Faculty and Staff

ASHLEY RIHA, MSOT, OTR/L, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Ashley Riha is an alumna of James Madison University, having completed her B.A. in Psychology and earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. While at JMU, Ashley volunteered at OTCES and fell in love with the setting and the community we serve, and always hoped to return.

Ashley has participated in numerous inclusive programs and summer camps throughout the Shenandoah Valley, including hippotherapy, aquatics, sensory camps, handwriting clinics, and JMU’s Overcoming Barriers programs for children in the community. Ashley has completed fieldwork rotations at a sensory development center and an adult inpatient rehabilitation facility and her passions lie in pediatrics, yoga, emotional regulation, sensory integration, and neurological conditions.

Ashley lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her 8-year-old daughter and together they love exploring nature and all things Pokemon.

She joined the OTCES staff in April 2021.

TAYLOR MAHANNA, MSOT, OTR/L, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Taylor completed her undergraduate B.S. in Health Science with a minor in Psychology from Clemson University, followed by her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Columbia, South Carolina. She moved to Virginia in 2021 after seeing what all this beautiful state had to offer.

Taylor has previous experience working in an outpatient pediatric orthopedic clinic, coaching special needs soccer, baseball, and Special Olympics stand-up paddle boarding teams, and founding a community outreach yoga program in SC called the Yogi Bears. She completed her level II fieldworks at a skilled nursing facility working with the geriatric population and in a pediatric clinic in Colorado Springs. She has been involved in providing therapy to those with sensory processing disorders, autism, developmental delay, neurological and orthopedic conditions, and many more. Taylor has always had a passion for working with those of all ages and abilities and is especially devoted to helping children reach their full potential.

She joined the OTCES staff in February of 2022.

KATY SMITH, MS CCC SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

Katy Smith is an alumna of James Madison University. She completed her B.S. in Anthropology and her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology.

While at JMU, Katy participated in the Scottish Rite summer camp, the Speech-Language clinic, and an externship at a local elementary school. Katy has worked in a variety of settings including home health, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinic, where she assisted individuals with their speech, language, cognitive, voice, augmentative communication, and swallowing needs. Her passion has been serving adult and geriatric populations with an expanding interest in pediatrics. She believes in the power and value of communication across the lifespan.

Katy enjoys cooking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, yoga, and playing outdoors with her husband and two small children.

She joined the OTCES team in February 2022.

KELSEY YODER, MOTR/L, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Kelsey is a Radford University graduate with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy (2016). She received a Bachelor in Psychology from James Madison University (2012) and minored in Spanish and Coaching (Sports).

Over the past several years, Kelsey has enjoyed working with children in a variety of settings including schools, outpatient clinic, and early intervention. Prior to her work as an occupational therapist, Kelsey gained pediatric experience through her work at a daycare center, summer recreation program, and camp. Kelsey's teenage years were spent with her family in Ecuador South America working with street children and this is where her desire to work one-on-one with children developed. Kelsey enjoys providing fun and creative therapy to promote and build functional skills in children to reach their highest level of independence.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, hiking, playing with her pup Guava, and traveling.

Kelsey joined the OTCES staff in March 2022.

JULIE BONHAM - OTD, MSOTR/L, C/NDT

Julie Patrick Bonham received a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from James Madison University, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University, and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine. She is NDT certified, having met high standards of proficiency in the Management and Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy and other Neuromotor Disorders. Dr. Bonham also achieved SI certification through the University of Southern California/WPS Sensory Integration Certification Program.

Julie Patrick Bonham, OTD, MSOTR/L, C/NDT has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare as an administrator, clinician, educator and advocate. She is an instructor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Program at James Madison University. She is also the Director of Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Services, a pediatric outpatient clinic, at James Madison University. She was the clinical coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bonham co-founded Pediatric Therapy Specialists, PLC in the greater D.C. Metropolitan areas and has also served pediatric populations in a variety of additional practice settings, including the school system and early intervention. Dr. Bonham currently serves as a Co-Director for the Central Virginia Burn Camp, a camp for pediatric burn survivors.