.

This year’s ceremony marked the 32nd anniversary of �黨��Ƶ’s Alpha Psi Chapter. Professor Emeritus Nancy MacRae, M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA — who founded the chapter in 1994 — once again shared an overview of its history during the event, held on Nov. 12 in Alumni Hall on �黨��Ƶ’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences.

Friends, family members, and supporters gathered to celebrate the inductees’ achievements. The ceremony opened with remarks from Carrie Beals, Ph.D., OTR/L, CHSE, program director of occupational therapy at �黨��Ƶ, followed by a keynote address from Emily Blackwell, M.S.O.T., OTR/L. 

Blackwell, a 2024 M.S.O.T. alum and PTE member, invited the inductees to remain curious stating, “Curiosity keeps us open to lifelong learning, listening, and connecting with others. It’s what allows us to continue adapting and growing in an increasingly complex world long after we leave the classroom.” 

Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, O.T.D., M.S.O.T., OTR/L, CTP, FAOTA, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, housed in �黨��Ƶ’s Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP), and current PTE faculty advisor, encouraged inductees to view their membership as both an honor and a responsibility. 

“You have repeated the words of the Pi Theta Epsilon pledge, but these are far more than words; they are a calling,” Lambdin-Pattavina remarked. “A calling to be lifelong learners, to remain curious, to embrace wonder, and to question boldly, especially when the answers are not easily found — a calling to always act with integrity and compassion, and a calling to provide the highest quality occupational therapy services to all people, in every setting and at every stage of life.”

The 2025 PTE inductees are: Jessica Deschenes, Carson Ford, Savannah Good, Kimberly Lavender, Erin Libby, Hannah LoVerdi, Rebecca Rogers, Aaron Segal, Gina Sheridan, and Sydney Tooze.