The Department of Occupational Therapy at NYU Steinhardt warmly congratulates the two winners of the 2025 Hinojosa Terminal Project Award: Noga Katz and LaTanya Kent.
Established in 2022, this award honors Dr. Jim Hinojosa’s legacy as a mentor, leader, and passionate advocate in the field of occupational therapy and in the NYU Steinhardt Department of OT. In keeping with Dr. Hinojosa’s desire to help doctoral students complete their studies, this award supports NYU OT doctoral students who are currently working towards the completion of their terminal projects.
Noga Katz is an occupational therapist specializing in adult neurological rehabilitation. Before joining the doctoral program, she completed her MA in Occupational Therapy at NYU. Her e-portfolio, When Technology, Cognition, and Function Click: Tech-Forward Occupational Therapy in Cognitive Rehabilitation Post-ABI, addresses a critical and timely area of OT, focusing on how occupational therapists can use technological tools in cognitive rehabilitation for adults with brain injuries.
I am truly grateful to be selected for the Jim Hinojosa Terminal Project Award. As I complete my doctoral portfolio, I will continue to be inspired by Dr. Hinojosa's vision and the values of client-centeredness, therapeutic use of self, and evidence-based care that this award represents.
LaTanya Kent is an occupational therapist specializing in Adult/Geriatric Occupational Therapy. She currently works in a Level One Trauma Acute Care Hospital in Cleveland Ohio. LaTanya completed her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy at Cleveland State University before joining the doctoral program at NYU Steinhardt. Her competence project, “The Life Skills Strategies to Promote Housing Stability Workbook,” advocates for an interdisciplinary approach, providing education to OTs on how to support individuals experiencing homelessness and empowering people experiencing homelessness through education on what resources are available to them.
This award has motivated me to further evolve my approach and embrace innovative, non-traditional formats for delivering services and developing client care plans, particularly for individuals with limited access to healthcare.