Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day! At ACHS, we absolutely LOVE our expert faculty. Our professors are knowledgeable, caring, and above all, they’re incredibly talented holistic health and liberal arts teachers. We are fortunate to be able to draw on experts from around the United States because our faculty can teach online from anywhere, just as you can study online from anywhere! Amid the challenging (but rewarding!) science, chemistry, and grammar courses at a natural healing college, these professors are also fun loving and quirky (just like the rest of us)! So in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day 2014, here are 5 fun facts about these fantastic ACHS faculty.
1. David Anderson, DC, DCBCN
Dr. Anderson has been practicing in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area as a doctor of chiropractic since 1997 and as a clinical nutritionist since 2009. He has immense experience in the integrative health and chiropractic fields. He teaches several graduate and undergraduate courses for ACHS, including NAT 308 Holistic Nutrition and NAT 501 Anatomy and Physiology I.
His fun facts: In Chiropractic College, his classmates gave him the nickname of 'Super Dave,' partly as a spoof on the Saturday Night Live character, but also in recognition of his speedy testing ability. During National Board testing, for each 110-question portion, it would take him an average of 20 minutes (whoa!). During this time, he says he found a new 'gear' in his brain. Is Professor Anderson one of your instructors? Ask him to help you learn that you have this 'gear' as well! “It's not just for speedy test taking,” he says, “but also for speedy learning."
2. Deryl Gulliford MHA, FAAMA
Professor Gulliford earned his Master’s in Health Administration/Health Planning in 1985. He has since gone on to earn many additional credentials and has held CEO positions at three hospitals since 1991. He credits his mother for raising him in a culture of holistic health, which has influenced his career as a maverick for holistic health. He’s published six books and more than 20 professional journal articles in the healthcare field, presenting many of these at state and national health care conferences. Professor Gulliford teaches HLTH 101 Personal and Community Health, NAT 303 Holistic Pathology and Protocols, and many other courses at ACHS. He recently presented a brilliant Master Lecture webinar, “Better Breathing the Natural Way.” Did you miss it? No worries, watch it here!
His fun fact: Professor Gulliford and his wife Terrie rode bicycles down a volcano in Hawaii one Spring Break. They met with a group of cyclists at 4:30 a.m. on the top of Mount Haleakala (Maui)—slightly over 10,000 ft. elevation. Although it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the beach, it was 38 degrees on top of the volcano. The group watched the sunrise just before 6 a.m., and then rode down through the clouds, completing the winding trip down the volcano in four hours. It was a day and a trip that they’ll certainly never forget! Check out that photo from the top!
3. Shawn Hallum, MS, BS
Shawn Hallum has been an established and passionate member of the resort, hotel, spa, retail, and wellness communities since 1995, working with such pre-eminent companies as Saks and the Red Door Spas. Shawn was the first student enrolled in our then brand new Master of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine degree. He then became one of our very first ACHS MS in CAM graduates, but we couldn’t let him leave that easily! Professor Hallum currently teaches HLTH 101 Personal and Community Health; NAT 101 Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism; NAT 308 Holistic Nutrition; among other ACHS online courses. Shawn was also ACHS’s DETC Outstanding Graduate for 2014.
His fun facts: He has two Pomeranians named Dolce and Bella. He also recently relocated to the tropical island of Maui, Hawaii (yes – I’m officially jealous!) so his husband could create a Hawaiian musical based on mythology. To add to the dream climate, Shawn landed a dream job, as Director of Spa at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa! I’m pretty sure we should all go visit him at work!
4. Amanda Lattin, MA, BA, RA, Dip.Aroma., MH
One of our essential oil gurus (she holds a BA in Chemistry and an MA in Teaching with a concentration in Chemistry), Amanda is part of Oregon faculty, so we’re lucky to have her come into the ACHS campus weekly! Professor Lattin currently teaches ACHS aromatherapy courses, including AROMA 101 Introduction to Aromatherapy and AROMA 501 Aromatherapy Science Online.
Her fun fact: She was a performing ballerina with The Northwest Florida Ballet. How’s that for academic versatility!
5. Scott Stuart, BS, LAc, MAOM
Another one of our local Oregon faculty, Scott Stuart is one of our esteemed herbal medicine experts! Professor Stuart’s interest in plant medicine began in 1975, following a four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Navy as a photographer. Following a period of self-study, he went on to complete a four-year Master's program in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. He currently teaches HERB 101 Basics of Herbalism, HERB 202 Herbal Studies, HERB 302 Herbal Materia Medica I, and many other herbal medicine courses at ACHS. He recently presented a wonderful Master Lecture webinar, “Safety and Dosage Guidelines in Herbal Medicine.” Couldn’t make it? Watch it for free right here.
His fun fact: Many years ago, he went online, filled out the forms, and paid the $10 fee to become an Ordained Minister in the Universal Life Church. Therefore, he was at one time certified to perform weddings in Lane Country, Oregon and he actually officiated a few weddings. Looking for someone to officiate your Oregon marriage ceremony? Scott may be your guy!
These are just a FEW fun facts about a small selection of our exceptional faculty. I could go on all day! Our professors work so hard here at ACHS. We don’t have unqualified graders here at ACHS – your professor grades your work, answers your questions, keeps up to date on the latest holistic health research, and is there for you throughout each class, working very hard to provide you with a quality education. On behalf of all the staff, administration, students, and graduates here at ACHS, we’d like to send a big THANK YOU to our teachers. We appreciate each of them and all that they do for our amazing students!
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a holistic nutrition degree online, an aromatherapy certification online, or just interested in taking a single course, we’d love for you to take a look at the wonderful expert faculty here at ACHS. View their profiles here.
Who is your favorite teacher? Tell me your teacher appreciation story in the comments!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I am the CIO of American College of Healthcare Sciences, the Institution that publishes this blog. However, all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. This article has not been reviewed by the FDA. Always consult with your primary care physician or naturopathic doctor before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.
