Jaime has extensive experience in nonprofit management, grant writing, and the private, and public sectors. Her nonprofit career began a decade ago with Habitat for Humanity, where she held every position from volunteer coordinator to assistant director, working in both Washington and Oregon states. In the private sector, Jaime was the Executive Administrator for the Boundary Fish Company in Blaine. She is passionate about governance and politics and is also a former Blaine City Council Member! In 2015, Jaime began grant writing for ANT to stay meaningfully connected to her community. She was drawn to ANT for our natural approach to mental and behavioral health services and, being an avid animal lover, was especially curious about the benefits of human-animal interactions. Jaime was the Director of Operations & Development prior to stepping in as the ED in 2020. She has a deep appreciation for ANT’s culture of compassion, the spirit of our animals, and the brilliance of our staff.

Contact Jaime at jaime@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Katie first was a part of the ANT family as a mentor for youth programming. She is currently attending Adams State University to receive her Masters of Clinical Counseling. She received her Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) certification from PATH Intl. in 2017, and was awarded the PATH Credentialed Professional of the Year in 2020 for Region 9 (which includes Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)! Katie loves to share her passion for horses with the people she works with, and is usually the first person to engage with families and volunteers at ANT. She has two cats named Murphy and Gwen and two geese and four ducks. She loves craft beer, a good novel, deep conversations with friends and experiencing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Contact Katie at program@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Haley’s love of horses from a young age propelled her to study Equine Sciences at Colorado State University, where she graduated in 2010. Since then she has worked on various ranches, farms, and animal facilities and has always had an interest in animal therapy. In 2017 Haley completed rigorous training to become a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and now hopes to pursue an Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning certification. Upon moving to Bellingham in 2016, she was instantly drawn to ANT and enjoys the tender, respectful, and reciprocal relationships fostered between animals and humans. If you can’t find Haley in the barnyard, she is exploring the beautiful wilderness surrounding Bellingham, mountain biking with friends, playing in lakes & rivers, playing and cuddling with her dog Otis, or setting her creativity free through her love of painting. Haley also has a passion for traveling in search of adventure and experiences that feed her sense of wonder.

Contact Haley at haley@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Lindsey began volunteering with ANT as a youth mentor after moving to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University in 2016. She is passionate about mental health, is a lifelong animal lover, and was immediately drawn to ANT’s mission and work in the community. She has experienced the healing power of animals firsthand and loves to share in their magic with our participants. In 2020, Lindsey graduated from WWU with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Psychology. While she helps out in many different capacities, she especially loves working with youth and facilitating intergenerational connections through our Mobile ANT program. When she is not at the farm, you can find her hiking local trails, practicing embroidery, or curled up with a good book.

Contact Lindsey at lindsey@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Kim first came to the ANT family as a Mobile ANT volunteer. She loves seeing the connection between the animals and the folks we visit in the community. After a year of volunteering, she jumped on board to become the Volunteer Coordinator. You can often find Kim out in the barnyard welcoming the new volunteers and hanging with the animals. She’s also our resident tech guru as she has a knack for puzzling out problems! She has two amazing kitties and loves to get out into nature for long walks. Prior to joining ANT, Kim traveled overseas exploring different countries and cultures. She also explored underwater, eventually diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  Kim also explored the local Pacific Northwest from the air with her private pilot’s license.

Contact Kim at volunteer@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Kelsy joined the ANT team in 2016, working part time just doing some animal care. She graduated from WWU with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (pre-veterinary emphasis) in 2017. She has cared for many animals in her past and now enjoys being out in the barnyard caring for ANT’s herd! After getting her PATH certification to become an ESHML, she loves her job of taking ANT animals into the community or sharing them in sessions with youth. When she is not in the barn, you will find her running or snuggling her bunnies and cat!

Contact Kelsy at barnyard@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Diana first joined ANT as a mentor for youth programming and barn chore volunteer. She graduated from Western Washington University with a master’s in clinical mental health and also works as a mental health therapist at Lydia Place. Diana uses a strengths based, trauma informed approach and sees herself as a fellow traveler on the healing journey. She has a dog named Frankie and hopes to one day have a horse! She loves reading, listening to a good podcast, and adventuring outside when the weather is nice.

After moving to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University in 2022, Lucy began her search for a forever home for Marley (her loving therapy horse); that’s how she found ANT! Six months after Marley joined the ANT team, she followed as well. Lucy has worked with horses for years with experience in Dressage, Pony Club, and WAHSET – even becoming State Champ with Marley in 2022! She is working towards her bachelor’s in behavioral neuroscience. Lucy enjoys spending time with Marley, Teddy (her rambunctious, non-therapeutic horse), going on adventures, home projects, Roblox, and cuddling with her cat, Chewy.

Contact Lucy at lucy@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Natalie first began volunteering with ANT as a youth mentor after moving to Bellingham in 2022. Prior to her move, she graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s in biomedical sciences and the University of Southern California with a master’s in global medicine. As a lifelong animal lover and advocate for mental health services, Natalie was drawn to ANTs mission having experienced firsthand the power of forming and nurturing connection with animals. Natalie loves sharing her passion for horses and continuously learning from the youth and animal connections that blossom at the farm. In her free time, Natalie enjoys playing with her puppy, Basil, exploring the endless outdoor opportunities that the Pacific Northwest provides, including skiing, hiking, and climbing, and trying delicious new food.

Contact Natalie at natalie@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.

Haley Didier: PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Katie Rohwer: PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Kelsy Hartmann: PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Lindsey Witus: PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Diana Meeks: Mental Health Clinician

Equines, cow, goats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, and cats!

More than 70 fabulous volunteers mentor program participants, take animals into the community with our Mobile ANT program, and care for the animals each week! Check out our Volunteer page to learn more.

Interim Chair
Associate Attorney
Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka

Vice Chair
Lead Property Information Specialist
Whatcom Land Title

Treasurer
Accounting Associate
Whatcom Land Title

Founder/CIO
Scratch and Peck Feeds

Emeritus Member
Director of Marketing & Strategic Planning (Retired)

Musician & Teacher/Founder
Little Sapling Music