ACHS President Dorene Petersen

The Australasian College of Health Sciences, founded in 1978 by Dorene Petersen, originated in New Zealand. Since that time, the College has housed additional branches in Australia and Hong Kong. Today, ACHS is housed entirely on the U.S. campus located in Portland, Oregon.

College President and Co-Educational Director Dorene Petersen holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from Otago University, a Diploma in Natural Therapeutics from the South Pacific College of Natural Therapies, and is a certified acupuncturist with specialized training in Chinese herbal medicine and moxibustion.

She current servers as Chair of the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC) and is a registered aromatologist with the Institute of Aromatic Medicine (IAM). She also is a Registered Full Member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) in the UK, an Advisory Board Member of the Institute of Applied Iridology and Sclerology, and a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. In addition, Peterson is active with the DETC and serves as a member of their Research and Educational Standards Subcommittee.

Senior Vice President and Co-Education Director Erika Yigzaw

Erika Yigzaw is the Senior Vice President at ACHS and serves in the role of Education Director/Academic Dean in conjunction with President Dorene Petersen. She focuses on the coordination and delivery of the highest quality online classes and overseeing implementation of ACHS's outcomes assessment program (which she developed) and cycle of improvement on the academic side.

She holds a Bachelors Degree (B.Com) in Commerce (Economics major); an LL.B. (first professional law degree) from the University of Otago Law School; and has completed the Master Gardener program through Oregon State University.

Before joining ACHS USA in 1997, she spent three years practicing corporate commercial law with one of New Zealand’s largest commercial law firm, Bell Gully Buddle Weir, in the Wellington then Auckland offices. She advised several multinational dietary supplement companies as well as being involved with mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property issues. She is a past member of the New Zealand Law Society. She has been a speaker at IHA and HGMN conferences in the natural health industry and at the 2006 Fall workshop of the Distance Education Training Council (DETC). She is a Licensed Oregon Private Career School Teacher.

In addition to her professional training and experience, Erika has been involved with ACHS since it was founded in New Zealand. She worked part time for ACHS through school and part of College, and managed the New Zealand office of the College during summer break from Law school. She has been with ACHS in the USA since 1997.

She has been an advisor to the Aromatherapy Registration Council since its inception in 1997 and continues to fulfill the role of volunteer webmaster for that non-profit group. She is a member of the Herb Growers and Marketers Network (HGMN) and has presented at both the national conference for the HGMN and the International Herb Association. She works with Subject Specialists to develop new curriculum and coordinates teams of faculty, staff, and specialists for course updates.

Erika has a variety of experiences in distance education methodology and administration. Erika has taken programs by distance learning in Spanish through New Zealand Correspondence Schools and eCommerce through Portland Community College. She stays abreast of current methodologies through various conferences and courses with the DETC and by regularly attending conferences on online learning, including the CITE conferences in Denver. She is a DETC accreditation evaluation team member and serves on site visits for initial and re-accreditation for DETC. Erika also presented at the DETC Fall conference 2006 on student outcomes assessment programs and in 2008 was nominated to join the Business Standards Committee of the DETC.

Most recently, Erika completed the Master Gardener program through Oregon State University. She volunteers throughout the Portland area as a Master Gardener and is an advocate of sustainable living and green practices in both her personal and professional life. In her spare time, Erika and her family are starting a lavender farm just south of Portland, where they also keep bantams, horses, cats, a dog, fish, and occasionally fostered alpacas, llamas, and goats.

Academic Dean Dr. Arianna Staruch, ND

Dr. Staruch started her career working in medical research at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical College, both in New York City.

She then moved west, and attended the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland. Since her graduation in 1997, she has maintained a practice in Oregon focused on women’s health and allergies as a naturopathic physician.

Dr. Staruch is a strong advocate and supporter of women’s natural health issues and has traveled the country lecturing on such critical issues.

Natural health is Arianna’s passion. She is extremely excited to be part of the Australasian College of Health Sciences.  She finds that teaching is not only a way for her to share knowledge and experience, but often is an opportunity for her to learn from her students as well.

Dean of Admissions Tracey Miller

Tracey joined the Australasian College in 2002. She has always had a passion for natural health. Tracey graduated from the East West College of Healing Arts massage training program in 1997. She then spent several years living and working in Switzerland on an organic farm.

Tracey is a graduate of the ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy program and serves on the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board. She is also a member of the Western Association for College Admission Counseling and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). Tracey enjoys travel and has spent time in Thailand, Australia, and India. She also travels the West Coast and Canada with her competitive dragon boat team and serves on the Board for her paddling club, Wasabi Paddling Club.

Registrar, Heather Baley

Heather joined the Australasian College in late 2001. She has a background in the hospitality industry, social services, and accounting. Heather graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Sociology and attended graduate school at Central Michigan University.

Today, Heather has immersed herself in aromatherapy.  She has completed the Certificate in Aromatherapy program and enjoys making blends for herself and friends.

Heather enjoys spending time with her dog Maya, and remodeling her 1913 home. She actively participates in many of the cultural programs offered by the local community college in Portland.

Director of Marketing Kate Harmon

Kate first began working with the College in 1992, assisting with student services. She returned to the College in 2002 after living with her family in Japan for a year. Kate enjoys working with staff and students, and draws upon her undergraduate psychology studies, to help individuals excel in the workplace and successfully complete their programs.

She has an avid interest in natural health and uses natural remedies for herself and her family, including her dog Monty.

Dean of Student Services Joel Strimling

Joel Strimling joined the Australasian College in late 2005 with a diverse background and excited attitude. He brings with him over seven years of Marketing, Management, and Customer Service as well as a technical background. He has also had positions from wild land firefighting, to C.N.A., to technical management, and even a stint teaching martial arts. He is proud to have such a mix of experiences. Joel draws upon all of his experiences in assisting others using his varied path to develop his understanding of diversity.

Joel's natural health experiences come from nutritive competitive needs as well as outdoor interests and experiences. In his free time you might find Joel hiking or cooking, but most likely you will find him fishing one of his favorite rivers around the Northwest.

Communications Manager Lauren Shapiro

Originally from Irvine, California, Lauren joined the Australasian College in October 2008. She recently graduated from Portland State University with an MS in Writing, and a focus on editing and book publishing.

Before moving to Oregon, Lauren completed her BA in English at the University of California Santa Cruz. In 2002, she moved to Eugene and spent four years working in Communications and Management for a fair trade imports company, which fostered a deep appreciation for community and healthful living. Now an ACHS team member, Lauren looks forward to expanding her holistic health education and work with the community.

In her free time, Lauren writes nonfiction, scavenges Portland's local, independent bookstores, and supports her family and friends in their diverse creative endeavors.

Admissions Advisor Chris Fierro

Chris is a Licensed Massage Therapist and comes to ACHS after having the privilege of working with the world-renown Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona.  He loves the Pacific-Northwest and is happy to call Portland home.

 

Chris has always had a passion for helping others. Upon graduation from high school in Tucson, Chris pursued a career as a full-time volunteer minister in Brooklyn, New York.  After 15 years in the Big Apple, Chris moved back to the Southwest, attended college at University of Phoenix, and successfully completed his training in alternative health as a Licensed Massage Therapist with Apollo College.  He looks forward to helping others pursue their educational goals with ACHS.

When not working, Chris enjoys time with friends, exercising, and discovering the beauty of Portland.

Admissions Advisor Daniel Ricards

Daniel Richards graduated with a B.A. in Social Studies Education from Ohio University in 2004. 

He has diverse experience helping students reach their goals, including teaching middle school in Florida before relocating to the Pacific Northwest. Daniel also has several years of experience helping students earn their degrees online.

In his spare time he can be found exploring Oregon, usually by biking or hiking.