In May, the 16 members of the inaugural Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) cohort made CSUDH history, becoming the first Toros to earn doctorate degrees from the university. The three-year program is the first doctoral degree CSUDH has offered and is one of only two OTD programs in the CSU system.

The curriculum is designed to prepare highly skilled OT practitioners, integrating qualitative and quantitative research along with a distinctive applied capstone project focused on developing real-world research and community-based programs.

“They surprise us every day with their character, their empathy, and their passion for the profession.”

The inaugural cohort served as trailblazers for the university, helping to establish its culture and legacy for future students. “It’s been such a rewarding experience to help shape and grow the program from the beginning,” remarked OTD student Alyssa Sack. “The faculty are incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in our success, which made a huge difference.”

“Being part of the first class felt significant from the very beginning,” said cohort member Samantha Nugroho. “Throughout the program, we kept hearing from people that we were helping shape the doctoral culture on campus, and what I found so remarkable about that was how authentic it felt.

“Nobody in my cohort tried to hide their personality or their humor in order to seem more serious or more scholarly. We got to be fully ourselves while pursuing this advanced degree, and I think that made the culture we built feel genuine.”

OTD Program Coordinator Jennifer Taosuvanna said students in the cohort embraced their role as pioneers, committing themselves to being adaptable through the program’s growing pains. “What’s remarkable is how cohesive they are as a group, despite being so different from one another in their interests. Some are focused on advocacy, some on geriatrics, some on serving the LGBTQ community. It’s a diverse set of passions, and yet they’ve been genuinely supportive of each other.”

“Going through this program with them, I’ve found lifelong friends. I’m so proud of all of them and so grateful we get to share this moment together.”

Nugroho found the environment inspiring. “Faculty go out of their way of their way to make sure you feel celebrated at every milestone. This program marks the moments — banquets, ceremonies, acknowledgments — in a way that matters, especially for students like me who are the first in their families to reach this level. Being able to invite my family to those events, to watch them understand and share in what this journey has meant is something I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

“Launching the OTD reflects a culmination of years of diligent advocacy, planning, and collaboration by many brilliant minds,” said Taosuvanna.

“Getting this program off the ground took years — the planning began in 2019. Everyone had to work together. So this graduation wasn’t just their milestone; it was ours collectively. They surprised us every day with their character, their empathy, and their passion for the profession. We did this together, and we’re so excited to celebrate what they’ve accomplished!”

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