Education
- 2014: Doctor of Health Science
- Nova Southeastern University
- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 2001: Master of Public Health
- Maternal & Child Health (specialty)
- University of Hawai’i, Manoa Honolulu, HI
- 2000: Public Health Fellowship-Maternal & Child Health,
- Leadership Education & Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (specialty)
- University of Hawai’i, Manoa Honolulu, HI
- 1990: Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy
Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO
OT Professional Information
- Occupational Therapy License
- State of Texas License Number: 107590
- Occupational Therapist Registry
- Initial Certification: 08/23/1991
- National Board of Certified Occupational Therapists #979466
Memberships
- AOTA – American Occupational Therapy Association
- WFOT – World Federation of Occupational Therapists
- ENOTHE – European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education
Research
- IRB Exempt Protocol #OTD-1130-359(2022), University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy Program. “Occupational Therapists’ Role in Educating Caregivers on Pediatric Sensory Interventions Guided by Neurodivergent Principles.” Smith, M., Benavente, G., & Bourgeois, D. Served as co-Investigator for student project. Mixed methods study using survey data and open-ended questions to increase understanding of OTP and caregiver understanding of neurodiversity principles implementation to promote self-regulation.
- Collaboration IRB ACHE-2022-0126(2022), Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, School of Occupational Therapy. “Occupational Therapists’ Role in Educating Caregivers on Pediatric Sensory Interventions Guided by Neurodiversity Principles.” Benavente, G., Smith, M., & Bourgeois, D. Served as Principal Investigator for student investigator. Mixed methods study using survey data and open-ended questions to increase understanding of OTP and caregiver understanding of neurodiversity principles implementation to promote self-regulation.
- Benavente, G. & Pfeiffer, D. (2002). An annotated bibliography on children with disabilities. Disabilities Studies Quarterly, Volume 22 (Spring 2), 135-159.
Clinical Expertise
- Infants, Children, and Youth
- Eating, Feeding, & Swallowing
- Sensory Processing
- Neurologic disability
- Neuro-affirming interventions
- Global Practice
- Rural Health
- Community-Practice
- Maternal and Child Health
- Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Teaching & Learning Expertise
- Tarleton State University Center of Excellence: Experiential Learning Faculty Cohort
Research Interests
- Social Model of Disability, as a Model for OT practice
- Global Practice
- Rural Health
- Maternal and Child Health
Peer Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presenations
- 2026
- Benavente, G., Levandowski, S., Johnson, E., & Warner, L. (2026, February 9-12). Innovative OT education: Equipping students for practice in rural & underserved communities [Conference Poster]. WFOT 2026 Congress, Bangkok, Thailand. https://wfotcongress2026.org/
- 2025
- Benavente, G., Levandowski, S., Johnson, E., & Warner, L. (2025, October 23-25). A curricular approach: Preparing OT students for rural practice [Conference symposium presentation]. ENOTHE 2025 Meeting, Coimbra, Portugal. https://enothe.eu/portugal-25/
- 2023
- Oral Presentation: Bourgeois, D. & Benavente, G. (2023)Creating a virtual educational resource to promote neurodiversity-affirming sensory interventions. Annual Meeting of European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education (ENOTHE). Oviedo, Spain [OTD capstone]
- Poster: Bourgeois, D., Benavente, G, & Smith, M. (2023) Neurodiversity-affirming, sensory interventions: Creating an educational resource for occupational therapists and caregivers. Annual Meeting of European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education (ENOTHE). Oviedo, Spain [OTD capstone]
- Short Course: Bourgeois, D., Benavente, G, & Smith, M. (2023) Creating a virtual educational resource to promote neurodiversity-affirming sensory interventions. American Occupational Therapy Association, Specialty Conference, Child & Youth New Orleans, LA [OTD capstone]
- Poster: Bourgeois, D., Benavente, G, (2023) Neurodiversity-affirming, sensory interventions: Creating an educational resource for occupational therapists and caregivers Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Research Symposium Spring 2023 Fort Smith, Arkansas [OTD capstone]
- 2020
- Poster: Benavente, G (2020). Using reflective practice to build resiliency among occupational therapy students Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries/European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education (COTEC ENOTHE) Congress 2020. Prague, Czech Republic Note: Though presentation was accepted, this conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.
- Workshop: Benavente, G & Perez, E. (2020) Fostering resiliency and cultural humility among occupational therapy students Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries/European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education (COTEC ENOTHE) Congress 2020. Prague, Czech Republic Note: Though presentation was accepted, this conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.
- Poster: Blackwell, A.L., Benavente, G., Parten, C., Baumgartner, M., Foster, W., Keifert, J.A., & Michie, J. (2020) Preparation & Professionalism: Orchestrating Transformative, Impactful Level I Fieldwork Experiences. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. Note: though presentation was accepted, this conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
- Workshop: Benavente, G(2020) Using reflective practice to build resiliency and cultural humility among interprofessional post-professional students University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences Rome, Italy Note: Though presentation was accepted, this conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
- 2019
- Case Study Presentation: Benavente, G (2019) Eagle Eyes: Seeing beyond Adversity Exploring electro-oculography as a mouse replacement when visual scanning cannot be used. South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) Conference, Austin, TX
- 2018
- Poster Benavente, G. (2018) Serving children with visual impairment, low vision, deaf/blind, and cortical visual impairment: Rethinking assessment and intervention strategies for increased participation in daily occupations in the educational setting World Federation of Occupational Therapy 2018 Congress Cape Town, South Africa
- 2017
- Seminar: Benavente, G, Falkner, L., & Khan-Farooqi, L. (2017) Feasible Clinic Balance Testing: Pediatrics through Gerontology. Evidence-based review of balance testing throughout the lifespan, Mountain Central Conference, Texas Occupational Therapy Association, Austin, TX
Teaching
- Tarleton State University
- Academic Fieldwork
- Neuroscience
- Grant Writing
- Arkansas College of Health Education, Fort Smith, AR
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Optimizing Occupation through Technology
- Community-Based Practice and Rural Health
- Study of Health, Well-Being, & Participation II (Research Methods).
- Academica as a Practice Setting
- OT with Infants, Children, and Youth
- Lead of Core and Rural Health curriculum for Master of Public Health degree
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Austin, TX
- Leadership
- Administration & Management
- Assistive Technology
- Clinical Neuroscience
- Process in OT
- Clinical Application in Pediatrics and Adolescence
- Human Movement for Occupational Performance
- Occupational Engagement, Theory & Practice.
- Process in OT
Community Service
Elected Community Leadership Positions:
- Board Member & Chair of Governance, Disability Rights, Arkansas (2022-2024)
- Member-at-Large, Arkansas Public Health Association (2023-2024)