Hunkapi Herd
Hunkapi Staff
Debbie Crews, Ph.D., Founder
Debbie is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Arizona State University (ASU). Her area
of study is Sport Psychology with an emphasis in Psychophysiology. Debbie has spent the past 22 years studying attention as
it relates to performance. Not only sport performance (i.e., golf, archery, etc) but also performance in the classroom for
special needs populations. She has published numerous papers, received grants for her research, and received various
awards for her research in these areas. Featured in Golf Magazine March 03, 2001, “The Cure for the Yips”,
NBC Dateline, Scientific American Frontier and the Wall Street Journal for her research in golf, she conducts monthly trainings
for the LPGA, is recognized as one of the top 50 LPGA golf instructors, a featured speaker at the “Top 100 LPGA Teachers
” retreat 2003, and was awarded the “1st Best Science in Golf Award” from Golf Magazine. Teaching has also
been a part of Debbie’s curriculum for the past 25 years. She is founder of two community service programs at ASU;
The Alternative Intervention Research Clinic and Golf Research Education and Training Program where golf is
used as a medium to research, teach, and train athletes and performers.
crewsd@asu.edu
Terra Schaad MC, Director
Terra became the inaugural director for the Hunkapi Horse Program in 1999. Her extensive equine background includes;
competing at the Inter-Collegiate level for the Texas A&M Horse Judging and Equestrian teams and conducting research
on racehorses, while completing a B.S. in Animal Science. Following college she trained reining horses professionally
in Gainesville, TX where she began to see parallels between horse training techniques and interpersonal relationships.
Hunkapi gave Terra the opportunity to explore these finding further. Terra entered graduate school at ASU to pursue a
Master of Counseling degree in the Spring of 2002. While there, she took a special interest in group dynamics and family
therapy and created a curriculum that integrates horses into a family therapy session. In April 2006, she and
Debra Crews, Ph.D. concluded research investigating the differences in Self-Esteem, Anger, and Anxiety in adolescents
participating in either clinical group therapy or equine therapy. Terra credits horses for teaching her responsibility,
empathy, and communication and hopes that other children can acquire those same qualities through their experiences at
Hunkapi.
Terra.Schaad@asu.edu
Suzanne Rivers, MC, LPC, Clinical Program Director
Suzanne Rivers has been a clinical therapist for over eight years. She has worked as an inpatient therapist, private practitioner and community based outpatient therapist. Most recently she has been the clinical director for the Stardust equestrian therapy program at the Arizona Humane Society. She was responsible for program development, supervision and administration of the equestrian therapy program in addition to her clinical work. Suzanne has a strong belief that doing is more powerful than talking. The interaction between client and horse and the hands on nature of therapy sessions can be a compelling tool in helping people work through their problems. For many, this type of therapy can be more productive and helpful than more traditional therapeutic methods to help people develop such skills as decision-making, problem solving, conflict resolution, and stress reduction
Suzanne.Rivers@asu.edu
Aaron Viergets, B.S.-Program Coordinator
Aaron grew up on a working ranch in South Dakota/Wyoming area where he learned to work hard and be creative. He trained a
showed livestock in 4-H, FFA and at the national level for 11 years. He graduated in 2001 with a B.S. in Business
Administration. Aaron is certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy-EAGALA Level 1 and will begin pursuing his masters in Spring of 2007 at ASU. Aaron is certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy level 1.
Aaron.Viergets@asu.edu
Lucia Coping, B.S.-Barn Manager/ Instructor
Lucia graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Business Management. For over the past seven years, she has been
working for equine facilities as a barn manager and instructor. Lucia also maintains her continuing education membership
to the American Society of Equine Appraisers.
Lucia.Coping@asu.edu
Ron Beemer, Barn Manager/Instructor
Ron, retired police officer, has been a cowboy and artist all of his life. As a young adult he worked as a wrangler on a large
ranch in Montana. Ron went on to become a Police Officer in Oregon, where he also created educational programs for K-6 grade,
at-risk youth. To see Ron’s artwork go to www.ronbeemer.com
Jane Anders A.A., Administrative Assistant
Jane, California raised, owned and rode horses all her adult life. She has competed in endurance races and enjoys trail
riding. Jane, with her corporate accounting background, has been an asset to our financial handlings at Hunkapi for over 6
years.
Jane.anders@asu.edu
Hunkapi Instructors
All Hunkapi instructors are First Aid and CPR certified
Danya Wright A.A., Instructor
Danya has been riding since age 6. She has an AA degree in Equine Science, is certified American Riding Instructor Level 1 in Stable Management, Western Riding and Recreational Riding. Danya has been the lead instructor for our riding team for the past year. Her emphasis on technique and safety has proven itself via the teams success at local shows. She looks forward to her team bringing home many more blue ribbons in the 2006-07 show year!
Brian Barham, Instructional Specialist
Brian comes from a family of horsemen. He is the nephew of Hall of Fame Horse trainer, Gray Barham and Leonard
“buddy” Johnson. He attended Slippery Rock University on a football scholarship. Since his arrival
in Phoenix in 1979, Brian has worked in several major corporations, owned and operated a sporting goods business and
currently is the co-owner of a computer software company. For over 16 years, he was a Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
actor/stuntman. He is a Certified Equine Science Instructor, EAGALA Level 1 Equine Specialist and is currently working
on his certification with the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA). Mentoring at-risk youth is one of
Brian’s strongest passions.
Mary Cheatham, Instructor
Mary graduated from Meredith Manor International Equestrian Center and is a certified riding instructor. She specializes in teaching English Riding, specifically jumping. Mary has had a life long interest in horses and credits them for powerfully influencing her development as a young person.
Philip Gauthier B.S. Aeronautical Science/Instructor
Philip was furloughed from United Airlines after 9/11. Aiming to turn a negative situation into a positive one, he joined the Hunkapi team as a volunteer to work with at-risk kids. His charisma and ability to build rapport with the clients made him a perfect match for a Hunkapi Instructor. In 2003 he helped develop curriculum and launch the After School Program and Overnight Camps. Today, Philip flies 3 days a week and continues to dedicate his days off to the Hunkapi After School Programs.
