Tessa Milman, instructor of clinical occupational therapy, teaches courses in the Division's undergraduate, master's and clinical doctorate programs. She was previously a postdoctoral research associate on the Autism in Urban Context study, a federally-funded ethnographic research study exploring the experiences of African American families with children with autism. As a postdoctoral research associate, Dr. Milman conducted interviews and observations with families and their service providers and participated in data analysis and manuscript preparation.

Before returning to USC as a faculty member, Dr. Milman was a practicing occupational therapist at the Violence Intervention Project, a private-public partnership program LAC+USC Medical Center to prevent, evaluate and treat victims of violence. Working there with children ages 3-18 who had experienced abuse and neglect, Dr. Milman helped them to self-regulate, connect with others, set career and school goals and engage in enjoyable and healing occupations. She also worked at The Santana House Youth Action Center (within VIP) to create and implement college awareness, college preparation and youth leadership programming at the Youth Center and at El Sereno Middle School.

Dr. Milman holds her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy and Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy, both from USC. She earned her BA degree in Sociology from Smith College.