Staff and Volunteers

Erika Galentin holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK. She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA). Over 20 years of clinical practice has provided a platform for witnessing the efficacy of medicinal plants and aromatics within a clinical environment. Her home base and medicine gardens are located just outside of Athens, OH, in close proximity to United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary, but she serves a national and international community with her renowned clinical herbalism practice and clinical and business mentorship programs. In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture, native medicinal plant conservation and ecology, and the phenomenological and Goethean study of plants and their medicinal virtues.

Devon Kelley-Mott is a community herbalist with over 15 years of experience in the field. She holds a B.S. in Herbal Studies from Warren Wilson College and is a graduate of the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism, Goldthread Herb Farm, and several advanced certificate programs. Her herbal career has spanned herb schools, nonprofit organizations, herb farms, conference organizing, product consulting, and operating her long-standing pop-up apothecary. Her work is deeply informed by her Croatian heritage and ethnobotanical research along the Adriatic coast and throughout the Eastern U.S.

Devon is a founding member of the Appalachian Herb Collective, a grassroots mutual aid initiative that has provided free herbal clinics across Southern Appalachia in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Since 2023, she’s worked for the American Herbalists Guild, where she helps lead mission-aligned projects and supports strategic organizational growth.

Nicolina Ruiz is a community herbalist and healer of Panamanian descent. She is a graduate of the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine in Asheville, NC. Nicolina is dedicated to promoting healing through practices rooted in Curanderismo and traditional folk medicine of Mexico and Latin America. She founded Casa Alchemista Botanica, where she creates handmade herbal medicines and works with her clients to support their energetic and spiritual well-being. She is also an experienced event planner and leads holistic events and wellness retreats across the U.S. alongside her South Florida based family of healers and musicians.

Nicolina brings her background in web and graphic design, which she uses to creatively contribute to the AHG and support fellow herbalists in the community. 

Shannon Lockhart is a Mother, Folk Herbalist, Yoga Instructor and light-worker. As a healer, her passion in life has become empowering others by helping them take responsibility for their personal health and well-being. Her work in herbalism extends beyond daily wellness, including emergency mobilization to connect people to the medicine and holistic health services needed during and after times of tragedy.

Shannon served as the Co-Director of the Orlando Grief Care Project, providing compassionate support and resources to those navigating loss. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is also central to Shannon’s work. For years, she has organized a space for BIPOC individuals to come together at herbal conferences to share their experiences, fostering healing and driving meaningful change. Shannon implemented yoga into her daily routine bringing balance, clarity and a deeper connection to herself and others. Yoga has become an essential part of her journey and she beilieves that integrating yoga with her herbalism makes her a more well-rounded healer, allowing her to inspire and support others on their own paths to wellness and resilience.

Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Environmental Science and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the South Jersey Chapter of the American Herbalists Guild. A proud Puerto Rican woman, she grew up immersed in the traditions of cultural herbalism, which sparked her keen interest in ethnobotany and inspired her mission to help others cultivate self-reliance through heritage-based wellness practices.

By day, Jackie works in children’s book publishing, where she is dedicated to elevating representative literature; she also manages Emergent Epiphany Magazine, a platform for exploring metaphysical and holistic philosophy, and is the co-founder of a podcast aimed at breaking barriers in publishing. Jackie is a children’s book author, freelance editor, and graphic designer who is driven by a commitment to connecting with people on a heart-to-heart level through authentic story telling and ethical marketing.

Sabrena is a traveling herbalist ever working towards understanding and helping connect people with plants. She has been a community herbalist for 10 years and is getting her clinical certification from Traditions Herb School in St Petersburg Florida. With her experience in business mentoring and developing training programs she has a passion for bringing people together and helping make learning more comprehensive and accessible. Her time is filled with learning all the things, medicine making, gardening, teaching and foraging!