Rita Fleming-Castaldy

Name and Contact

• Rita P. Fleming-Castaldy

• rita.fleming-castaldy@scranton.edu

Training and Advanced Certifications

• PhD, Occupational Therapy, New York University (NYU), 2008

• Post-Professional MA, Occupational Therapy, NYU, 1988

• BS, Occupational Therapy, NYU, 1980

Area(s) of Expertise

• Disability rights, public policy, social justice, and empowerment

• Program, curriculum, and faculty development 

• Community-based and mental health practice

• Historical and information literacy

• Certification exam preparation

• Ethics and leadership

 Awards and Honors

• Professor Emeritus, University of Scranton, 2019

• Provost Award for Excellence in Scholarly Publications, University of Scranton, 2018

• AOTA Award for Excellence in the Advancement of OT for “advancing disability rights, empowerment, and historical literacy”, 2017.

• Reba Anderson Memorial Lecture, 2017

• AOTF Leaders and Legacies Society, 2016

• AOTA Roster of Fellows for “education and advocacy”, 2002

• NYSOTA Merit of Practice in Mental Health, 2005 and 2000

• AOTA Award of Appreciation, 1994

• AOTF Scholar in Residence, 1987

• NYSOTA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023

Leadership Accomplishments

• Editor-in-Chief for the AOTA centennial OTArchive project.

• Chairperson for the OT L&LS History Preservation Project.

• Author and/or co-author of 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 50 book chapters and other professional publications.

• Editor of ten books; several published for decades with multiple editions.

• Author and/or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed and invited presentations on areas of expertise at occupational therapy and interdisciplinary international, national, and state conferences.

• Editorial board member and/or peer reviewer for AJOT, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Journal of the Medical Library Association.

• Peer reviewer for international, national, and state conferences and seminal professional and continuing education publications for over 30 years.

• Founding member and recording secretary for the NYSOTA Political Action Committee

Leadership Passions

• Promoting disability rights, empowerment, and OT historical literacy.

• Enabling accountability and excellence in the profession’s education, practice, and scholarship.

• Mentoring students, entry-level practitioners, and emerging scholars.

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