Faculty and Staff

Rebecca Bollinger is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the Participation, Environment and Participation Laboratory. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emory University and her OTD from Washington University in St. Louis. Rebecca has prior research experience with home modifications and assistive technology for adults and older adults, as well as in family-based behavioral treatments for children and their families. Rebecca serves as the study coordinator and occupational therapist for the falls and Alzheimer disease study. She also coordinated the retention of participants in longitudinal studies of Alzheimer disease project, co-coordinates the Missouri Aging and Disability Research Network for the DRRP study, and assists with home visits as needed for the COMPASS II and DRRP studies.

Sherdonna Denholm manages the office of the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory, where she is also the personal assistant to Dr. Stark. Sherdonna supports the administrative needs of ongoing studies as well as oversees student training and work in the lab. She is also one of the coordinators for the Missouri Aging and Disability Research Network for the DRRP. Sherdonna graduated from Clayton State University and writes and records her own music.

Megen Devine is a medical editor and technical writer with the Program in Occupational Therapy. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University. For the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory, she manages manuscripts both pre- and post-publication, edits grant applications, and manages knowledge translation activities including developing newsletters, social media content, infographics and lay-friendly summaries of projects and publications.

Tyra Fowler is a certified licensed occupational therapy assistant in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She earned an associate of applied science degree  from the occupational therapy assistant program at St. Louis Community College Meramec. Tyra has prior knowledge working with older adults, holding over seven years of clinical occupational therapy experience working in the acute care setting. She serves as an interventionist for various studies, assisting with recruitment, conducting residential engagement activities and implementing interventions with participants.

Brianna Holden is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and religious studies from Regis University and her MSOT from Washington University in St. Louis. She previously worked as an occupational therapist in acute care and as a fieldwork student under Dr. Stark, where she developed an interest in both research and clinical intervention in the areas of geriatrics, environmental modifications and community accessibility. She coordinates and conducts home visits for COMPASS II, DRRP and other studies.

Holly Hollingsworth is a research statistician for the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. He also supports the research activities of other laboratories. Holly earned his doctoral degree in applied statistics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He recently retired as an Associate Research Professor in the Washington University in St. Louis Program in Occupational Therapy, where he contributed to the development of instruments and analyses of measures of activity participation in the community for people with disabilities. He has reviewed nearly 300 papers for Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has reviewed grant applications for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research for over 20 years.

Missy Krauss is a senior statistical data analyst in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Fontbonne University and her master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics from Saint Louis University School of Public Health. Missy has prior research experience in a wide range of clinical and public health areas, including patient safety, mental health, substance use and evaluation of community programs. She is especially interested in interventions that aim to improve the physical and mental well-being of vulnerable populations, including supporting older adults to age in place.

Dana Sutter currently works as the lab manager for the Participation Environment and Performance Lab. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, and her MSOT from Washington University in St. Louis. She has clinical occupational therapy experience in inpatient rehabilitation, acute care and skilled nursing. Her previous research experience with Dr. Stark and the late Dr. David Gray looking at home modifications and community accessibility for persons with disabilities laid the foundation for much of the current research being done in the PEPLab. Dana also brings management experience from previously owning and running an orthotics and prosthetics company.

Selena Washington is an assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at Saint Louis University. She earned a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a master’s degree in public health from Meharry Medical College, and a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Tennessee State University. Selena’s areas of interest include rehabilitation, community health, aging and older adults, occupational therapy policy and administration, and ethics, culture and social justice in occupational therapy.

Stacy West-Bruce is an instructor in occupational therapy and medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds an OTD from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University. Stacy is interested in research and interventions aimed at supporting healthy and supportive aging-in-place strategies for older adults. She is also interested in occupational access based on factors such as race, socioeconomic status and location. She aims to continue research involving justice-involved individuals and advocating to transform the current justice system. Finally, she is interested in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, particularly as they relate to occupational therapy education and practice spaces. With the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory, Stacy focuses on research in medically underserved populations.

Yan Yan is a Professor of Clinical Epidemiology in the Division of Public Health Sciences and a Professor of Biostatistics in the Division of Biostatistics at Washington University. Yan was a physician in China and earned a master’s degree in applied demography from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in biostatistics and a doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He routinely uses updated epidemiological/biostatistical methods to support clinical and population health research in the medical community.