Occupational therapy alumna establishes her own practice

January 22, 2025

Headshot of occupational therapy alumna, Julia Kowal.

Alumna Julia (Kowal) Morrison ’19, MOT ’21, leveraged her education to establish The Independent Living Skills Coach, PLLC., an occupational therapy practice dedicated to empowering adults to enhance their independence in living skills.

Earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy, a bachelor’s degree in health science and a minor in gerontology, Morrison displayed a strong passion and dedication to building a career as an occupational therapist.

During her time at Quinnipiac, Morrison took advantage of her educational experience through clubs, organizations, research opportunities and professional networking. Morrison was a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) as well as the Quinnipiac Occupational Therapy Student Leadership Council. Furthering her leadership skills, Morrison was an esteemed representative of the Bobcat community through her involvement with the American Occupational Therapy Association Assembly (AOTA) of Student Delegates, in which she attended the national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

“I feel as though participation in these organizations helped to 'jump start' my work within the field as I completed my studies,” said Morrison. “As a student, I had access to so many opportunities and knowledgeable individuals. SOTA helped to form a community of student occupational therapists from the very beginning of freshman year and provided mentorship.”

As a testament to her passion for providing care, Morrison actively participated in extracurricular clubs and events on campus focused on supporting and encouraging older adults in the surrounding community. She participated in The Legacy Project, a program where trained student volunteers write and preserve life stories for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Morrison also served as president of Old Friends and New, a student-run organization that fosters friendships between college students and residents in long-term care facilities. 

Morrison’s former mentors described her as a “gifted” and “dedicated student” with a strong desire to learn and help others.

“As an educator, I have interacted with hundreds of students over the past decade and Julia is one who truly stands out,” said Nicole Fidanza, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy and program director of Doctorate of Occupational Therapy. “Her dedication to her professional development and her love of the older adult population is evident in all that she does.”

Futhering her passion for caring for older adults, Morrison participated in the Masonicare and Quinnipiac’s Student in Residence, a program that places students in residence at the independent, assisted living and memory care community. In addition, Morrison conducted research on older adults in assisted living facilities through the Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship (QUIP-RS).

Upon completing her degree, Morrison accepted her first job following her final clinical placement at The Parents Foundation for Transitional Living, a transitional living facility in New Haven, Connecticut. This position ignited her passion for non-traditional occupational therapy work and advocacy within the field.

Morrison then transitioned to contracting with various schools across Connecticut. Through this journey, Morrison began to seek out mentors to expand her career after witnessing the need for support for young adults who are no longer receiving school-based services.

“I knew I wanted to provide services in the most natural environments – client’s homes and communities,” she said. “Through networking, I was able to meet some great therapists working within the field who also saw a need for home and community-based services. They encouraged me to follow my passion and start The Independent Living Skills Coach, PLLC.”

Now with her own practice, Morrison works with patients to build new skills and increase their independence using evidence-based strategies.

“My vision is to empower individuals to live more independently by building essential life skills through the use of occupational therapy techniques in a warm, supportive environment,” said Morrison. “My ultimate goal is to create a therapeutic relationship with clients which empowers them to follow their goals and work towards their dreams. I also want to help create new spaces for occupational therapists to work with the local community because our work is so versatile.”

Amid her successful career, Morrison reflects on her gratitude for the mentorship she received from Quinnipiac faculty

“Dr. Nicole Fidanza was a fantastic mentor during undergraduate and graduate studies,” she said. “I am always grateful for the sense of passion for academics and research within the field that she instilled in me as a student. The wide background and experiences of the occupational therapy faculty have inspired me to pursue a lane within the field that I am passionate about and to create space for occupational therapy expertise in non-traditional settings.”

To culminate her impact and appreciation for the Quinnipiac community, Morrison plans to return to Quinnipiac in a part-time position with the occupational therapy department teaching lab, supervising students during their summer fieldwork placements. 

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