Meet Dr. Haas
Dr. Kristin Haas is Professor and Founding Program Director of Quincy University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, bringing more than two decades of experience in occupational therapy education and academic leadership. Her work has included program development, curriculum design, accreditation, assessment, faculty development, student recruitment, mentorship, fieldwork education, and capstone coordination.
Her scholarly and professional interests focus on occupational therapy education, instructional innovation, clinical reasoning, professional identity, and servant leadership. She is a co-author of work on the Visualize Whole-Self Model of instructional design and has presented nationally on teaching, scholarly writing, service learning, curriculum development, and student engagement. Dr. Haas also brings extensive accreditation experience through service on the ACOTE Roster of Accreditation Evaluators, as an accreditation team chair, and as a member of the ACOTE Council.
Dr. Haas is an AOTA Credentialed Leader in Academia, having successfully completed the Academic Leadership Institute. At Quincy, her leadership emphasizes servant leadership, thoughtful curriculum design, student success, and creating a rigorous, connected doctoral experience in which students are known as individuals and prepared for contemporary occupational therapy practice.
Areas of Expertise
- Occupational therapy education and curriculum design
- Program development, accreditation, and assessment
- Clinical reasoning and professional thinking
- Instructional innovation and the Visualize Whole-Self Model
- Holistic admissions, student success, and faculty mentorship
- Service learning and community engagement
- Leadership in occupational therapy education
Teaching & Mentorship
Dr. Haas has taught across occupational therapy curricula in clinical reasoning, research, health promotion, educational principles, theory, management, assessment, cognition, fieldwork, and capstone preparation. She has mentored doctoral capstone students, student systematic reviews, critically appraised topics, and student research projects. In the hybrid environment, her role extends beyond course instruction to program-wide mentoring, professional development, and helping students connect didactic learning with doctoral-level expectations.
Clinical Background
Dr. Haas practiced in brain injury rehabilitation, acute rehabilitation, hospital-based care, long-term care, and community-based settings. Her clinical experience includes work with individuals with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, orthopedic conditions, and other complex rehabilitation needs.
Scholarship & Professional Interests
- Occupational therapy education and instructional design
- Visualize Whole-Self Model of instructional design
- Clinical reasoning and professional thinking
- Service learning and community-engaged education
- Holistic admissions and student success
- Faculty development and mentoring
Professional Leadership & Service
- ACOTE Council
- Mentor for AOTA new program director and new educator mentoring initiatives
- Reviewer for AOTA Annual Conference and Education Summit submissions
- Former NBCOT certification examination item writer and validation contributor
- Longstanding service in state and national occupational therapy organizations
Education & Credentials
- OTD – University of St. Augustine
- MOT – Midwestern University
- BS, Mathematics and Biology – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Licensed Occupational Therapist – Nebraska and Illinois
- NBCOT-certified Occupational Therapist
Why I Teach at Quincy
I value the opportunity to build a doctoral program where students are known as individuals and challenged to become thoughtful, confident occupational therapists. QU’s hybrid model allows us to bring together faculty expertise from multiple locations while maintaining close relationships through synchronous learning, individual mentoring, and our on-campus Hawk OTD Summit Labs. My goal is for students to feel both supported and professionally stretched throughout the program.
Beyond OT
Outside of occupational therapy, I enjoy spending time with my teenage daughter and extended family, especially our Sunday family dinners. I also love attending Broadway shows as a season ticket holder, thrifting for unique finds, and taking on home projects that let me be creative and make spaces more functional and welcoming.