Rachel Allen-McHugh, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, RYT-200

Biography

EXPERIENCE

• Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy - Drake University, 2019 - 2025
• Adjunct Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy - Drake University, 2018 - 2019
• Occupational Therapy Learning Facilitator - Drake University, 2018 - 2019
• Occupational Therapy Lab Manager - Drake University, 2016-2018

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Occupational Therapy Association
• Association of Occupational Therapist Ireland
• Council for Occupational Therapist for the European Countries
• Iowa Occupational Therapy Association
• World Federation of Occupational Therapists
• Yoga Alliance

COLLEGE SERVICE

• CPHS Faculty Affairs Committee Chair, 2024-2025; Member, 2025-2026
• CPHS Ad Hoc Global Engagement Committee Member, 2023-2024
• OTD COTAD Student Organization Founding Faculty Mentor, 2021-present 
• OTD Curriculum Committee Member, 2019-2020; Chair, 2020-2023
• OTD Admissions Committee Member, 2023-present
• Student Affairs Committee, 2019-2020
• Occupational Therapy Faculty Search Committee, 2019-2020
• Occupational Therapy Staff Search Committee, 2019-2020

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

• Drake University Search Committee: CPHS Dean Search Committee Co-Chair, 2023-2024
• Drake University Faculty Senate Executive Committee elected 2022-2023
• Drake University Faculty Senate elected 2021; 3-year term
• Drake University Embodied Learning Faculty Research Group 2020-2023

CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATIONS

• Licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of Iowa August 2006-current
• National Board Certification of Occupational Therapists-certified since 1999-current
• Qualifications Verified by AOTI to practice in Ireland-received 2002; renewed 2018
• CORU Registration to practice in Ireland-Renewal in process
• CPR/First Aid- September 2000-current
• Registered Yoga Teacher-200 hour- May 2015-current
• WellCoach Certification 2025-current

HONORS AND AWARDS

• American Occupational Therapy Association Leadership Institute Participant 2020
• Granberg Professional Leadership Award 2022-2023
• Olsen Fellow for Global Service Learning 2024-2026

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Allen-McHugh, R., (2018). Facilitation of Therapeutic Use of Self: Utilization of Instructional Relationship Model and the Therapeutic Mode
• Reinoso, G., Allen-McHugh, R.M., Decker, T., Huffman-Main, S., Jackson, L., Murray, A., Rognes, J., Urish, C.K. (Accepted for publication, in press). A Study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Utilization Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
• Perceptions of Family-Centered Care in a Rural NICU in India: A Pilot Study
• Exploring the Use of Sensory Integration by Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Rural America
• Developing Global Community Engaged Learning Through International Immersion

Education

• OTD, Mount Mary University
• MOT, Mount Mary University
• BS Occupational Therapy, St. Ambrose University, 1999
• BS Psychology, St. Ambrose University, 1999

Courses Taught

• OTD 207 - Health, Wellness & Well-Being
• OTD 230 - Pediatrics I with Labs
• OTD 257 - Population Health Promotion