ACHS’s Board of Directors
About Our Board of Directors
ACHS’s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing policies to ensure the quality, integrity, and effectiveness of student learning programs and services and the financial stability of the institution. Once the Board reaches a decision, it acts as a whole.
- Establishes policies consistent with the mission statement to ensure the quality, integrity, and improvement of student learning programs and services and the resources necessary to support them. The Board has ultimate responsibility for educational quality, legal matters, and financial integrity.
- Reviews the Board’s bylaws and policies specifying the Board’s size, duties, responsibilities, structure, and operating procedures. The Board regularly evaluates its policies and practices and revises them as necessary. The Board acts in a manner consistent with its policies and bylaws.
- Reviews Board development and new member orientation.
- Conducts self-evaluation processes to assess Board performance.
- Abides by the code of ethics.
- Is informed about and involved in the accreditation process.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Dorene Petersen, BA, Dip.NT, Dip.Acu, RH (AHG)
Founding President
American College of Healthcare Sciences, was founded in 1978 by Dorene Petersen, in New Zealand, and later she opened additional branches in Australia and Hong Kong. Today, though, ACHS is housed entirely on the U.S. campus located in Portland, Oregon.
In May 2009 the College officially changed its name from the Australasian College of Health Sciences to the American College of Healthcare Sciences. The name change celebrates the College’s 20th anniversary of operations in the United States and better represents the College’s long-term goals as an Institute of Higher Learning in the U.S.
Dorene holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from Otago University, New Zealand, a Diploma in Natural Therapeutics from the South Pacific College of Natural Therapies in Auckland, New Zealand, and is a certified acupuncturist with specialized training in Chinese herbal medicine and moxibustion. She has also completed part one of the Advanced International Training Program in essential oils at Purdue University.
In addition to her work with the College, Dorene teaches courses for ACHS and leads the annual ACHS Summer School study-abroad programs to Greece, which explore holistic health, Mediterranean nutrition, therapeutic aromatherapy and distillation, among other topics. She is an eCollege certified online instructor and is a faculty member meeting the qualifications prescribed by the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization. She stays abreast of current methodologies through various trainings with the Distance Education Training Council and by attending annual conferences about online learning, educational technology and instructional design. Dorene regularly lectures about medical herbalism, aromatherapy, iridology, and natural body care, including appearances at: The South Pacific College of Natural Therapies (NZ), the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), the Aesthetics Institute, the Birthingway School of Midwifery, and Western States University, all in Portland Oregon.
In addition, Dorene has appeared on various TV and radio shows, including Good Morning Oregon, the National Radio Show Voice of America, and KPTV Better Portland, and has presented papers at: The Herb Growers and Marketers Conference in Hyannis, Massachusetts; at the International Scientific Aromatherapy Symposium in Grasse, France; and at the International Herb Association Conference in Portland, Oregon. Her articles about aromatherapy have appeared in publications worldwide, including: Alternative Therapies in Clinical Practice, The News Quarterly, Making Scents, The Herbarist, the NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Massage Magazine, the Aromatherapy Registration Council newsletter, and on Blogcritics.org.
Dorene currently serves as Chair of the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC), an independent, nonprofit organization that administers the national examination in aromatherapy to ensure minimum standards of training and safety knowledge of registered aromatherapists. Petersen is also a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. In 2009, Dorene was awarded the Professional Service Award from the International Herb Association for her outstanding contributions to the herb industry.
Dorene is active with the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC, formerly DETC), and chaired the DETC annual meeting and conference in Seattle in 2006. She is also a member of the Research and Educational Standards Subcommittee of the DEAC.
Stacy Conrad, BBA, MS, CPA
Public Member
Stacy Conrad is a Certified Public Accountant with public and private accounting experience. Stacy earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science in Accounting and Auditing from Texas A&M University. Stacy began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and later transitioned into the private sector following a relocation. Stacy has served as an External Auditor, Internal Auditor, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller during her career. Stacy has extensive knowledge in the Oil & Gas and Homebuilding industries. Stacy’s blend of professional activities with University-level teaching, Becker CPA Review Lead instructor responsibilities and Continuing Professional Education contribution opportunities has allowed her to develop a unique skill set of providing Accounting expertise and explaining challenging Accounting topics to a range of clients and students.
Clyde B. Jensen, Ph.D.
Public Member
Dr. Clyde B. Jensen is distinguished as the only person to have served as a leader and professor (physiology and pharmacology) in colleges of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, oriental medicine, and chiropractic. He has coined the phrase “continuum cleft” to describe the gap that separates conventional and complementary health care and published concerning the financial and qualitative costs of the cleft to American health care consumers. Dr. Jensen has acknowledged that it is his personal mission to help “mend the cleft” by fostering collaboration among health care professions and their educational institutions.
