Brenda K. Lyman - Bylaws, Policies and Procedures Chair

Brenda was born and raised in Nebraska and earned her Occupational Therapy degree from Colorado State University in 1983, an MBA from Western Governor’s University in 2024, and the OTD academic doctorate from the University of Utah in 2014. She has a broad clinical background in all areas of practice but has specialized in pediatrics for school systems, early intervention, and hospital/clinic-based settings. Brenda began her career in Ohio, then moved to Wyoming, before settling in Utah. Brenda was employed by the Primary Children’s Medical Center for over a decade. She moved to consultation and private practice work before focusing on the development of the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) OTA Program as the founding program coordinator. Brenda was employed by SLCC for 26 years earning the rank of tenured full professor while assuming roles of program coordinator and academic fieldwork coordinator as needed. Brenda eventually moved into administrative work for seven years as the Associate Dean for the Division of Health Professions for departments of Mortuary Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Radiologic Technology. For a period, she was also Associate Dean for the Division of Allied Health for Respiratory Therapy, Medical Assisting, Dental Hygiene, and Surgical Technology departments. While at SLCC she founded the OTA Pro Bono Clinic and founded the idea and secured funding for the Telehealth Clinic years prior to the COVID outbreak. Brenda retired from SLCC in 2022 and was awarded the title Emeritus Professor by the College. She then moved into Occupational Therapy education as a full professor designing virtual coursework and teaching while also assuming a position of Director of Admissions for an accelerated/hybrid doctoral education program. Brenda serves as an accreditation reviewer for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Interprofessionally, she has engaged with Physical Therapy education nationally for over a decade serving as a PTA program site and document reviewer and elected by PTs and PTAs as a commissioner to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education first on the Central Panel and then on the Executive Committee of the Commissioner’s Board. As a Board Commissioner, she was appointed twice to serve on the task force to update the rules of CAPTE. She also served as the Board’s’ representative to the Finance Committee and on a task force to identify PT program faculty quality. Brenda recently assisted CAPTE as a member-at-large for the re-write of PT and PTA accreditation standards & elements to be implemented in the 2030’s.  Brenda was awarded FAOTA--Fellow of Occupational Therapy distinction by the AOTA in 2024. Now retired, she continues intermittent adjunct work with Rocky Mountain University and consultant work for a new OT program. Brenda is active in church callings, genealogy temple work, and writing. She has a rescue dog, paint quarter horse, and feral kitties and enjoys time with family and friends on side-by-side adventures in southern Utah. Brenda has five children and eight grandchildren.