Professor Karen Jacobs Named Sargent’s Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation

Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy Karen Jacobs, EdD, OT, OTR, CPE, FAOTA was appointed Sargent College Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation. In this role, Jacobs will leverage her extensive experience developing successful online or hybrid programs. Her efforts in this area recognize BU and Sargent’s increasing efforts in digital learning and will help facilitate, even more widely, Sargent’s disciplinary influence.

Jacobs also serves as program director for the online post-professional doctor of occupational therapy program. Her research and scholarly pursuits examine the interface between the environment and human capabilities including using telehealth to deliver occupational therapy services. As an ergonomist, she has studied the increased risk of functional limitations among university and middle school students in the area of backpack safety and the use of laptops and tablets. Her research has been supported by grants from the Office Ergonomics Research Committee and Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center, as well as gifts from Hewlett Packard, Target, and Microsoft.