Better known by her beloved community as “Mama Bear”. She is the founder of The Leaf and deVine Church, Denver, Colorado. For 29 years she dedicated her life to the service of special-needs children. First, as a foster parent, then as a special education teacher, and high school administrator. She has a Masters and Doctoral degree (ABD) in Education Administration, with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Colorado.  Her studies also include coaching certifications through the Being True to You Transformational Recovery and Psychedelic Integration program, from which she has dual certifications, respectively, as well as a certificate from The Atira Tan Institute for Trauma-informed facilitation.

​

Prior to founding Leaf and deVine Church, Mama Bear has spent many years working on her own healing and cultivating a partnership with Mama Aya. After sitting on the mat, doing her own healing work, and prior to facilitating ceremonies, she specifically journeyed back into the medicine asking permission from Mama Aya to partner with her. Mama Bear is a master of the ancient art of ayahuasca curanderismo, a plant-spirit based shamanic healing practice. She now leads groups of participants as well as her facilitators in training twice a year to participate in Deep Dive Dieta retreats in Peru, working with the indigenous protectors of the medicine. She teaches ancient Icaros to people all over the world. Mama Bear facilitates her own Ayahuasca retreats monthly at her church in Denver, Colorado, as well as other locations such as Hawaii, North Carolina, The Virgin Islands, and California. Finally, in the spirit of giving back, she has created a three-year facilitator program for hopefuls, wanting to follow in her footsteps.