Brenna Mauro ’20 chose to attend Shenandoah because of the small class sizes that allowed her to build lasting relationships with her professors and classmates. The hybrid Master of Occupational Therapy program (MSOT) also allowed her the flexibility to work while earning her degree.
“At any university, it’s the people and staff behind the scenes that make a difference,” said Mauro. “You actually feel like part of a community, getting to know your classmates, professors and staff on a more personal and authentic level. That’s truly where Shenandoah shines.”
Mauro’s fondest memories while attending Shenandoah were from the annual Halloween party the OT program holds for special needs children in the local community.
“Seeing the joy on the faces of the parents and children was an incredibly special and meaningful event,” said Mauro. “It makes you realize how needed this level of community support and engagement is.”
Mauro is an occupational therapist for Skyclimb Sensory Development Center and is also the operations manager for Find Your Grit, which she and her husband Grant Taylor ’20 own together. As an occupational therapist, Mauro assists clients of all ages to achieve independence and improve their quality of life. She currently specializes in the pediatric sector with a primary focus on promoting gross developmental skills and sensory integration, which includes play and social skills, school performance and building independence for daily activities.
In addition to these two positions, Mauro is also the president of the Trauma to Triumph Foundation, which she founded with her husband. This organization focuses on caregiver support and recently started an initiative to provide care packages to trauma facilities to be given to families and caregivers. As the president, she is responsible for coordinating the development of Trauma and Triumph as a new charitable organization.
Mauro’s most rewarding experiences in her career have been seeing her clients gain a functional skill that they previously struggled with and the skills she has developed through the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur for Find Your Grit.
“I have found significant reward by sticking through the process and seeing the creative end result,” said Mauro.
Shenandoah prepared Mauro for her career by providing her with the necessary tools and knowledge to develop critical thinking and interpersonal skills. She gained these skills in the MSOT program through presentations, research and simulated patient experiences.
Mauro’s advice to current and future students is: “No matter where you work, stick to your guns.” “Don’t lose sight of the excitement and love that brought you into the program in the first place.”