Phoenix's Wisdom
Senior Stewards
Executive Director & Professor
Rev. Dr. Tiffany West MH, HHP, CA, RH, ND, CHW, CNC, NSD
Certified Ultimate Phytomedicine Practitioner | Certified Herbalist |Certified Supplement Advisor | Certified Ultimate Aromatherapist| HHP Holistic Health Practitioner | PhD in Theology & Education| Certified Community Health Worker| Certified Nutrition Coach | Certified Naturopath Specialist
Rev. Dr. Tiffany West is a transformative leader, visionary healer, and passionate advocate whose work bridges spirituality, cultural empowerment, and holistic education. As the Executive Director and Lead Instructor of Phoenix’s Wisdom, she provides strategic leadership across the school’s operations, curriculum, and community engagement. Deeply rooted in the institution’s mission, she ensures alignment with state vocational standards, FERPA regulations, and emerging accreditation frameworks—while cultivating learning environments that honor transparency, accountability, and ancestral wisdom.
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Dr. West guides curriculum development, oversees instructional integrity and learning outcomes, and mentors both faculty and students with a focus on empowerment and inclusivity. Beyond academics, she directs staff coordination, facility planning, reporting, budgeting, and enrollment strategies while forging powerful partnerships that expand the school’s reach and transformative impact.
With over 21 years of service in community outreach and nearly two decades as a speaker, author, and advocate, Dr. West continues to uplift marginalized voices and create sacred spaces for healing and interconnection. Her portfolio of certifications includes Phytomedicine, Natural Practice, Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Supplement Advising, Holistic Care Practice, and Professional Life Coaching. She also brings specialized training in trauma-informed care, adult learning, safeguarding vulnerable adults, anti-bullying strategies, and classroom management.
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Her multidisciplinary credentials span business consulting, human resources, customer service, event planning, sound engineering, and Montessori methods. Through leadership certifications in collective leadership and teaching with the brain in mind, she develops inclusive pedagogy rooted in transformation and equity.
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As an Ordained Minister in the Church of God, Dr. West merges sacred insight with pragmatic service, mentoring youth and leading spiritual programs with authenticity and grace. Her accolades include honors from the International Scholar Laureate Program, the Worldwide Women’s Association, the National Association of Professional Women, Who’s Who of Professionals, and multiple teaching excellence awards.
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Rev. Dr. West remains a powerful advocate for those often overlooked, holding space for healing that honors both personal growth and communal restoration. With unwavering commitment, she amplifies marginalized voices and champions justice—serving as a bold presence for communities silenced by circumstance and denied representation reminding us all that healing is both a personal journey and collective calling.
Assistant Director & Student Services Manager
Mr. Duffy George HHP CH
Mr. Duffy George serves as Vice Director of Phoenix’s Wisdom, where he brings more than thirty years of customer service experience and two decades of leadership to the heart of the school’s mission. With a keen eye for detail and a deep commitment to student success, he guides day-to-day operations and enriches the student experience with a calm, strategic hand. In his dual role as Student Services Coordinator, Duffy oversees orientation, academic records, attendance tracking, and the issuance of certificates—ensuring that each learner receives individualized support from entry to graduation.
Holding a degree in graphic design and certifications in Customer Service, Communications, Business Consulting, Basic Herbalism, and Basic Holistic Care Practice, Duffy blends administrative expertise with holistic insight. His leadership helps reinforce Phoenix’s Wisdom’s foundational values of transparency, accountability, and culturally informed education.
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Beyond his professional contributions, Duffy is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ rights and a vocal ally in amplifying awareness around historic and ongoing cultural genocides. His work is grounded in justice, representation, and the belief that visibility and equity must be at the center of every initiative.
Equity and Ethics Lead
Ms. Kortney Curtis LMSW
Kortney Curtis is a dedicated and compassionate professional with a strong commitment to advocating for and empowering individuals, families, and communities. A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), her current position is Social Work Counselor in Inpatient Substance Use Rehabilitation. She serves as the Equity and Ethics Advisor at Phoenix’s Wisdom, ensuring justice, inclusion, and accountability in the school’s decision-making processes. Her expertise in ethical frameworks, cultural humility, and equitable access to education helps Phoenix’s Wisdom remain a safe, affirming, and accessible space for all learners.
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Kortney holds an LMSW from the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in sports and mental health with a clinical and medical social work emphasis. From the University of Pittsburgh, she also earned a Mental Health Certificate and a Professional Education Certificate in Abuse Across the Lifespan. During her Master's program, she served as a Student Executive Council Representative. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bethune-Cookman University, achieving Dean's List honors, All-Conference Academic, National Honor Society, and All MEAC Academic recognition. During her undergraduate studies, she was a four-time team captain for the Division I volleyball team, actively participating in leadership and diversity and inclusion events, and was involved in the Leadership Academy and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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Professionally, Kortney currently works as a Social Worker at United Health Services, focusing on clinical social work and mental health. Her work experience includes serving as a School Social Worker at Windber Area School District, where she managed a caseload, utilized various assessment tools (CICO, SRSS, SAEBRS), implemented therapeutic approaches like CBT and Social Learning Theory, and researched diverse populations and educational policies. She completed a social work internship at Adelphoi USA, gaining hands-on experience in trauma-informed care and client advocacy.
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Kortney's diverse background also includes extensive experience in coaching and youth mentorship. She has served as a Women's Collegiate Volleyball Assistant Coach at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and as a Travel Women’s Volleyball Team Coach for Florida Conquer. Additionally, she has been a Youth Mentor and Tutor at Flood City Youth, counseling over 100 children and facilitating various educational and life skills activities. Her community involvement extends to volunteering at Southwest Florida Christian Academy's volleyball camps, the Midtown Cultural Center, and serving as a Peer Tutor at Bethune-Cookman University.
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Kortney's commitment to fostering holistic well-being is underscored by her certifications, which include CPR/AED/First Aid, QPR (Question Persuade Refer) Suicide Prevention Training, and a Florida credential in Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research. She also holds a certificate in CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) and is currently completing training in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Her skills all contribute to her compassionate approach and strong dedication to advocating for others.
Service Stewards
The Service Stewards embody the spirit of stewardship through action. In addition to our Senior Stewards, they are the hands and of daily operations, ensuring that the college’s mission of herbal education and holistic growth thrives. Guided by care, collaboration, and integrity, Service Stewards support students, faculty, and community initiatives with dedication and grace, maintaining the living rhythm of our vision.
Andi Sousa Sommo
Rafael Sousa Sommo
Stewardship Advisory Guild
Community Advisor/ Honored Elder
Honored Elder Saundi McClain-Kloeckner
Saundi McClain-Kloeckner is a respected elder and community advisor with deep roots in traditional knowledge and community leadership. As a woman of Cherokee and African American descent, she is a co-founder of Native Women's Care Circle, a grassroots prayer group in St. Louis, Missouri, where she has supported prayer walks and water blessings for many years.
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Saundi is a vibrant jingle dancer, an accomplished educator, educational consultant, and storyteller. She brings 35 years of experience as an expert teacher in the Rockwood School District, the Emmaus Link Program at St. Charles Community College, and as a rock-climbing instructor.
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Currently, Saundi serves as the Community Advisor and Honored Elder on the Phoenix’s Wisdom Advisory Board. In this role, she offers invaluable cultural insight, ancestral perspective, and spiritual grounding to the school’s mission and programs. Her dedication ensures that educational practices honor cultural protocols and intergenerational wisdom, supporting the school’s commitment to healing-centered learning, respect for land and lineage, and the integration of tradition with vocational training.
Community Advisor/ Honored Elder
Honored Elder Marsha Gebhardt
Marsha D. Gebhardt is a cherished elder and environmental steward whose passion for native plants and community care has helped transform Ferguson, Missouri—one yard at a time. As President of the Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter, Marsha has led one of the largest native plant chapters in the country, inspiring countless residents to embrace ecological restoration and pollinator-friendly gardening.
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Her own yard, featured in local native plant tours, serves as a living example of biodiversity and beauty. Through events like Fun with Seeds, Marsha shares practical knowledge and guidance on native gardening, empowering others to reconnect with the land.
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Beyond her environmental leadership, Marsha is a dedicated civic volunteer, lending her voice to public hearings and community development initiatives. Her presence reflects wisdom, humility, and a fierce commitment to protecting both nature and neighborhood.
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Marsha serves as the Community Advisor and Honored Elder on the Phoenix’s Wisdom Advisory Board, offering seasoned perspective, ethical insight, and support rooted in years of community engagement and mentorship. A meaningful portion of her perspective and insight come from the two decades of her professional life in which she provided training and technical assistance, on behalf of Parents as Teachers, to parent educators in Bureau of Indian Education schools. She felt honored to share parenting information with people in many tribal communities and developed great respect for the values, knowledge and skills they shared with her. With a deep commitment to integrity, inclusivity, the well-being of learners, education, and native plants, Marsha helps ensure that the school’s values and practices remain compassionate, respectful, and community informed.
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Her guidance strengthens Phoenix’s Wisdom’s connection to holistic education and intergenerational wisdom, bridging lived experience with vocational learning. As a community elder, she embodies servant leadership—guiding with care, advocating for equity, and nurturing the next generation of stewards.
Education/Workforce Development Advisor
Bishop Dr. Dennis West
Bishop Dr. Dennis West brings over four decades of transformative leadership and deep expertise in adult education, career pathways, and workforce development to the Phoenix’s Wisdom Advisory Board. His background spans adult learning, vocational training, workforce programming, and inclusive community engagement—ensuring Phoenix’s Wisdom remains aligned with evolving educational standards, real-world job skills, and equitable career access.
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For 40 years, he has served faithfully as a Minister in the Church of God, offering mentorship, healing, and guidance to communities through his unwavering commitment to servant leadership. His 30 years as an educator reflect a powerful dedication to uplifting learners from all walks of life.
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Dr. West also spent 12+ years serving in facility security and chaplaincy roles across juvenile centers, prisons, and reform facilities, where he provided crisis counseling, spiritual support, and safety oversight. His earlier service as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Army adds to his foundation of discipline, resilience, and compassion.
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Holding a PhD in Theology from Crossland Christian University, Dr. West bridges scholarly insight with lived experience, enriching Phoenix’s Wisdom with a perspective rooted in purpose and ethical clarity.
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His leadership extends across operations management, event planning, training, volunteer coordination, DEI programming, administration, complaint resolution, crisis and recovery counseling, and even hands-on building trades.
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Whether shaping curriculum to reflect certification-based career trends or advocating for inclusive training models, Dr. West provides critical insight into job market alignment and workforce equity. His guidance helps ensure that Phoenix’s Wisdom remains grounded in servant leadership, moral integrity, and community-strengthening education.
Earth Based Healer
Ms. Kathaleen Lopez- Smith CHW, MLT, IBW, CPHC, CD
Kathaleen Lopez-Smith is an Earth-Based Healer, offering guidance deeply rooted in sacred relationship with land, plants, and spirit. She brings a powerful blend of scientific training, Indigenous knowledge systems, and holistic health practice to her leadership role, grounding the college in ecological consciousness and ancestral wisdom.
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With over a decade of experience in both clinical and community health, Ms. Lopez-Smith holds multiple degrees and certifications, including a Certification in Community Health Work and an Associate of Applied Health in Medical Laboratory Technology. She is currently completing a B.S. in Nutritional Science and Dietetics with a minor in Public Health Promotion from the University of Arizona, as well as additional studies in Life Sciences and Social Work.
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Her professional background includes clinical roles at Quest Diagnostics, Truman Veterans Hospital, and multiple Missouri health systems, along with current service as a Community Health Worker at the City of Columbia/Boone County Health Department. Her work spans emergency medicine, infusion care, and rehabilitation, underscoring a holistic commitment to health equity and patient advocacy.
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Kathaleen is also an accomplished researcher, having completed a Neurology Research Fellowship (URBrain) where she contributed to studies on Parkinson’s disease and the intersection of diabetes therapies with neurological health. She is a recognized public health voice, having presented at national conferences including AISES, SACNAS, and AIHEC—earning multiple honors for her research in Native and Indigenous health.
In addition to her formal credentials, Kathaleen is a Certified Indigenous Birth Worker, Postpartum Doula, and advocate for Indigenous food sovereignty, supporting youth camps and mentorship programs throughout Arizona. She holds numerous certifications in biosafety, laboratory procedures, advocacy training, and Indigenous trauma response. Her multilingual fluency (Spanish, ASL, Apache, Tohono O’odham/Ute Aztec) further enables her to bridge communities with care and clarity.
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Ms. Lopez-Smith currently serves on national and regional committees such as the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MoCAN), the Missouri Native Women’s Care Circle, and the Missouri Breast Health Coalition. She has also served as the Indigenous Community Outreach Liaison for Washington University’s Buder Center of Native American Research.
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Through seasonal insight, ritual knowledge, and deep listening, Kathaleen helps Phoenix’s Wisdom remain aligned with natural rhythms, spiritual integrity, and the living traditions that sustain holistic education. Her role affirms that healing is not only taught—but practiced—in relationship with land, lineage, and all beings.
Compliance Advisor
Ms. Casey Volz CCS
Ms. Casey Volz serves as the Compliance Advisor offering expert guidance on regulatory standards, institutional policy development, and legal best practices. With over a decade of experience in compliance management, data security, and quality assurance, she plays a critical role in supporting Phoenix’s Wisdom’s ethical and operational integrity.
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Her leadership in compliance is grounded in practical experience across multiple areas, including state licensure, FERPA and data protection standards, and vocational training oversight.
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Her diverse professional foundation allows her to approach institutional governance with a comprehensive understanding of risk management, documentation integrity, and procedural compliance.
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Educationally, Ms. Volz has completed studies at Lindenwood University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. Charles Community College, building a solid base in business operations, compliance, and organizational communication.
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As Compliance Advisor to Phoenix’s Wisdom, Ms. Volz ensures the college remains in alignment with federal and state educational mandates, while cultivating a foundation of transparency, accountability, and long-term institutional credibility. Her voice is instrumental in guiding the ethical stewardship and operational clarity that sustains the school’s transformative mission.
Medical Advisor
Mr. Kory Curtis BSc (Psychology) BSc (Cellular & Molecular Biology) MBA
Kory Curtis is the Founder and CEO of Curtis Health Solutions, a company dedicated to making accessible, affordable healthcare a reality for individuals and families across the country. With over five years of experience leading his company, Kory provides personalized guidance to help clients navigate the complexities of private insurance, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and financial well-being.
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His passion for healthcare advocacy is rooted in lived experience and a commitment to service. Kory holds a master's is Business and Healthcare Administration as well as degrees in Cellular and Molecular Biology as well as Psychology, which informs his strategic approach to insurance solutions, client education, and community outreach. Through Curtis Health Solutions, he champions health equity, transparent coverage options, and year-round access to quality care.
Before launching his healthcare career, Kory built a foundation of discipline and leadership as a collegiate quarterback and NFL quaterback. His time on the field taught him resilience, teamwork, and the importance of preparation—qualities that now fuel his entrepreneurial success.
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Kory’s journey from the gridiron to the boardroom reflects a powerful evolution: from calling plays to calling for change in how people access healthcare. Whether helping families find better coverage or mentoring others in the insurance field, he remains committed to the belief that we are nothing without our health.
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He offers expert insight at the intersection of conventional medicine and holistic education. His guidance strengthens curriculum development, student training standards, and risk management, while helping to bridge respectful dialogue between traditional wellness practices and modern healthcare frameworks.
Sustainable Environment and General Advisor
Molly Rockamann Korte P.G.Dip., B.A.
Molly Rockamann is the visionary founder and CEO of EarthDance, an organic farm school and non-profit organization located in Ferguson, Missouri. Both she and Earth Dance are dear and long-standing friends of Herbal Phoenix STL.
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Rockamann's journey into sustainable agriculture began during her youth, when she first encountered the historic Mueller Farm, which she would later transform into EarthDance. Her formal education includes a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College, where she also co-founded Coralisma, a non-profit dedicated to coral reef conservation. She further honed her skills with a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific.
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Inspired by her international experiences working on farms in Fiji, California, Ghana, and Thailand, Rockamann returned to St. Louis in 2007. In 2008, she founded EarthDance with a mission to preserve the Mueller Farm and foster a deeper connection between people and the land through organic farming education.
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Her significant contributions to the community include creating educational programs like EarthDance's part-time apprenticeship program, which has trained hundreds of new farmers, and youth programs, including a summer job program for teenagers from the Ferguson-Florissant area. In addition to education, she has championed food justice by operating a pay-what-you-can farm stand and providing produce to local food pantries, ensuring healthy, organic food is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Following the civil unrest in Ferguson, Rockamann also contributed to community healing by organizing a "listening project" at the local farmers market, providing a safe and constructive space for residents to gather and talk.
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Molly Rockamann's work has earned her several notable awards and recognitions, including being named a 2014 Lady GODIVA Program Honoree, being listed on Mother Nature Network's "40 Farmers under 40," and being honored as one of the "10 Most Dynamic St. Louisans of 2010" by Ladue News. In 2023, she received the Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award from her alma mater, Eckerd College.
Herbalist, Wildcraft, Horticulture Advisor
Mrs. Colleen Rabbitt-Smith
Colleen Rabbitt Smith is a community herbalist, horticulturist, mother, and devoted land steward rooted in the Ozark Hills of Missouri. She lives with her family at the headwaters of the Courtois Creek, where they tend Turtle Earth Botanical Sanctuary and Art Farm—a living landscape dedicated to healing plants, ecological education, and creative expression.
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With a degree in horticulture and more than two decades of herbal study, Colleen’s mission is to connect people with their plant allies through workshops, plant walks, and private herbal assessments. Her training includes clinical herbalism studies in Silver City, New Mexico with the practitioners at Bear Creek Herbs, as well as additional mentorship through Voyage Botanica. She continues her advanced studies with The Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism.
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Colleen wildcrafts and prepares traditional plant medicines in the ways passed down through her great‑grandmother, offering specialty tea blends, extracts, and hydrosols to a private co‑op and her local community. She also teaches classes on traditional plant‑medicine making and provides consultations in multiple Missouri locations—including Turtle Earth Botanical Sanctuary in Courtois, Peaceful Bend Winery in Steelville, and additional spaces in Farmington and St. Louis.
A passionate steward of the land, Colleen practices and teaches sustainable, ethical wildcrafting. She emphasizes respect for plant communities, seed replanting, and the cultivation of abundant home gardens. She frequently shares seeds and medicinal plants with clients to help them establish their own healing gardens—believing that growing together builds a brighter, more resilient future.
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Colleen is also active in regional ecological and cultural preservation efforts. She has presented Missouri native plant materials at the National Trail of Tears Conference and contributes to the planning of a historic herbal and pollinator garden at Steelville City Park. Her presentation Our Green Nation at the Missouri Botanical Garden highlighted the deep cultural bridges plants create across time and communities.
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Her work extends into community education, where she leads wild edible and medicinal plant walks—such as the Trail of Tears Remembrance Walk in Steelville—helping participants connect with both the land and its layered histories.
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At home, Colleen and her husband Jamie are raising their three children on family land, building an off‑grid home among pine trees, and living immersed in the botanical sanctuary they steward. Their family life blends wildcrafting, gardening, music, and ceramic arts, reflecting Colleen’s belief in the ancient, interconnected weaving of all living and nonliving things.
