Academic Leadership

Nancy E. Carson, Ph.D., OTR/L, FNAP, FAOTA, is the Interim Dean of the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, South Carolina. In this role, she provides leadership for the College of Health Professions and works with its academic programs, faculty, and staff to advance the College’s educational mission and support academic excellence. Prior to serving as Interim Dean, Dr. Carson was Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs, where she worked with programs throughout the College to ensure compliance with academic policies and procedures and to support faculty development.

Dr. Carson received her clinical training in occupational therapy from MUSC and completed a Ph.D. in Public Health (Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior) from the University of South Carolina. She has taught a variety of courses in the occupational therapy program at MUSC since 1990 and is the author of Psychosocial Occupational Therapy, which is used in occupational therapy educational programs throughout the United States.

Dr. Carson serves on the editorial boards of the Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Journal and the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. She is active in the American Occupational Therapy Association and serves on the Executive Committee of the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association. In 2016, she was named to the Roster of Fellows by the American Occupational Therapy Association for significant contributions as a leader, educator, and mentor in community mental health. In 2020, she was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Academy. In 2024, she received the Lifetime Award from the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association, and in 2026, she was accepted into the Occupational Therapy Leaders and Legacies Society.