Weather Closure: Monday, February 23 Open or Close Alert Message
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Due to the expected winter storm, the University will close campus Monday, February 23.  We expect to resume normal operations on Tuesday morning. If conditions change, we will share updates promptly.

Campus Services During the Closure

While most in-person activities will pause, essential services will remain available. Public Safety and Facilities will be on campus throughout the storm, and the following services are expected to remain open or staffed:

• Residence Halls (RDs/RAs on duty)
• Dining
• Computer Labs
• Facilities/Housekeeping
• Health Services (TBD by Director)

Students living on campus should expect regular support from Residence Life and Public Safety.

Classes and Work During the Closure

Students
All offices and in-person activities are canceled for the day. In-person classes are canceled but may be held remotely at the discretion of faculty. Faculty will communicate directly, so please check your email and course site for updates. 

Classes that are already scheduled to be fully remote will continue as usual unless otherwise communicated by your instructor. 

Staff
Staff who are able to work remotely should coordinate with supervisors as appropriate. Staff whose work requires on-campus presence should follow supervisor guidance. 

Staying Informed

The University’s Inclement Weather Policy is available on the WNE website via the homepage banner. We will communicate any changes or reopening details through WNE Alert, email, and the University website.

Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility as we work to keep our community safe during the storm.

Susan Agostine

Susan Agostine headshot
Occupational Therapy
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
202 S. Prestley Blake Law Ctr
Phone: 413-782-1441

Education

BS, Occupational Science, Ithaca College
MS, Occupational Therapy, Ithaca College
PhD in Occupational Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Background

Dr. Susie Agostine joined the faculty at Western New England University in Spring 2024 as a faculty member of the program. Prior to this, Dr. Agostine worked in outpatient pediatrics with early intervention, preschool, and school-aged populations. Dr. Agostine is an active member of AOTA, MAOT, TASH, and the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA.

Dr. Agostine's primary areas of clinical interest include building relationships with clients who are non-speaking, collaborating with families in early intervention, and increasing participation of children who live in complex bodies. Currently, Dr. Agostine is teaching the Research/Evidence-Based Practice I & II Series and co-teaching Occupational Performance: Infants & Young Children I with Dr. Wells. Dr. Agostine’s research interests include exploring how children who communicate through non-symbolic means make meaning and build relationships with familiar communication partners, the impact of attunement on relationships and communication, embodiment in parenting, and the use of assistive and augmentative communication (AAC) technology in occupational therapy sessions. In her free time, Dr. Agostine enjoys bike riding, hiking, and camping with her husband and young daughter, doing yoga, and baking sweet treats!

Publications 

Agostine, S., Erickson, K., & D'Ardenne, C. (2022). Sensory experiences and children with severe disabilities: Impacts on learning. In A. Bailliard, B. Engel-Yeger, W. Dunn, C. Brown, (Eds.). Meaningful Participation and Sensory Processing (ch. 2). Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-83250-588-5   

Agostine, S., Erickson, K., & D’Ardenne, C. (2022). Sensory experiences and children with severe disabilities: Impacts on learning. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 875085. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.875085  

Bailliard, A., Agostine, S., Bristol, S., & Syu, Y. (2022). From embodiment to emplacement: Toward understanding occupation as body-mind-environment. Journal of Occupational Science. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2022.2031261

Fulmer, E. F., & Makepeace, N.N. with Abbe, M., Apgar, S., Strongin, R., Giarratano, S., & Shields, S. (2015). “It's OK to laugh, right?”: Toward a pedagogy of critical race humor in multicultural education. Perspectives on Urban Education, 12(1), 38-53. https://www.urbanedjournal.org 

Presentations

Agostine, S. (October, 2023). Persistence in Doing Together: A Mother and Daughter Establishing Shared Meaning. Society for the Study of Occupation: USA. St. Louis, MO.   

Gullian, L., Agostine, S., Mitchell, S., Vaughn, R., Parkin, R., Li, Z., Kawabata, S., Oliver-Derry, K., (October, 2023). How do you know? Society for the Study of Occupation: USA. St. Louis, MO.  

Bailliard, A., & Agostine, S. (August, 2022). The body, occupation and oppression: A justice perspective on sensory processing and embodiment. World Federation of Occupational Therapists International Congress. Paris, France.   

Agostine, S. (February, 2022). Higher ed & OT: One therapist's experience in the pursuit of a PhD. Ithaca College Alumni Speaker Series. Online.  

Bailliard, A., Agostine, S., Bristol, S., Syu, Y. (September 2021). Perspectives on embodiment: Implications for occupational science. Society for the Study of Occupation: USA Virtual Conference. Online.   

 Agostine, S. (June 2021) Relationship building, identity development and communication deficits: A single family case study. OT Summit of Scholars 2021, Online.  

Fanning, L., Nader, D., Agostine, S. (January 2021).  Including children with asd in faith-based community spaces. Division for Early Childhood’s 36th Annual Conference on Young Children with Special Needs & Their Families. Online.   

Agostine, S., (November 2020). Research and Occupational Therapy. Invited guest lecture for OTA 2071: Community Practice. Online.   

Bristol, S., Agostine, S., Dallman, A., Harrop, C., Crais, E., Baranek, G., & Watson, L. (March, 2020). Visual biases and attentional inflexibilities: An eye tracking study. American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference & Expo. Boston, MA. Canceled due to COVID.   

Campi, E., Sideris, J., Holland, C., Sopkin, E., Chen,Y., Choi, E., Agostine, S., Bristol, S., Dallman, A., Wiles, A., Watson, L., Crais, E., Baranek, G. (March, 2020). Parenting stress and the association between clinically observed and parent reported sensory processing patterns. American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference & Expo. Boston, MA. Canceled due to COVID.  

Giarratano, S. (March, 2016). Occupational therapists’ racial and ethnic attitudes: A replication study. OT Graduate Research Colloquium. Ithaca, NY  

Fulmer, E.F., Makepeace, N.N., Giarratano, S., Guevara, K., & Tucker, A.J. (October, 2015). Breaking the tension: Towards a racial comedy pedagogy for multicultural education. National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). New Orleans, LA.  

Giarratano, S., Guevara, K., & Tucker, A.J. (April, 2015). The Race Comedy Project: The fine line between comedy and racism. James J. Whalen Academic Symposium. Ithaca, NY.   

Fulmer, E.F., Makepeace, N.N., & Giarratano, S. (November, 2014). "Going too far?" Exploring race and humor in teacher education. National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). Tucson, AZ.