Center for Quality of Life after Stroke - Research Assistants
Center for Quality of Life after Stroke - Research Assistants
Jordan is an occupational therapist at the University of Utah with certifications in stroke rehabilitation and lymphedema. His background includes degrees from Brigham Young University (BS, 2014) and the University of Utah (MOT, 2017). He is a research assistant for the Stroke Center for Quality of Life After Stroke, and a current PhD student in the Rehabilitation Science program working with Dr. Alex Terrill, PhD.
Hobbies and interests include playing banjo in a bluegrass band, woodworking, and using the Oxford comma.
Matthew Brasher is a community-based teaching artist born and raised in Tooele, Utah and currently residing in Salt Lake City. His passion for building meaningful connections through artmaking led him to pursue a BFA in Art Teaching from the University of Utah. Throughout his undergraduate career, Matthew designed and facilitated numerous art lessons, workshops, and grant-funded programs for community partnerships across the Salt Lake and Tooele Valleys.
His teaching philosophy is rooted in his belief in the boundless and reciprocal nature of creativity. With the proper care and environment, he has found that creativity can grow to unimaginable heights and become a powerful force for healing. His goal is to plant the seed of creativity by encouraging bravery, embracing the process, supporting creative freedom, and reinforcing growth through communication and connection.
As the Artist in Residence at the Neilsen Rehab Hospital, Matthew fosters a calm, supportive space where each individual’s inherent creativity can bloom. Through art lessons that engage both the mind and body, he aims to provide patients with a meaningful creative outlet as they set out on their journey of healing.
Erica Emery is a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science and a Master Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Driven by a passion for helping individuals improve their quality of life, Erica focuses her work on creating pathways for personal discovery and well-being. She currently collaborates with the Center for Quality of Life after Stroke on the THRIVE study, where she facilitates a community gardening program designed to foster deep social connections and enhance participant quality of life. Erica looks forward to continuing her commitment to inclusive teaching and impactful research following her doctoral studies.
Jamie Miller, OTS, is a current Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Utah, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Jamie’s clinical experience spans inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings, working with individuals with neurologic and medically complex conditions. She is passionate about fostering well-being, independence, and participation in meaningful activity for individuals throughout their recovery process.
In her role with the Center for Quality of Life after Stroke, she contributes to research on the therapeutic use of art. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time outside, painting, and baking.