Funding future leaders: RISE Pathways Program provides financial support to partner schools

The journey to becoming an occupational therapy practitioner is rewarding—but it can also come with financial and academic challenges. To help ease these barriers and strengthen pathways into the profession, the AOTA RISE Pathways Program, through the Fund to Promote OT, awarded $7,500 in financial support to four partnering universities: George Washington University, Trinity Washington University, Delaware State University, and Howard University.

This support is part of the RISE program’s ongoing commitment to creating more inclusive, accessible, and equitable opportunities for future occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistants (OTA) students.

What Is the RISE Pathways Program?

The AOTA DEIJAB Integration and Ethics team created the Recruitment, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Education (RISE) Pathways Program to expand access to occupational therapy education and leadership development—especially for under-resourced students. This program is made possible through a grant from the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation. The RISE Pathway Program aims to strengthen OT/OTA pathways and improve promotion and access to the profession through mentorship, leadership training, outreach initiatives, and school-based support.

The program focuses on four core pillars:

• Recruiting: Utilize grassroot efforts to recruit through the development of pathway programs to support entry level OT/OTA programs.
• Inclusion: Provide framework for enrolled students to retain a thriving profession.
• Sustainability: Cultivate underrepresented occupational therapy practitioners within the profession through the Diverse Leaders Program (DLP) Scholars.
• Education: Provide aid for OT/OTA academic programs to support students through mentoring and outreach programs to develop impactful leaders

Financial Support for Four University Partners

To help academic programs better support their students, RISE awarded up to $7,500 to four partnering programs that serve various communities and prepare future leaders in occupational therapy within the region of the AOTA headquarters:

1. George Washington University (GW): Located in the heart of Washington, DC, GW’s OT program is well-positioned to prepare practitioners committed to advocacy, leadership, and public health.
2. Trinity Washington University: The university offers both occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant degree programs. As a predominantly women’s institution rooted in inclusion and empowerment, Trinity supports students who bring unique perspectives to the OT field.
3. Delaware State University: As an Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Delaware State plays a vital role in increasing access to the health professions, including occupational therapy.
4. Howard University: With a longstanding legacy of producing leaders in healthcare, Howard continues to shape the future of OT by supporting students committed to equity and service.

How Schools Can Use RISE Funding

The funds awarded will support student success in a variety of ways, including:

• Enhancing recruitment efforts for OT/OTA programs
• Providing student resources, such as workshops, clinicals, events, or academic and tuition support
• Supporting mentoring and leadership activities
• Reducing financial barriers through student-centered programming and attending the AOTA INSPIRE Conference in Anaheim, California in 2026.

Each school has flexibility to tailor its funding to the needs of its students and community.

Supporting the Next Generation of OT Leaders

For many students, financial stress can be a significant barrier to starting—or staying—in school. By partnering directly with universities, the RISE Pathways Program helps ensure that more students have the support, community, and resources they need to thrive. This first round of funding allows for programmatic evaluation to ensure the best avenues and processes to provide funding to those needing it the most. As RISE continues to grow, future cycles of programming, mentorship, and school partnerships will further strengthen the profession and expand pathways for students nationwide. This initiative reflects AOTA’s 2030 Vision: Enriching life for ALL individuals and society through meaningful engagement in everyday activities.

Learn more about the RISE Pathways Program here.