ROADI Director

Anne DickersonProject Director

Dr. Anne Dickerson, professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, has been researching functional performance of older adults since the early 1990’s. When the American Occupational Therapy Association identified Older Adult Drivers as an emerging practice area in 2003, she began to focus on the functional performance of driving and has become one of the leading occupational therapy researchers and experts in this practice area. 

Recognized as an international scholar and practitioner, she has an intensive list of peer reviewed publications, book chapters and international and national presentations in a wide variety of professional organizations.  She is a fellow of both the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Gerontological Society of America and North Carolina’s Occupational Therapy Association awarded her their highest honor, the Suzanne Scullin Award in 2015 for her contributions to occupational therapy.

More recently, Dr. Dickerson received the East Carolina University’s highest research honor, the Lifetime Achievement in Research & Creative Activity Award in 2018 and in 2019, she was awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Excellence Award for Public Service for her work in developing a driving and community mobility bootcamp for teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. 

Educational Background:   

Anne Dickerson has been an occupational therapist for over 35 years, primarily teaching at universities and colleges. She has been at ECU since 1993 in the Department of Occupational Therapy.  

Anne Dickerson graduated summa cum laude from Temple University with a degree in occupational therapy, gained a double major master’s degree in allied health education and health administration from Texas State University, and a master’s degree and PhD in Life Span Development from Florida International University’ Department of Psychology. She has received an Outstanding Alumni award from both Temple University (2003) and Texas State University (2009). A list of her other honors and awards are here.  

She is editor of Occupational Therapy in Health Care and recognized nationally as a leader in education, occupational therapy practice, driving evaluation and rehabilitation, aging, and driving simulation.  

Other honors and awards of Dr. Dickerson 

2022-2019, 2017, 2015-2008: Health Sciences Author Recognition Award, The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University. 

2017: Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award, American Occupational Therapy Association for the Association’s journal AJOT. 

2015: Susan Scullin Award, North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association’s highest honor with lifetime membership.  

2014: Awarded Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. 

2014: Outstanding Practice in Research, NC Occupational Therapy Association in research. 

2014: Scholar Award, Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. 

2013: Scholar Award, Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. 

2013: Service Commendation, Driving and Community Mobility Panel, AOTA. 

2013: Service Award, AOTA. 

2010: Outstanding Performance in Research, College of Allied Health Sciences, ECU.

2009: Herkimer Outstanding Alumni Award, School of Health Administration, TSU

2007: One of ECU’s 10 Centennial Women of Distinction 

2007: Recognition of Service, NCOTA. 

2006: Service Commendation, Chairperson, Professional Program Directors Educational Council, 2003-2006, AOTA. 

2005: Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. 

2005: Service Award for Commission on Education, AOTA.

2004: Service Commendation, Commission on Education, 2004, AOTA. 

2003: Service Award for Commission on Education, AOTA. 

2003: Service Award for Professional Program Director Chairperson, AOTA. 

2003: Distinguished Occupational Therapist Award, Temple University.  

2003: Award of Recognition for Excellence in Educational Leadership, AOTA. 2002: Award for Outstanding Practice in Education/Research, NCOTA. 

1999: Award for Outstanding Service, School of Allied Health Sciences, ECU. 

1997: Roster of Fellows Award, Outstanding Contributions in Research & Theory, AOTA. 

1995: Award for Outstanding Research, School of Allied Health Sciences, ECU.