ClassNotes Graduates
Karen Spencer Dees, 1997 M.S. in holistic nutrition and 1999 Ph.D. in holistic nutrition graduate. Dees recently spoke at the “Special Needs Program” in her school district. Her topic focused on autism, ADD, ADHD, and nutrition and lifestyle. The program directly addressed nutritional considerations for breakfast at home and lunch at school. Dees also discussed how nutrition can benefit children’s sleep, energy, focus, and moods.
Mary El-Baz, 2006, Ph.D. holistic nutrition graduate. El-Baz is the author of six books on nutrition and fitness including The Essence of Herbal and Floral Teas; Flavoring with Culinary Herbs: Tips, Recipes, and Cultivation; Easy and Healthful Mediterranean Cooking; and Building a Healthy Lifestyle: A Simple Nutrition and Fitness Approach. Her forthcoming book, Transform Your Core 6-Week Workbook, expands on the “Building a Healthy Lifestyle” foundation, and offers a six-week plan to rev up the metabolism and build lean muscle. All her books can be found at online booksellers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Books-A-Million. In addition to authoring books and articles, El-Baz has also worked in the information technology and allied health fields. El-Baz said, “When I set out to pursue my doctorate degree at Clayton College, I wanted to turn that knowledge over to others through writing and speaking about health, nutrition, and fitness. It’s wonderful to have accomplished just that, I am living my dream — author and speaker.” El-Baz is currently completing her Doctor of Naturopathy degree at Clayton and expects to graduate in 2007.
Robert Harris, 1989 doctor of naturopathy graduate. Harris is the author of a new e-book that offers easy-to-learn-and-use information which eliminates test anxiety in minutes (not after days, months, or even years of counseling). Harris, a New York State certified science educator, shares the techniques he uses in his private counseling practice. Based on 17 years experience, The Complete Course in Eliminating Test Anxiety! offers step-by-step instructions and guidelines for effective test anxiety elimination. Harris discusses the three main causes of test anxiety and how to eliminate them, how stress can lead to test anxiety and how to control it, and how to develop the academic skills needed to excel as a student (how to properly read a textbook, take better notes in class, become more organized, “work smarter, not harder,” and how to formulate and achieve goals, just to name a few). The book also explores the roles nutrition and health have in academic success. For more information, visit www.DrBobHarris.com.
Vanessa Hurst, 2006 M.S. in natural health graduate and Ph.D. student. Hurst, an energy healer with 11 years experience, is trained in reiki, healing touch, quantum healing, and medical intuition. She is a reiki master/teacher, a presenter of energy body and intuition workshops, and a tai chi instructor. Hurst trains both novices and experienced energy healers to become more aware of the effects of their life choices. Hurst works with clients to help them recognize how stress, emotions, and even thoughts adversely affect their lives. Using a variety of energy techniques and lifestyle recommendations, she empowers her clients to release the negative patterns from their bodies. She then assists them in reconnecting to a healthier balanced self and provides encouragement for them to remain balanced. Hurst is currently accepting clients by appointment only at her office. She can be reached at 812-630-0749 or by e-mail at vhurst@ccnh.edu.
Dean Kapsalakis, 2000 B.S. in holistic nutrition graduate. Kapsalakis is the author of the recently published book, The Let’s Eat Cake Diet, A Biological Theory of Nutrition. Kapsalakis has been featured on dozens of radio shows across the nation and on TV many times as well in support of his book. According to Kapsalakis, the let’s eat cake diet, “is a revolutionary break though in thinking about food. It’s not vegetarian, low carb, or four food groups theory.” Think that’s impossible? One of Kapsalakis’ complimentary gifts for purchasing the book is a report that compares a Zone Power Bar, Smart Start Cereal, healthy chocolate cake, and ordinary chocolate cake. The nutritional analysis was performed by an independent company, Booker Labs in Santa Clara, CA. Kapsalakis believes his readers will be pleasantly surprised by the results. For more information, visit www.cakediet.com.
Jean Logan, 1995 M.S. and 2001 Ph.D. in holistic nutrition graduate. Logan is the founder of the non-profit Holy Ground Farm, where she and others do research on various holistic modalities and methodology. Helping children in both healing and educational opportunities is also part of the vision of this organization. Presently they are working on establishing a school in Iquitos, Peru, an area where 70 percent of the population lives in poverty. More detailed information can be found on their Web site at www.holygroundfarm.org.
Jane Sorensen, 1991 doctor of naturopathy graduate. Sorensen is the author of a new book, A Therapist’s Tale of Herbs, Forests, Critters, and Folks. A New York City occupational therapist by profession, Sorensen and her husband bought an 87 acre forest in the rural, rugged Catskill Mountains and became tree farmers. They learned how to take care of their woods, and cutting wood, trimming trees, channeling a stream bed, and finding fossils became a part of the routine. Sorensen became enthralled by the local Indian lore she learned about the forest and its plants. She states that this knowledge, “led me to complete a distance learning program in naturopathy.” The forest is a living being that gives life and is a way of life, well-being, and can heal the body and soul. The Sorensen’s tree farm boasts 27 species of trees, a large number for that geographic region. According to Sorensen, there are approximately 10,000 plants living in the forest’s under story and the nearby environs. This collection of stories came to life when Sorensen volunteered at the New York Tree Farm Committee to serve as communications liaison. This led to her writing for the New York Forest Owners magazine. For seven or eight years, Sorensen wrote a story for each issue of the magazine. “These nature stories reflect my learning, experiences, perceptions, and views that living in a forest offers,” states Sorensen. For more information, visit www.lulu.com/drjane.
Charlotte Wieland, AKA Granny Earth, 2003 M.S. in natural health and 2006 doctor of naturopathy graduate. “Granny Earth,” as Wieland is now known, is the author of the recently published book, Do It Yourself Weed Medicine. The 66-year-young naturopath and self taught weed enthusiast discusses how to start a weed garden, and how to identify and use 37 weeds that may be growing in your back yard right now. The illustrations, all done by Wieland, make an excellent field guide, allowing for easy identification and harvesting the plants you need. Also included are valuable recipes for making teas, salves, poultices, tinctures, and decoctions. For more information, visit www.truthpublishing.com/ weedmedicine.html.
Tara N. Brown • Editor
