Natasha Smet

Associate Professor- Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

Department: Occupational Therapy
Institution: University of Western States

Office Phone: 971-418-9023
Email

Biography

Dr. Natasha Smet, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is South African-born and a proud first-generation college graduate. She joined our Occupational Therapy Program in Fall 2024 as an Associate Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Dr. Smet brings over a decade of diverse clinical experience across pediatric settings, along with a strong background in academic leadership, curriculum development, and accreditation across all levels of OT education.

She holds an OTD from the University of Toledo and a BS in OT from Mount Mary University, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University (Go RAMs!). Her academic career began in 2016 and has progressed into full-time roles and leadership positions, including Program Director, Director of Curriculum, and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (her favorite)!

A recognized scholar and editor of the 6th edition of Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants, Dr. Smet focuses her research on children and youth, adult learners with ADHD, and global social justice issues. She is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and an active contributor to continuing education.

Dr. Smet was named a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She is licensed in Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon, and remains actively involved with several professional organizations, including the Oregon Occupational Therapy Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the Association of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Occupational Therapy, and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, swimming, watching women's sports, and spending time with her spouse, child Z, and their dogs-Bennie, Stella, and Jax. Being a mum to Z is her favorite occupational role, and play time with her family is the BEST occupation in the world!

Education History

Degree	Institution	Year
Bachelor of Science - Summa Cum Laude	Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI	2011
Occupational Therapy Doctorate	The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH	2014

Professional Memberships

Role	Organization
Member & School Representative	The Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon
Member	World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Member	Association of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Occupational Therapy

Community Involvement

Role	Organization
Volunteer	American Occupational Therapy Association
Volunteer	AT Still University - Capstone Mentor

Publications

Chapter
O’Brien, J. C. & Conners, B. L. (with Smet, N.). (2023). Occupational Therapy Across the Lifespan. In J. C. O’Brien, & B. L. Conners (Ed.) Introduction to Occupational Therapy, 2nd eds. (pp. 172-188). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Smet, N. (2021). Occupations of childhood focusing on group interventions.. In J. C. O’Brien & J. W. Solomon (Eds.). (Ed.) Occupational Analysis and Group Process (pp. 97-115). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Smet, N. (2020). School: Handwriting. In J. C. O’Brien & J. W. Solomon (Eds.). (Ed.) Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants (pp. 462-493). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Smet, N. & Lucas, C. B. (2020). Occupational therapy view of child development, 8th ed.. In J. C. O’Brien & H. Kuhaneck (Eds.). (Ed.) Case-Smith’s: Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (pp. 76-121). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Journal
Smet, N. & Andrion, J. D. (2025). Amplifying silenced voices: A critical reflection of challenges facing occupational therapy academics with multiple minoritized identities. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79 (2), 1-4.
Diamant, R. B., & Smet, N. (2024). Relationships Between Sensory Processing, Temperament Characteristics for Effortful Control, and Executive Function in School-Age Children.. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12 (1), 1-14.

Licenses

Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, Arizona

Colorado Office of Occupational Therapy, Colorado

State of Oregon Occupational Therapy Licensing Board, Oregon