Our Team

Kelly Sullivan-Jones, MS, OTR/L

Kelly Sullivan-Jones has been a practicing licensed occupational therapist since 2013. Kelly is a Kean alumna who received a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2013. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Psychology from Rutgers University in 2010. Kelly has been a practicing occupational therapist for 8 years and has worked in various practice areas including inpatient brain injury, inpatient neuro rehabilitation, early intervention, outpatient pediatrics, and community settings. Most recently, Kelly has expanded her clinical expertise to the pediatric population, specializing in Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delay and ADHD. She is a specialist in Sensory Processing Disorder, certified in the evaluation and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder by the Sensory Treatment and Research Institute.

Currently, Kelly is the director of the Kean University Occupational Therapy Community Cares Clinic (KUOT-CCC). In this role, she develops therapeutic programs to meet the needs of the community, as well as treats individual clients across the lifespan in our state of the art occupational therapy clinic. Kelly participates in grant writing on behalf of the clinic, and coordinates continuing education courses. Additionally, Kelly oversees the clinic staff, including per diem therapists and graduate assistants, and is responsible for the Student Fieldwork experience at the KUOT- CCC, supervising both Level 1 and Level 2 students. 

Outside of her role as an occupational therapist, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, attending concerts, and completing DIY projects.

Patricia Higgins, MS, OTR/L 

Patricia Higgins serves as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Department's Master's Program. She has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 2005. Patti earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Scranton in 2002 and a Master’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University-Boston School of Occupational Therapy in 2005.  Patti has worked in a variety of adult rehabilitation therapeutic settings including inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, day hospital, subacute rehabilitation, and homecare, with an overarching interest and expertise working with clients with neurological conditions. She is certified in LSVT BIG, Congestive Heart Failure, and Kinesiotaping.

Prior to becoming the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Patti served as an Adjunct Professor at Kean University since 2012.  She currently teaches Applied Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy, Advanced Fieldwork Seminar I/II, and Theoretical Guidelines to Practice II Lab. Along with her role as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Patti provides occupational therapy services in the Kean University OT Community Cares Clinic as well as fieldwork student supervision.

In her free time, Patti enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, Connor and Paige, enjoying time at the beach, and being active outdoors.

Christen D’Amico, MS, OTR/L

Chrissy D'Amico started volunteering with adults with varying abilities when she was in high school, immediately feeling called to work with this community. She graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Studio Art; upon graduating, she worked full time at a life skills/recreation program for adults with developmental disabilities which inspired her to pursue her Master's degree in OT at Kean University. To further her knowledge base, she has completed various certification programs to better support individuals across the lifespan and with varying special needs, including Applied Positive Psychology, Yoga for the Special Child, and Love your Brain Yoga. 

After graduating with her MSOT, Chrissy gained and highly values her clinical foundation working as an OT on the acute and subacute head injury units at JFK Medical Center. Chrissy followed her passion back to community-based practice where she always strives to remain creative and flexible in meeting client-centered needs and supporting individualized goal attainment. In addition to providing services for clients at KUOT-CCC, she is also currently an OT at Oasis tlc, a vocational training farm and residential program for adults with autism. She is so grateful to be serving our community as a Kean Alumna. 

Nicole Kiseli, MS, OTR/L 

Nicole Kiseli attended Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1999 with a Master’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. Nicole is also an Evergreen Certified Dementia Care Specialist. For the past 18 years, she has worked at Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic, an acute care psychiatric facility, caring for the older adult population. During this time, Nicole performed standardized cognitive and life skill assessments, provided staff and family education on dementia, and implemented various holistic wellness groups. She has also helped develop one of the first multi sensory rooms in a psychiatric facility in New Jersey. 

In her free time, Nicole enjoys walking, kickboxing, biking, gardening, and spending time with her son and husband. She has received a coaching certification for Rock Steady Boxing, a boxing program where people are “Fighting Back Against Parkinson's Disease”!

Paige Garramone, MS, OTR/L

Paige is an Academic Specialist at the Kean University OT Community Cares Clinic and has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 2020. Paige is a Kean alumna who received a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree in 2020. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Biological Sciences in 2016 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences in 2014, both from Binghamton University. Paige has worked in pediatrics as a school-based therapist and currently works in an outpatient hand therapy clinic. Outside of being an occupational therapist, Paige enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, and baking. One fun fact about Paige is that she designs custom sneakers!

Nicole Szelest, MS, OTR/L

Nicole Szelest studied Biopsychology at The College of New Jersey and earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2016. She then went on to earn her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Degree from Kean University in 2020. Over the past year of practice, Nicole has worked in both general adult outpatient, pediatric outpatient, and acute care settings. She enjoys having this variety of  treatment settings to advocate for and experience the benefits of occupational therapy across the lifespan. Her interests include reading, cooking, and spending time with family. Nicole’s fascination with pediatric OT has become even stronger in the past few months with the birth of her first son!

Tamar Mor, OTDS

Tamar is in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at Kean and works as a doctoral assistant at the KUOT-CCC. They graduated in 2020 from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Judaic Studies. Prior to beginning the OTD program, Tamar worked as a one-to-one teaching assistant at a school for children with special needs. Tamar enjoys spending time outside, traveling and cooking. They loves working with and helping others and is eager to become an occupational therapist!