Dr. Mische Lawson Named Chair of Occupational and Recreational Therapies
At a Glance
- Dr. Lisa Mische Lawson Named Chair of Occupational and Recreational Therapies
- Dr. Lisa Mische Lawson joins the University of Utah from the University of Kansas Medical Center
- She succeeds longtime chair Lorie Richards, who led the department for more than a decade
- Mische Lawson will begin her role Aug. 17, leading academic programs, research, and community partnerships
The University of Utah College of Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD, CTRS, as chair of the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies. Mische Lawson brings a distinguished career in teaching, research, and academic leadership, along with a deep commitment to improving health and participation outcomes through therapeutic and recreational sciences.
Mische Lawson joins the University of Utah from the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she served in multiple leadership and faculty roles, including as program director of the therapeutic science doctoral program. Over the course of her career, she has built a strong reputation for advancing graduate education, mentoring students, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Mische Lawson’s experience, vision, and dedication to student success and scholarly excellence make her an outstanding choice to lead the department,” says Kelly Tappenden, PhD, dean of the College of Health. “We are excited to welcome her to the University of Utah and look forward to the impact she will have on our programs and community.”
Mische Lawson succeeds Lorie Richards, PhD, who has led the department as chair since 2011 and is returning to a faculty role in August 2026. During her tenure, the department experienced significant growth in academic programs, research activity and national visibility.
Richards is widely recognized for her leadership in the field of occupational therapy and stroke rehabilitation research. She previously served as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy from 2014 to 2020 and has held editorial roles with leading journals including Stroke, Frontiers in Stroke, and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Her work has helped shape scholarship and clinical practice across the discipline.
In addition to her editorial leadership, Richards has contributed to numerous federally funded and collaborative research initiatives focused on stroke recovery, telerehabilitation and interdisciplinary care. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education and other funding agencies, advancing innovations in rehabilitation science and improving outcomes for individuals with neurological conditions. She is also a co-editor of the 2025 book The Neuroscience of Everyday Life.
The college extends its sincere gratitude to Richards for her more than a decade of leadership and lasting contributions to the department, its students and the broader profession.
In her new role starting on August 17, 2026, Mische Lawson will lead the department’s academic programs, faculty development, research initiatives, and community partnerships. She will play a central role in shaping the future of occupational and recreational therapies education and expanding the department’s impact across Utah and beyond.
“I am honored to join the University of Utah as Chair of the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies,” Mische Lawson says. “I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to build on the department’s strengths and advance innovative teaching, impactful research, and community engagement that promotes health, inclusion, and participation for all.”
About Dr. Lisa Mische Lawson
Mische Lawson brings nearly two decades of experience in therapeutic and recreational sciences. A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), her research focuses on the benefits of recreation participation for individuals living with disabilities or chronic illness, with a strong emphasis on inclusive and adaptive recreation. She has more than 15 years of experience developing, delivering, and researching adapted swimming and water safety instruction for autistic children, integrating evidence-based approaches to improve swimming skills to prevent drowning.
Her contributions to education and scholarship have been recognized nationally and internationally. She received the Stata Norton Award for Teaching Excellence in 2012 and the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Early Career Achievement in Health Professions Alumna Award in 2016. In 2019, she was honored with the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s Scholarly Achievement Award, and in 2023 the Distinguished Fellow Award, the organization’s highest recognition for scholarly work and contributions to the field.
Mische Lawson’s global engagement includes being named to the Fulbright Specialist Roster in 2018 for her expertise in inclusive recreation. She completed a Fulbright Specialist project in 2019 at Ala-Too International University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where she supported research development and international collaboration.
She holds a PhD in Therapeutic Science from the University of Kansas Medical Center, a Master of Science in Education in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University, and a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Missouri. During her undergraduate studies, she also completed international coursework in tourism and recreation program development in the Netherlands.