BOARD

Weathering over 30 years’ worth of sea change and disruptive shifts, nothing surprises John. Mr. Kundtz serves as a Non-Executive Director for various not-for-profits. He is also a business development advisor and mentor for several entrepreneurs and startups nationally. In his day job, John works as an information technology sales executive for IBM.

John’s learner's mindset and commitment to curiosity has enabled him to navigate the stormy seas of change. Traveling by jet plane, the Eurostar, or Uber - he has led global sales efforts from Austin, Texas to Dubai to South Africa to the United Kingdom.

As a self-proclaimed “Digital Nomad” you may find John, in his spare time, trekking in Nepal, visiting major league baseball parks, cataloging craft beer, interviewing podcast guests, or rocking out to live musical acts touring throughout the country.

“I have experienced firsthand the truly amazing life-changing benefits that children and adults have realized through horse-human interactions, and as a research scientist I believe that continued rigorous research is needed to propagate these benefits globally.”

DALE BROWn - Treasurer

Dale Brown has over 40 years of experience in non-profit entities and public companies.  His background includes all phases of public and private reporting, treasury, accounting, process and procedures and SOX documentation.  He is a graduate of Penn State University and has a CPA and CMA certificates in good standing.  Dale’s  passion is to work with non-profit organizations as he looks to retire from public company life.

DR. DEBRA THOMPSON - Secretary

Dr. Debra K. Thompson has 37 years in healthcare including various clinical and leadership roles across multiple settings. Her graduate and doctoral education focused on translating nursing and evidence based research findings to frontline clinical application and development of population health programs. Currently, Debra serves as a clinical population health leader and nurse practitioner in eastern North Carolina.  She is co-founder and co-owner of Follow My Lead, an equine leadership and personal development business. Her dream of becoming a horse owner came to fruition four years ago with Lady Dreamwalker and now a small herd of four keeps life interesting!

 “I believe the connection between horses and humans is powerful and revealing of your true self.” When asked if she could choose a photograph to illustrate horses and humans, what would it be? “I think two key elements to illustrate horses and humans are a mirror and truth serum. Horses read our body language, sense what we are thinking before we speak, and accurately assesses qualities such as trust and awareness. Horses are true educators and give unbiased feedback- something very difficult for humans to do.”  Dr. Thompson became a Level 1 Certified Practitioner through the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) in 2020. Her interests include sharing the horse-human connection with others and the impact on individuals, teams, and leaders through focused reflection and engagement with the horse as co-facilitator.

 “Through the Education, Communication, and Strategic Planning subcommittee, colleagues share knowledge and awareness of the impact horses have on our overall wellbeing. I’m excited to be part of this dynamic committee and look forward to supporting HHRF’s mission to support research and share knowledge of the horse and human connection with others. HHRF has an exciting year ahead!”

Wade L. Johnson, MD of Williamsburg, Virginia is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. He practiced psychiatry in Newport News, Virginia for 28 years and is now enjoying retirement. Dr. Johnson began riding ponies at the age of six in Virginia.  By age seven, he was one of 12 riders on matched Shetland ponies who performed drills in local and state horse shows. Dr. Johnson last rode at age 21 when he was the mascot for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. In 2006, Dr. Johnson heard a mother say at a therapeutic riding facility fund raising event, that her autistic daughter, at age 11, spoke for the first time in a therapeutic riding lesson while on a horse. He observed that was something he could not accomplish then, or today, as a psychiatrist. This was the beginning of his interest in the impact horses have on human illnesses. By 2010 he had been involved in two published studies regarding the impact of therapeutic riding on Autism.

Tara Mahoney

Tara Mahoney is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She graduated from Boston College majoring in Neuroscience and holds a Master's in Counseling with certifications in Forensic Psychology and Veteran Behavioral Health.  Since 1996, Tara has counseled in diverse settings including a correctional facility, NYC homeless shelter for veterans, in-patient psychiatric hospital, Vet Center, Family Drug Court, DBT Out-Patient Clinic and private practice.

For the past 10 years, Tara has combined her professional calling with her lifetime passion for horses. She has focused her education, experience and energy into the field of animal-assisted alternative therapies. Tara is proud to support HHRF’s mission to fund and share research as it is vital for the field to explore efficacy and best practices.

Her current role as CEO and Co-Founder of Equine Immersion Programs (EIP) is the highlight of her career. She is honored to serve those who have served- veterans, active duty service members, law enforcement/first responders as well as their families and supports. EIP provides trauma informed equine assisted learning to heal the Invisible Wounds of War (PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma and Moral Injury).

CHERYL MEOLA

Cheryl Meola, PhD, LCMHCS, NCC is the founder of Mane Source Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice in Greenville, NC, and one of the founders of Horses and HEALTH Inc, a non-profit equine assisted activities program for veterans. She is PATH Certified as a TRI and ESMHL. Her research projects have focused on equine assisted activities with various populations, including adolescent inpatients with substance use issues, veterans, and counselors-in-training. She has authored one book and various peer-reviewed publications. Her love of being around horses started very young when she used to catch rides on ponies at her aunt’s farm, and she now has 2 horses of her own as well as a group of horses that work with her in practice.

JO ANN MILLER

Jo Anne Miller is the Executive Director of Brook Hill Farm, a fully accredited horse rescue by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, as well as a PATH International Premier Therapeutic riding center, working with rescue horses in all of the programs. She is an adjunct Professor of Equine Science at Randolph College. She has been the co-chair of the PATH Equine Welfare Committee, and currently chairs the Equus Foundation's Equine Welfare Committee, and serves on the HETI Equine Welfare Group.

" I believe that research is the key to the future success of this industry, and I am honored to be able to help HHRF in any way that is needed"

Dr Clare Thomas-Pino

Clare’s academic background includes Psychology, Animal Behaviour, and Mental Health Counselling. During her PhD she began bringing together her interests in humans, animals and the environment within nature based and animal-assisted interventions and anthrozoology. Her doctoral dissertation looked at the impacts of Human-Equine Interaction on both horses and people, through the lens of Attachment Theory. While in the USA, she ran a diversified farm with her family, and worked with the UMaine System, Husson University, and Unity College, teaching, researching, and mentoring students in diverse areas, from Counsellor Education, Rehabilitation Services, and Psychology, to pre-Vet, developing and teaching courses such as Equine Nutrition, and Livestock and Companion Animal Behaviour to Medical Issues for Mental Health Counsellors and Mind-Body Connection. Since 2022 she has worked for Hartpury University where she is a Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Interaction, and led the development and is currently teaching the Programme Managing the Master’s degree in Animal Assisted Counselling and Psychology, as well as teaches on the BSc (Hons) degree in Human-Animal Interaction with Psychology, modules such as Human Behaviour Change for Animals, Animals in Education, and Contemporary Issues in Anthrozoology.

She has worked in nature based and animal-assisted services (AAS) for the last 2 decades, incorporating animal behaviour into her work, particularly recognising the value awareness of animal behaviour can bring to personal growth and development. Clare’s past voluntary roles included working with Domestic Violence, Grieving Children, and youth STEM non-profits, to being on the Board of Directors for Maine Grass Farmers Network and Maine Sheep Breeders Associations.

She has been a grant reviewer and SAC member for HHRF since its inception, and chair of the SAC since 2023. In addition to her new role on the board of HHRF, she is also on the Board of Trustees for the Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), and is an International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Board member and member of the ISAZ membership and development committees, and co-chaired the ISAZ 2024 Conference at Hartpury University. She was a member of the EFMHA BOD and chaired the research committee (part of what is now PATH International), completing 2 annotated bibliographies on EAS in the mid to late 2000’s. She is a subject matter expert for Pet Partners and IAHAIO, and a content reviewer for Leif Hallberg’s 2018 books The Clinical Practice of Equine Assisted Therapy & The Equine Assisted Therapy Workbook. She is part of the IAHAIO Research Standards in AAS/HAI/HAB working group, the AAII/IAHAIO IC/AAI working group, and the SCAS AAS/ED and Research working groups.

Clare has worked with, observed, and valued animals and their behaviour since childhood, until her return to the UK, she and her family ran a 70-acre diversified farm in Maine (USA) using sustainable and organic methods. Now living in Gloucestershire, she enjoys walks in the beautify countryside with her son, and artistic endeavours in her ‘spare’ time.

 “Having worked with HHRF since its inception by Molly Sweeney in 2004, I was delighted to be invited to be a Board member, and look forward to our continued progress as an organisation leading the way in human-equine interaction research.”

Molly Sweeney, Emerita, non-voting member

Molly Sweeney is founder and now Director Emerita of the Horses and Human Research Foundation. She is originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where she was blessed to grow up with horses in her back yard and still has 5 horses in her pasture in TX. Molly became involved with Equine Assisted services in 1990, when she started volunteering with SIRE, a local program in Houston TX. Molly was a volunteer there for over 20 years, was the Equine Director evaluating horses for the program and also served multiple terms as the Board President. She served on the NARHA (now PATH, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Board from 1996 to 2002. Molly says she is not a researcher herself, but has never outgrown that childhood phase where one is always asking, "But WHY?"

C. MIKE TOMLINSON, DVM, MBA - Director Emeritus

C. Mike Tomlinson

Dr. Mike Tomlinson became an avid horseperson in the fifth grade. From that point on, his life has been focused on horses. Mike earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of California at Davis. The first job after picking up his diploma was working at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He had a performance horse practice until returning from the Stockholm World Equestrian Games, when several of his best clients explained that he cannot be gone for six weeks straight for the events – he had to choose between traditional veterinary practice and doing the big events. It was clear which way he was to go. So it was back to school, this time earning his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Since then, Mike has been a C-level executive of several corporations, continuing today as the CEO, COO and/or Board Member of several multinational corporations. He has been extremely active in para equestrian sports since 2000 including helping found the US Para Equestrian Association in 2010 and being an executive board member for a decade thereafter. He is very active in sport governance having been on the USEF board for 12 years and still very active with several equestrian sport organizations. Dr. Mike has been Chef d’Equipe for the USET Endurance Team and the USET Team Vet for numerous competitions including three World Equestrian Games. He is a FEI Vet for Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Vaulting, Para Equestrian, and Jumping, a FEI Steward, and is a FEI ‘O’ Judge, Course Designer and Technical Delegate in Endurance. Dr. Mike lives in Southern California where he can enjoy riding year ‘round. In a typical year Mike teaches FEI Officials’ courses and officiated at over 20 FEI 3, 4 and 5 star events in countries all around the globe.

“I am a believer - I know positively that horses facilitate an accelerated path to healing and personal progress.  What a thrill to support research that encourages the world to make it more accessible."

Marcie Wild

Marcie Wild (formerly Ehrman) is a member of the Board of Directors of HHRF, co-chair of their Equine Well-Being Committee, and prior co-chair of the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee.

As a lifelong equine advocate, she has been involved in the EAS field for over 20 years, and has presented and published articles internationally on topics involving equine welfare. Marcie has held positions as the Director of Equine Assisted Services at a large residential facility, and instructor and director of volunteer services at several Premier Accredited PATH Centers. She has worked with The EQUUS Foundation, and recently sat on the Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension, where she serves as advisor for their equine programming.