Staff Biographies

Matthew Hart – CEO/Academic Director

Matthew Hart is CEO and Academic Director of Greenbrier Academy. Raised and educated in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Matthew attended Landmark College and received his degree in Environmental Biology from Westfield State College. He brings a wealth of experience in education, counseling, and operations which he gained first as an instructor at Landmark; later as a research scientist for IDEXX Laboratories and as the Environmental Safety and Operations Director for a manufacturing firm.

Growing up with a learning difference, Matthew developed a strong commitment to alternative education methodologies and a strong desire to help struggling adolescents. Matthew continued his education and returned to the classroom as a science and math teacher at the Academy at Swift River in 1999. Here he quickly moved through the ranks to the position of Academic Program Manager/Director. At Swift River Matthew spearheaded many initiatives in areas ranging from academics and therapeutics to residential life and operations.

After eight years Matthew left Swift River and took the position of Dean of Education for a new start alternative educational program, Ashby Academy. Here Matthew was key in the development of all facets of the program in the start up phase.

Matthew brings with him a strong moral character, a scientist’s critical thinking, a plethora of experiences in the adolescent mental health industry and a broad spectrum of “can do” management skills. He looks forward to working at Greenbrier Academy “to help young women overcome emotional and educational issues so they can make virtuous and meaningful choices that will lead to full and productive lives.”

Matthew has completed the Mel Levine Schools Attuned Method of neuro-developmental instruction. He has also served as vice chair on a number of publicly elected education and capital planning committees in his community. Most importantly, Matthew brings with him a commitment to the student and a clear understanding of the importance of the work that drives our industry as he himself is a father of two children—Hannah, who is 9, and Joshua, who is 6.

Vivian Conly – Admissions Director

Vivian has actively served her community for many years as a member of the Arts Advocacy West Virginia Board of Directors and the Lewisburg City Council. She has advocated community arts and development as the Executive Director of the Lewisburg Carnegie Hall for 13 years.

Of Greenbrier Academy, Vivian says, “The staff are an extraordinary group of people who are knowledgeable leaders and outstanding human beings. The facility is beautiful and the environment is a very positive and nurturing place. Greenbrier Academy is a place with an exciting sense of possibility where good energy and respect abounds!”

An avid gardener, golfer, walker and Scrabbler, Vivian also enjoys camping, hiking, skiiing/snowboarding, kayaking and spending time at the beach. She is very interested in the arts—performing and visual—as a participant and an audience member. Vivian is one of five children and has two children—family is the most important thing in her life.

Benjamin (Ben) Hill, III – Dean of Student Life

As Dean of Student Life at the Greenbrier Academy, Ben brings with him a wide variety of experience from his time spent in the private sector, non-profit organizations as well as academic and therapeutic settings. Previous to his experience as a collegiate psychology professor, he served as the executive director of a non-profit organization that focused on character education in public schools. Ben’s time as a therapist in a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility provided him with invaluable insights concerning addiction, one of the most demoralizing aspects of modern life.

In addition to his graduate work in psychology, Ben received extensive training in experiential education from Project Adventure, Inc., one of the leading organizations teaching interventional strategies. He looks forward to his time at the Greenbrier Academy as it provides an opportunity to participate in what he considers to be one of the most necessary and challenging projects in America. "Teaching life skills through experiential, emotional and relational methods is my personal and professional passion," Ben says. "My family, my faith, and my country are my most sacred and life-affirming assets."

Ron Schwenkler – Clinical Director

With over 12 years' experience working with youth and families, Ron engages others with depth. One dimension that makes Ron special to Greenbrier Academy is his programmatic experience. He has worked in a group-home setting for adolescents and served as wilderness instructor for SUWS Adolescent Program of Idaho.

Ron also draws from his work at Alldredge Academy, where he worked as a counselor and a family program facilitator from 1999 to 2003. His special contributions to that program occurred during his service as a Director for two prominent phases: the Village and School. Ron also co-developed and facilitated the Alldredge Academy After Care program, which supports families to leverage their success in integrating their hard-earned gains from their Alldredge experience when they return home.

Ron knows youth and families. Ron also knows balance as seen in the other parts of his life. He and his wife are raising two beautiful and energy-filled boys. He has a black-belt in Kenpo, and is a 12-year veteran of the martial arts. Ron also loves to be in the wilderness. Anyone working with Ron has an experience coming to them. They can trust they will be stretched to live more authentically.

L. Jay Mitchell, JD and MA Forensic Psychology

L Jay has been actively involved in the profession of adolescent mental health for over 25 years. As a USAF Judge Advocate and as a partner in a civil law practice he focused on cases involving psychological assessment, capacity and emotional injury. His experience with forensic behavioral scientists led to an exploration of the behavioral, cognitive and emotional change process. This led to founding and directing the SUWS Adolescent Program in 1982, a one month outdoor intervention removing intransient emotional impasses. SUWS is the longest continuous operating program of its kind in the United States.

Subsequently, in 1999 he founded and directed the Alldredge Academy, a three-month combination of wilderness therapy and therapeutic boarding school. To date there have been over 10,000 graduates of these programs. He has worked for years with Dr. Brent Slife in the development and application of a therapeutic model called "relationality" or more specifically "hard relationality". This model is being incorporated in the Greenbrier Academy. He has written, published, and presented papers in the field while also training practitioners.

Brent D. Slife, PhD

Dr. Brent Slife is currently Professor of Psychology at Brigham Young University, where he chairs the doctoral program in Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology and serves as a member of the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. He has been honored recently with several awards for his scholarship and teaching; he has authored more than 120 articles and six books and serves as a Fellow of the American Psychology Association. Dr. Slife also continues his psychotherapy practice of over 25 years, where he specializes in marital and family therapies.

Dr. Slife is a co-owner, executive board member, therapist/counselor trainer, family program facilitator, and consulting clinical psychologist at Greenbrier Academy. For more information, please visit www.brentdslife.com.

Tameran Asbury – Residential Coordinator

With over 11 years of experience, Tameran has dedicated her life to improving the lives of youth and families. She has extensive experience working with individuals with addictions and providing crisis intervention and stabilization. She is proficient and competent in developing Care Plans based on an individual’s needs, strengths, and abilities. She prides herself in establishing and maintaining rapport with others. One aspect that makes her special to Greenbrier Academy is that Tameran has facilitated and educated parents by teaching them conflict resolution, communication skills, and how to improve their relationships with others.

Tameran says, "I trust and believe in the mission of the Greenbrier Academy. People are mentally healthy when they have loving, nurturing relationships. By utilizing my experience, skills, and education, I aspire to help increase the virtue and lovingness in the adolescent girls that I will be serving. One of my passions is improving the lives of others."

Tameran seeks balance in her life by devoting herself to her husband and their three beautiful children. Some of her hobbies include swimming and kayaking. She was raised in Greenbrier County and enjoys the natural beauty of the area.

Duane Zobrist – Director of Falconry, Adventure Experiences and International Service

After earning an MPA from Brigham Young University, Duane Zobrist moved to West Virginia and started The Falconry Foundation. At The Greenbrier and The Homestead resorts, this organization provides educational experiences with trained birds of prey; hawks, falcons, eagles and owls. Duane developed the first program in the United States which made it possible for a participant to put on a falconry glove and hold a falcon, under supervision of a trained falconer. In 1997 Duane also successfully petitioned the West Virginia State Legislature to change the laws to permit falconers to practice this ancient sport in their home state of West Virginia.

Duane also owns and operates Greenbrier Outfitters, Inc., which will offer a wide range of adventure experiences to the students at Greenbrier Academy. Kayak trips down the Greenbrier River, guided mountain-bike tours, rock climbing on a 50' tower, nature hikes, and a variety of outdoor team building activities will be among the opportunities available to the girls.

The students will be able to know the true joy of helping others through the international service program that Duane oversees. This program provides meaningful opportunities to work in orphanages and community projects in countries where needs are great and resources are few. Greenbrier students will understand what a significant difference each of them can make in the lives of others through these first-hand experiences in other parts of the world. They will also have opportunities to travel in these countries.

Dinah Palmer – Medical Coordinator

With over ten years of healthcare experience and her compassionate and caring nature, Dinah has spent her nursing career promoting the quality of life in her community. She is committed to working closely with local political, community, and medical leaders to promote economic, social, and educational growth for her fellow citizens. Dinah says, "My passion is to see my fellow man gain education, healthcare, and happiness in life regardless of social and economic status." She is a staunch spokesperson against domestic violence, "so our children and their family can become productive citizens and little children can feel safe and loved."

During past work at an adolescent behavioral science hospital unit, Dinah had the opportunity to work with adolescents from various economic and social backgrounds. As part of the treatment team, she was able to gain valuable insights regarding the issues that teens face today. She says, "Each person has his/her own unique personality and must be approached accordingly. I love watching the growth and development of each student as they advance toward a successful life and career, knowing that I am a small part of their success. Through kindness, consideration, and guidance, I want to serve as an example to these young students."

Dinah also enjoys singing, writing stories for her granddaughter, and being involved in community and church activities.

Tim Armentrout – Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher

Tim has more than eight years' experience teaching and mentoring adolescents from the middle school to undergraduate level. He has facilitated college preparatory programs to provide high school students from low-income families with the tools to find hope, foster a sense of possibility, and to excel despite their current circumstances.

In the classroom, Tim has taught undergraduate advisory courses with a focus on the freshman experience and assisting students by acclimating them to the demands and challenges of college life. He has served as an English as a Second Language Instructor to Japanese students at the secondary and undergraduate levels, guiding them to adapt to the language and supporting them in unfamiliar academic and cultural realms. Recently, Tim has served as a teacher in a therapeutic high school, using an integrated curriculum to promote both personal and academic growth. Tim brings a wealth of experiential knowledge with him to Greenbrier Academy and is committed to providing a mutual learning environment that makes a difference for both those present in his lifetime and in the lifetimes of his students.

Tim says, "I love the opportunity that I have everyday to be of service, to be actively using the skills I've developed. I'm passionate about my family—about anything that makes my own daughter smile—about how she is forming her own interests and hobbies. When she allows, or when she rests, I spend a lot of my time reading and writing, and laughing with my wife about all the experiences we are sharing, the memories we are creating."

Elizabeth Daigle – Foreign Language Teacher

Elizabeth has been involved in a variety of educational settings spanning from early education to college and adult community learning. She is skilled at all levels of the French language and has taught for more than 27 years. She says, "My love of the French language stems from my father's Cajun roots. I grew up near Boston, but as I visited my 'French' family in East Texas, I felt my heartstrings connecting me to the Cajun 'joie de vivre'. My love affair with French deepened as I studied two years in Paris as an undergraduate. Later completing a Master's Degree in Bilingual Education, and working bilingual camps in New England and Quebec, I experienced insight into the movement of peoples and rich history of yet another aspect of the Franco-phone world. Fascinating.

I have been involved with young people for as long as I can remember. Seeing my student's faces light up as their French puppet play elicits enthusiastic applause brings me great joy. I am a learner with them. Through songs, puppet making, games, theatre, I, too, get to play and create. Language and cultural diversity of French speakers throughout the world, teaching, traditional music & song, family, rural America, creating with my students—these have been constants in my life."

Elizabeth says, "The Greenbrier Academy offers an exciting opportunity for personal growth. Not only for the students whose learning, well-being and success are the focus of all that happens here, but also for instructors as we team together to coordinate our creativity and efforts to engage, challenge, inspire, nurture our students and each other."

Karen Hurt – Social Studies Teacher

Karen has seven years' teaching experience at a co-ed college preparatory day and girl’s boarding school where she taught middle and high school Social Studies. Her classrooms were enlivened with a variety of arts activities, independent investigations, and project-based assessments. While at the school, she developed and taught English as a Second Language Social Studies classes for Korean girls and other non-English speaking students.

In the fine arts, Karen has had many opportunities to work within the community. As an artist in residence, she taught an interdisciplinary course to all students at a rural elementary school. Additionally, she has taught children’s art classes and recently coordinated and taught at the summer program of a local art organization. She has five years' experience teaching black-and-white photography and digital photography.

Karen developed a youth theater education program for a nationally recognized organization known for producing high-quality plays with children. She worked to expand and focus the scope of these events through interdisciplinary study guides for teachers to use with school groups, acting classes, and drama camps targeting the needs of specific age groups. She directed the overall program and enjoyed teaching in each of the venues.

Her research in theater and education led her to link methods and opportunities to use the arts across the curriculum to help teachers create enriched, actively based learning environments. She developed a workshop for teachers on "Using Theater across Curriculum" and published a bibliography of useful readings and activities. She also developed and led workshops for teachers and community leaders based on Zephron Loute’s work with "Peacemaking Through the Arts".

Karen says, "I am thrilled to join the staff of Greenbrier Academy. Here we have the opportunity to (as John Rawls puts it) 'create a society in which we would want to live, if we did not know what particular hand we were dealt by fate'. Greenbrier Academy is the kind of place that encourages us to share our higher values and be our better selves."

"I am an experienced traveler and an avid reader—in fact, I read books that other history teachers sometimes consider bizarre, but I am driven by a thirst to learn and make connections between things. I love movies, movie making, theatre, music, and art. I like old toys, photos and Christmas ornaments and I have a collection of girl action-figures."

Audra Schwenkler – Drum and Dance Coordinator

Audra has studied dance for 12 years and trained with Deryl Yeager, director of the Utah Contemporary Dance Theatre, where she danced professionally. Yeager, who danced on Broadway for many years, has said that Audra was the hardest-working dancer he had ever worked with.

During her training, Audra became interested in multi-cultural dance and drumming, taking workshops and one-on-one training with masters such as Arthur Hull and Abdoulaye Camara. During that time, she worked at an intervention program for adolescents and loved the fulfilling experience. While working with the youth, she created a drum program that combined the therapeutic benefits of drumming, and the excitement and discipline of a performing group.

Says Audra, “I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to combine my passions in life; and know I’m making a difference.” Audra is married and has two sons. She and her family enjoy spending time together, and being outdoors.