Ribbon cutting planned for Gailey Family Living Skills Lab

Office of Communications & Marketing |Northeastern State University
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Gailey Family Living Skills Lab, which houses and provides hands-on, real life experience for students who are working toward the newly implemented Master of Science in Occupational Therapy will be Monday, April 21 at 10 a.m.

The program, one of only two masters-level OT programs in the state of Oklahoma resides on Northeastern State Universitys Muskogee campus.

The implementation and completion of the program and the lab was made possible through numerous charitable donations from both governmental and private entities.

The City of Muskogee Foundation contributed a $900K grant to aid the start-up costs of the program, and the program also received a $200,000 gift from NSU alumnus (64), and 12-year NSU Foundation board member, the late Jesse Gailey and his wife, Marilyn. The donation from the Gailey family was used to fund the living skills teaching lab, which is outfitted with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and a washer and dryer which students will use to practice their skills.

I know my father (who passed away in 2012) would be very happy, said Mark Gailey, son of Marilyn and Jesse. This is actually a better fit than some folks might think since he was a business grad, but it touches our family, just like it touches everyones. We want to continue to support NSU. It is very important to us.

The program, which admits up to 20 students per year, runs 30 months and consists of 81 credit hours. Students will participate in traditional classroom learning, as well as hands-on labs, clinicals and local fieldwork.

With an inaugural class of 12 students, Dr. Judy Melvin, Director of NSUs Occupational Therapy program expects the program to gain popularity and applicants as it grows and proves its worth.

I receive five to 10 calls a week from a wide variety of students, current professionals, and adult learners, all interested in learning more about the program, said Melvin.

For more information on the Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy Program or the Gailey Family Living Skills Lab contact the NSU Occupational Therapy department at 918-444-5216.