John Connelly
- Ed.D., Interdisciplinary Educational Leadership, Duquesne University
- M.S., Organizational Leadership and Strategic Finance, Geneva College
- OTD, Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University
- B.A., Wester State College
John Connelly is an associate professor of occupational therapy at Lenoir-Rhyne since 2017. He teaches masters- and doctorate-level courses, developing and evaluating occupational therapy curriculum based on the standards required to pass the National Board for Certification Occupational Therapy exam. Among his accomplishments, he is the founder of one of the first entry-level OTD programs in the U.S. (Ruskin, Florida).
Connelly worked in health care for more than 20 years, both as an occupational therapist and high-level administrator. In 2005, he left health care to join the faculty at Gannon University. In 2013-2017, Connelly served as the program director responsible for launching the entry-level OT doctorate program in Ruskin, Florida. He also treats hand and upper extremity injuries part-time at an Orthopedic Practice In Hickory, North Carolina.
Connelly is also the founder of the OT Help Desk. He started teaching and preparing students for the NBCOT exam in 2005. Since then, he has researched and created an effective test-taking process that has assisted many OT students in passing the exam.