President- Coty Dennler, COTA/L  

Coty graduated from the University of Charleston with his Associate Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2017. He then continued his education to gain a Bachelor's Degree from West Virginia University and a Master's Degree in Aging Studies from Arizona State University. He also gained his Certified Aging in Place Specialist Certification in 2024. His career has focused on serving older adults across diverse settings, and he currently serves as a fieldwork coordinator and OTA instructor at the University of Charleston, Beckley Campus. He is passionate about lifelong learning and expanding access to occupational therapy in emerging practice areas to meet evolving client needs. Over the years, he's been actively involved with WVOTA, contributing to legislative efforts, event planning, and membership development.

Vice President - Bailey Riggs, OTR/L

Bailey is a 2024 graduate of West Virginia University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. She is originally from Bridgeport, WV, and attended Fairmont State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science prior to attending graduate school. Bailey has held leadership positions such as President and Historian of West Virginia University’s Student Occupational Therapy Association. She has been recognized for earning the Elizabeth Devereaux Award for a continued pattern of advocacy for the profession of occupational therapy, as well as the Innovation in Research Award for her development of the research project, “Collegiate Student-Athlete Mental Health in West Virginia: An Occupational Prospective.” Bailey is a full-time occupational therapist serving at a Long-Term Care Facility, and has interests in mental health, gender-affirming care, and those within the unhoused and substance-use populations. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, getting coffee with friends, sitting in the sun, and spending time with her cats.

Secretary - Jackie Hurt, COTA/L

Jackie Hurt is an Assistant Professor and the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director at the University of Charleston. With over 20 years of experience in occupational therapy education and clinical practice, she is dedicated to developing future leaders in the profession. Jackie is actively involved in state and national advocacy efforts, curriculum development, and student mentorship. She has been recognized for her leadership and service with multiple honors, including the NBCOT Excellence Award and AOTA’s Roster of Honor. 

Treasurer - Heather Livengood, OTR/L

Heather Livengood, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy at West Virginia University. She has extensive clinical experience in occupational therapy practice, with expertise in neurorehabilitation, including stroke and traumatic brain injury, as well as vision rehabilitation.

 Dr. Livengood earned a Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has developed clinical and research expertise in visual impairment and rehabilitation. Her doctoral research examined participation restrictions among individuals with glaucoma, and she subsequently completed postdoctoral training in ophthalmology research focused on the impact of glaucoma-related vision loss on daily activities, participation, and quality of life. She also coordinated and managed clinical research investigating the use of neurostimulation to improve visual function in individuals with glaucoma.

 Dr. Livengood has disseminated her work through presentations at state, national, and international conferences and remains actively engaged in professional service and scholarship. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, Phi Theta Epsilon National Occupational Therapy Honor Society, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation. As Treasurer of the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, she is committed to supporting the organization's mission and advancing the occupational therapy profession throughout West Virginia.