Meet the volunteers who serve AHTA
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President Lana is a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, somatic experiencing practitioner, and horticultural therapist registered. She/they holds a MA from the University of Maryland in counseling. Currently working at United Indian Health Services in northern California, living gratefully on Tolowa Dee-ni’ land and serving Native American community members providing behavioral health services to include the modality of horticultural therapy. Lana has been serving on the AHTA Board of Directors and work teams since 2004.
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President-Elect
Matthew Janson CTRS Matthew Janson is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist currently working at the Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He received his BS from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, with a degree in parks and recreation management-therapeutic recreation and exercise science. At the Boston VA, Matt works with veterans in hospice, long term care, and physical rehabilitation on a range of therapeutic issues integrating both recreation therapy and therapeutic horticulture. |
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Secretary Nicole is a registered horticultural therapist, receiving her certificate from the Horticulture Therapy Institute, as well as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. Nicole holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she works as the Director of the Recreation Therapy program at UNMC’s Munroe Meyer Institute. Nicole works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and incorporates horticultural therapy into her practice with the primary focus being on a farm to fork cultivation. |
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Treasurer Rebecca Francis is employed as the Associate Dean of the College, and Director of Adult and Online Education at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY. She received her Doctor of Education and an MS degree in plant pathology from NC State University, a BS degree in IPM from the University of Kentucky, and has her North Carolina teacher certification. Rebecca has been a member of AHTA since1992 and professionally registered since 1995.
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Immediate Past President |
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Linda Brown-Kuhn, HTR Linda is a New Jersey-based registered horticultural therapist and a certified forest therapy guide. She received her certificate in horticultural therapy from Rutgers University. Linda is currently an independent contractor. She has worked with various populations of Veterans at two VA Medical Centers: those with substance abuse issues, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health issues, homeless veterans, those in hospice care, those with spinal cord injuries and female veterans who experienced sexual abuse in the military. She also works with young women coping with substance use issues. |
Headshot coming soon! |
Donna Hunt |
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Nicole is a passionate newcomer to the profession of horticultural therapy. She is a master gardener, has a master’s degree in non-profit management and social entrepreneurship, and a certificate in horticultural therapy from HTI. Nicole works in psychiatric rehabilitation doing organizational capacity building and program development. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland and is excited to contribute to the expansion of the profession in the Mid-Atlantic region and nationwide. |
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Sara is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. She has worked in the mental/behavioral health field for 17 years. Sara received the Excellence in Research Award from the University of La Verne. The research focused on resiliency as opposed to a pathology emphasis in treatment. Currently, Sara is the clinical therapist in a garden program at a community mental health center. Therapeutic horticulture has been the focus of her work for 5 years. |
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Laura is a registered horticultural therapist living in Southern Maine. She received her certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute. Laura is currently an independent contractor. Populations she has served include, among others, those with dementia, students with developmental disabilities, veterans, and those with brain injuries. Laura also collaborates with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department’s Dementia-Friendly program and the University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center. |
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Binxia, Ph.D. in Engineering and Master in Architecture, serves as an associate professor and doctoral supervisor in the School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology at Harbin, China. He received his certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute. He is professionally engaged in the design and research of the restorative environment and healing space in urban planning with abundant accumulations both in the theory and practices of healthy living environment and horticultural therapy theory and project planning. |
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Brendan Yukins |
Headshot coming soon! |
April Ellis LCSW HTR Bio coming soon! |
Headshot coming soon! |
Charles Jordan Jr. Bio coming soon! |
Headshot coming soon! |
Kelly Warnick Bio coming soon! |
AHTA Past Presidents
- 2021-2022 Derrick R. Stowell, PhD, CTRS, HTR
- 2020-2021 Erin Backus, CRC, HTR
- 2015-2020 Leigh Anne Starling, LCPC, CRC, HTR
- 2013-2015 MaryAnne McMillan, HTR
- 2010-2013 Gabriela Harvey, HTR
- 2007-2010 Lana Dreyfuss, HTR
- 2002-2007 Nancy Easterling, HTR
- 1999-2002 Karin Fleming, HTR
- 1998-1999 Maria Gabaldo, HTR
- 1996-1998 Martha Straus, HTM
- 1994-1996 Rebecca Haller, HTM
- 1992-1994 Gene Rothert, HTR
- 1989-1992 Nancy Stevenson, HTR
- 1987-1989 Douglas Airhart, PhD, HTM
- 1986-1987 Judy Carrier, HTR
- 1984-1985 T. Kent Titze, HTM
- 1983-1984 Ken T. Stoutamire, HTM
- 1980-1983 Merle M. Moore
- 1979 William Townsley, PhD
- 1975-1979 Paula Diane Relf, PhD, HTR
- 1973-1975 Earl Copus