Kory Hall

occupational therapy assistant
Kory Hall, BS, COTA/L joined the staff in January of 2008, as an instructor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Kory graduated from the OTA program at LATI in 2001. She then graduated from Mount Marty College with a BS in Selected Studies in 2005. Kory’s previous employment as an Occupational Therapy Assistant has included Prairie Lakes Hospital, Watertown School District and most recently Sanford Clinic. Her occupational experiences include: 6 years of pediatrics, geriatrics, rehabilitation, outpatient/inpatient care and Occupational Medicine. Kory is an active member of the South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association. She grew up in Winner, SD, but has called Watertown home for the last 9 years with her husband Greg and their 3 children, Kaylee, Maddie and Gage.

Julie Kalahar

occupational therapy assistant
Julie Kalahar, MS, OTR/L, is the program director for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. She was born and has chosen to stay in eastern SD. She graduated in 1992 from Augustana College with a degree in psychology and then attended USD to receive a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Since graduation she has held various positions with the South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association’s (SDOTA) executive board including fundraising chairperson, secretary and vice president.She has served two terms as South Dakota Representative to the American Occupational Therapy's Representative Assembly. In 2005, the SDOTA honored Kalahar by presenting her and Randy Breske, COTA/L, with the OTA/OT Partnership Award for their collaboration within the education of occupational therapy and their dedication to the organization. Kalahar was also awarded the 2005 Dorothy Anne Elsberry Award of Merit, which is the highest honor awarded by SDOTA, for her continued dedication and work on behalf of the field of occupational therapy. In 2008 Kalahar was elected by the AOTA Representative Assembly to the positions of Recorder. She and her husband live in Watertown with their four dogs: Katie, Scout, Augustana and Gator.