Sandra Edwards: A Legacy in Occupational Therapy
Professor Sandra Edwards, a revered emerita of Western Michigan University, has profoundly influenced the field of occupational therapy, leaving a legacy that will resonate for generations to come. Her journey began with eight years of clinical experience before she was captivated by an advertisement for a position at WMU. After completing a master’s degree in special education, she applied and was hired, embarking on a path that would lead to a remarkable career dedicated to inspiring countless students and professionals alike.
Over her 32-year tenure at WMU, Sandra played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum for pediatric occupational therapy. She developed a highly acclaimed graduate course in sensory integration, which emphasized rigorous clinical hands-on experiences and cutting-edge theoretical knowledge. Sandra's innovative teaching methods and her innate ability to connect on a personal level with her students made her a beloved professor. Her classrooms were alive with real-world scenarios that fostered hands-on learning, and her students admired her for her profound expertise, compassion and steadfast support.
Sandra maintained high expectations for her students, instilling a drive for excellence that many carried into their professional lives. Her influence extended far beyond the classroom. Actively engaged in research, she focused on enhancing therapeutic techniques and patient outcomes, contributing to numerous academic journals and presenting at both national and international conferences. Her research not only propelled the field forward but also ignited a passion for scholarly pursuits in her colleagues and students, inspiring them to make their own contributions.
Reflecting on her illustrious career, several highlights stand out: the trust she built with her students, the creative and meaningful learning environments she fostered and the accolades she garnered, including the Teaching Excellence Award and the Outstanding Alumna Award from the University of Florida in 2016. She was a prolific contributor, with 40 juried presentations and numerous publications to her name, including significant chapters in esteemed journals and co-authoring three books on vital topics in occupational therapy.
One of her notable achievements was her internationally recognized research on hand function and neurophysiological responses to therapy. Her collaboration with former graduate students, Donna J. Buckland and Jenna D. McCoy-Powlen, led to the publication of Developmental and Functional Hand Grasps in 2002. This seminal work not only provided a taxonomy of power and precision grasps but also became a valuable resource for engineers, physicians and healthcare professionals alike. Her invitation by Slack Publishing to revise this work culminated in the 2018 publication of Hand Grasps and Manipulation Skills, which was expanded with contributions from Dr. Michelle Suarez. This pioneering research fostered interdisciplinary collaborations, including partnerships with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department to design assessments and intervention programs utilizing Haptic Robots for rehabilitation.
Recently, Sandra walked the El Camino in Spain with her husband, Al, their two sons, a niece and fellow church members. She walked an impressive 80 miles in a week at 80 years old. Sandra credits her sons for her success as they were encouraging and walking with her up treacherous hills. This tenacity and determination, fostered within a community striving for a higher purpose, allows for learning from fellow pilgrims around the world who share the same commitment. El Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St James, is a network of walking trials in Spain, Portugal and France leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
As we celebrate the remarkable career of Professor Sandra Edwards, it is clear that her impact transcends the boundaries of academia. She has not only enriched the lives of her students but has also shaped the future of occupational therapy through her dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence. Her legacy is one of compassion, intellect and unyielding pursuit of improvement in both education and therapeutic practice—values that will continue to inspire countless individuals in the years to come.
Authored by Sandra and Al's daughter, Christine.