Faculty

Paulette Genthon serves as President and Executive Director of the Universal College of Healing Arts (UCHA). Founded in 1995, the College is located in Omaha’s historic Florence District. Paulette has been in massage therapy for 45 years and in health education for over 50 years. After designing massage therapy programs for other schools, she saw an explicit need to form a non-profit organization to serve the community's educational needs. She has a Masters's in Adult Education from National-Louis University and a Bachelor of Science Teaching Degree in Health Education from The University of Nebraska. Paulette has taught at the university, secondary, and massage therapy vocational settings.

She has experience in both Vocational and Personal Effectiveness Counseling. For over the past decade, she has pioneered at UCHA to design and implement blended online components. She has a distinguished Online Teaching and Learning Certificate from California State University.

Paulette specializes in massage for persons with special needs. Her position at UCHA includes managing all aspects of the school and mentoring the staff and students as they grow in their confidence and skills. Paulette shares, “Learning, thought, creativity, and intelligence are not processes of the brain alone, but of the whole body. There is a combination of intellect, emotion, spirit, and body in the learning process. Students focus on their hearts and listen to their intuitive qualities. They learn from the touch. They change. They become healthier and more self-aware. They start taking charge of their lives.”

Rev. J. Maya Ravensong-Lawrence is a multifaceted practitioner in Iowa and Nebraska. With a journey that commenced in 1991 through Northern Tradition Shamanic practices, she was ordained in 1997. From 1996 to 2009, she dedicated herself to intensive learning, focusing on sacred dance, aromatherapy, shadow work, natural world attunement, henna body art, crystals, and energy work. This immersive experience became the foundation for her teaching endeavors. Graduating from UCHA in 2010, she introduced BodyArt Therapy and authored "BodyArt Therapy" in 2013.  As an accomplished ritual facilitator and educator, she's conducted workshops, CE classes, and healing, ancestral, and shadow work rituals for decades. In 2015, after obtaining her Associate Degree in massage, she founded Serenity Massage & Energywork Day Spa, now the largest in Council Bluffs, known for innovative treatments and a client-centered approach.

Our library has a vast resource of valuable information, and the learner is encouraged to take advantage of this resource and is open during regular business hours.

Students can:

• Borrow DVDs, CDs, textbooks for their classes, or books for research or leisure reading.

• Read magazines, journals, and newspapers.

• Borrow Laptops and VR equipment.

The library provides access to reliable information for research and other valuable resources such as magazines, journals, newspapers, and trade publications.

Patty has pursued studies in Business Management and has been a successful business entrepreneur for many years. She assisted in the early development of UCHA. She is a certified massage therapist, reflexologist, and cosmetologist, and is respected for her healing energy work. She is committed to bringing wellness and massage therapy to all populations. Patty received her massage therapy diploma at the Universal College of Healing Arts in 1995.

​

​

​

​

For the past 30 years, Corey has provided various services (e.g., crisis intervention, counseling, case management, etc.) to children and adolescents. He has worked in the fields of mental health, education, and juvenile justice. He holds a master's degree in School Psychology from Howard University. He currently works as an Educational Consultant. His interest and focus as a consultant revolves around the relationship between pedagogy, ethos, and worldview.

​

​

​

​

​

Kashmir is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Omaha with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. While at UNO she gained experience working with older adults and has a minor in gerontology. She holds a personal trainer certification through the American College of Sports Medicine and is a certified medical exercise specialist through the American Council on Exercise. Kashmir is also a graduate of the Universal College of Healing Arts and is a licensed massage therapist. She owns her own massage business where she has had the opportunity to work with many modalities of massage, including Swedish, sports massage, and chair massage, among others. Enhancing her experience as a personal trainer and massage therapist Kashmir has completed regular continuing education to stay current on new developments in the fields and has specific training in working with older adults, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s, arthritis, and post stroke.

Since graduating from the Hellerwork Training in 1996, Hellerwork Structural Integration has been Keri's foundational core framework has integrated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound. Keri's skill and knowledge as an Occupational Therapist a Certified Hellerwork Structural Integration Practitioner. A Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst and Franklin Method Educator Level 1 allow her to create a powerful, integrative. She has an exciting approach to assisting people with what they need to improve function, health, and wellness. Keri also has skilled hospital nursing and outpatient clinical experience in adult rehabilitation specializing in neurological and orthopedic/skeletal-musculature problems for 30 years. Her home is in the State of Hawaii. She currently

has a thriving part-time practice and works for Physical Therapy Services, LLC contracting at a local geriatric adult skilled nursing facility.

​

​

​

​

Roger Weinerth, a seasoned practitioner and faculty member of Hellerwork S.I. Roger was among the first to graduate from the Hellerwork S.I. Training program in 1979, and since then, he has been a dedicated practitioner and teacher of this innovative work. His focus is on the value of Movement Education on Sensorimotor Awareness and Consciousness, and he has developed unique programs to help his clients expand their experiences through partnered and group movement work.

In 1980, Roger had a vision to create The 7 Day Body, an intensive program that combined 10 hours of Structural Integration Bodywork with 10 hours of partnered and group movement work. The addition of partnered movement work allowed clients to benefit from working with their fellow students, which he found to be invaluable. In addition to teaching this program to other Hellerwork SI Practitioners, Roger also offers Conscious Movement classes to the general public and is developing a program specifically for seniors to help them stay aware in their whole bodies.

Roger is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with others, and he has taught massage therapists an Introductory Conscious Movement & Bodywork Training. As a pioneer in his field, he believes in the importance of evolving their work and invites others to explore their unique role in contributing to this growth.

Theresa received her BFA in Dance and Spanish from The Ohio State University in 2012. She became a Certified Hellerwork Practitioner in 2019 has had private practices in Brooklyn, Omaha, and now in Santa Cruz. She joined the Hellerwork Faculty in 2022. She is also a License Massage Therapist and a Board Certified Structural Integrator. Theresa is naturally curious about how us human beings can find true happiness, freedom, and well-being. She has been her own research subject for many years, and is now harnessing all of her knowledge, wisdom, and passion to serve others through her bodywork sessions and movement classes.

​

​

Melissa has been on the healing path since she was seventeen and knew that healing herself and gaining awareness of her body and health could help other people find their way too. She had studied various forms of healing, Meditation, Mindfulness Practices, Nutrition, and Yoga. Melissa has been a practitioner for 20 years! With a degree in Medical Anthropology, there is a passion for culture and various healing practices and beliefs. She is open to going on journeys with clients and guiding others to feel themselves, connecting the mind and body. As a mother of two boys, she focuses on compassion and understanding, patience, and wisdom. Melissa trained at Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts in Santa Cruz, Ca, with studies in various healing forms, including Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Acupressure, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Hot and Cold Stone Healing Massage, Swedish Massage, and Chair Massage.

• PJ. Meyer, RN, LMT,CNS

• Frank Fong, MBA

• Julie Lesser, LMT, BS

• Dr. Tom Smith, DC

• Paula Cellar. M.S.

• Nicholas Schnell, Clinical Herbalist, RH, Nutritionist, RD, LMNT

• Michael Braunstine, CHt.

• Sandra Kreber, L.Ac.

• Dr. Mark Goodman, MD

• Janet Hagerbaumer, LMT, CHP

• Denise George, LMT, AS

• Julia Watson, LMT