Yvette Mere-Cook

Programs and Courses Taught

OCCTH 632L and 732L Advanced Pediatric Clinic Practice 

OCCTH 604 and 704 Integrative Seminar in OT Practice IV

About Me

Dr. Yvette Mere-Cook grew up within a multi-generational family of Cuban immigrants who valued education and a life of service. For over 20 years, Dr. Mere-Cook has worked within underrepresented communities as an early intervention and school-based occupational therapist. Her drive to make an impact, led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Special Education in order to research and implement OT practices that promote inclusion for all young learners, including children with disabilities. Dr. Mere-Cook worked within Boise State University's Early and Special Education Department, Dominican University of California's Occupational Therapy Department, and UC Davis's Center for Child and Family Studies/Early Childhood Laboratory before coming to Samuel Merritt University. Throughout these higher education settings, Dr. Mere-Cook always led with her OT lens. She describes "Other than choosing my life partner and having my children, choosing a career in occupational therapy has been the most impactful decision of my life."

Education

Dr. Mere-Cook earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biodynamics from the University of California, Berkeley (1994). She completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Boston University (1999). Lastly, Dr. Mere-Cook completed an Ed.D. in Special Education at the University of San Francisco (2016). Her dissertation focused on an original research study, "Implementation and Strategies to Address Sensory Regulation of Students With and Without Disabilities in Two Inclusive Kindergarten Classrooms".

Teaching Interests

Early Intervention and Family-Centered Care 

School-based OT practice to support authentic inclusion of children with disabilities

Family and Caregiver advocacy in early intervention and school-based settings 

Neurodiversity, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities 

Sensory Processing 

Inclusive practices and social emotional learning for young children 

Leadership and Collaboration in Occupational Therapy and School-Based Models 

Lifespan/Human Growth and Development 

Research Methods in Health Sciences

Scholarly Interests

Currently, Dr. Mere-Cook investigates the use of STEAM-based activities as a vehicle for inclusion for children with disabilities. Specifically, Dr. Mere-Cook examines the use of developmentally appropriate use of the engineering design process on the inclusion of preschool-aged children with disabilities. Dr. Mere-Cook works within early childhood teacher training and mentoring on embedding STEAM-based learning, sensory strategies, and fine motor skill development for young children.

Publications

Meré-Cook, Y.& Ramanathan, G. (2022). Promoting inclusive teacher and learning using the engineering design process. Young Children.77(2). https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/summer2022/using-engineering-design

 McClung, N., Barry, E., Neebe, D., Meré-Cook, Y., Qi, W., & Gonzalez-Balsam, M. (2019). Choice matters: the role of choice in closing reading achievement gaps. Berkeley Review of Education, 8(2). doi.org/10.5070/B80037656 

Supporting Children’s Social Emotional Skills in STEAM Contexts. STEM4EC Blog. STEMIE Center, funded by U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). https://stem4ec.ning.com/blog/supporting-children-s-social-emotional-skills-in-steam-contexts?edited=1 

STEMIE Mythbuster Series (2021). STEM4EC Blog. STEMIE Center, funded by U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). 

How to Engage Young Children with Disabilities in STEM Learning Within Distance Learning Environments. (2020). STEM4EC Blog. STEMIE Center, funded by U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). 

10-part Video Series on Early Childhood STEM Education (2019). Grant Funded through Idaho STEM Action Center.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Expert Consultant for STEMIE (STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education) 

AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) 

OTAC (Occupational Therapy Association of California)

 CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) 

DEC (Division of Early Childhood) 

NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

Community Service

Dr. Mere-Cook provides consultation and advocacy for families navigating the IEP and IFSP processes.