Staff Bios

“We get results at Eagle Ranch because we have an effective Value Based Behavior Change Program executed by talented professionals in a loving and nurturing environment.”  (Paul Arslanian)

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AND ADMISSIONS STAFF

As long time college and professional football coaches, we know what it takes to build a winning team; and we are proud of the talented team of Youth Development Professionals we have brought together for this noble cause. There is no greater cause than providing a life-line for someone in need.

Our Goal is very clear – help YOU help YOUR Child; and as you read about the people responsible for this Goal, you will see that not only do we possess the formal education and life experiences in working with a variety of children and issues; but we have clearly demonstrated the sincerity and ability to effect powerful change in the lives of struggling teens.

Paul Arslanian, Executive Director (Co-founder)
• Education:  BS degree, emphasis in Special Education - Northern Arizona University
• MA degree, Public Administration - Utah State University

• Related Experience:  25 years coaching football at Division 1A schools and professional in the Canadian Football League (CFL); Director of Residential Living and Youth Programs (Snow College); Assistant Director of Youth Corp Camp (YCC); Started and ran the Snow College Job Corp Program; Director of Special Education Snow College and Mt. Nebo Training School

Dave Arslanian, Former Admissions Director (Co-founder)
• Education:  BS degree, emphasis in HPER and Psychology - Weber State University
• MS degree, HPER (with projects in Educational Programs) - Arizona State University
• Founder of a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping people rise to new heights.

Dave says - "Not only have we assembled an outstanding Team of Youth Development Professionals, but over the years we have coached a lot of talented young men that understood how to play the game of football, but many of them lacked the basis core values that's needed to be successful after football. They helped us win a lot of football games, but even more important, we helped them win in life. We did it on the football field, where the objective was to win; and now we are excited about doing it on our campus, where the objective is too help young people and their families win, by getting their lives back, and learn the joy of tapping into their true potential."

 

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Julie
Director of Administration & Operations

Education
B.A. degree in Architecture Design, Colorado State University

Related Experience:  Administrative Assistant to the President at West Texas State University & Snow College; Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Nursing at Weber State University.

 

 

Beverly
Insurance Specialist and Accounting

 

 

 

 

Angie
Front Office

 

 

 

 

 

James (Jim) Arslanian, J.D.
Admissions Director, VP

Education
AA Degree in General Studies, Snow College
BS Degree in Business Management, Weber State University
JD Degree, University of Utah College of Law- Licensed in New Mexico, Idaho and soon in Utah

Related Experience:  General Counsel, Shilo Group of Companies; Personnel Director, Shilo Automatic Sprinkler, Inc. and 2 related companies for 12 years; private practice in Idaho; private practice in New Mexico with Butt, Thornton & Baehr, P.C., Arland & Askew, P.C., Law Office of James Arslanian. 20+ years of experience working with youth in Boy Scouts of America, boys and girls sports programs and church youth programs. A founding Student Director of NCAA Volunteer for Youth program at Weber State.

 

Robyn
Admissions Coordinator
435-773-2902 / 888-698-7095

"I have been working at Eagle Ranch Academy for over 5 years. It has been one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs I have ever had, next to my role as a mother. I know what it is to face fear, and feeling overwhelmed by not being able to help my own. I have spent some dark days, like most of us have. Those challenges have prepared me well, to help families work on solutions with their children. It is those lessons, and the knowledge I learned from life experiences that brought me to Eagle Ranch Academy. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity, on a daily basis, to help families go from fear, confusion and frustration to a plan that creates hope for their child, and a brighter future for everyone. I have watched a myriad of young people walk in our doors lost, angry and distant, and in less than a year head back out our doors, safe, more mature and guided by their value system, equipped to take on the world that once made them afraid. Please feel free to call me, and we can work together to find the right answers for your family."

 

Sherry
Admissions Counselor

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CLINICAL STAFF

 

Gerry, LCSW
Clinical Director

Education
B.S. degree in Sociology, University of Utah
M.S. degree in Social Work, University of Utah
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Utah
-National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
-Certificates/Licenses:  Criminology & Corrections from University of Utah; Licensed Social Worker (LCSW) with the State of Utah.

Related Experience:   Program Evaluator & Counselor for Salt Lake County Youth Experience Program; Social School Worker in Pupil Services for Granite School District, Salt Lake City, Utah; Trainer/Consultant for Utah State Division of Alcohol & Drugs, Salt Lake City, Utah; Social Work Intern and Field Supervisor for Ute Tribe Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program, Fort Duchesne, Utah; Faculty Field Work Supervisor for School of Social Work, University of Utah, SLC, Utah; Mental Health Specialist for Wayne Office of Central Utah Mental Health; Clinical Director for several RTC’s; Auxiliary Faculty for University of Utah and University of Nevada, Las Vegas Graduate Schools of Social Work.

Areas of Special Training:  Sex Therapy, Family Therapy, Strengthening Families, and Domestic Relations; Child Trauma Treatment; Clinical Applications of Developmental Theory and Research; Utah Child Custody Law, Child Custody and Evaluations, Parent Alienation Syndrome, Critical Incidents Facing Children and Adolescents & Attachment Concepts; Culturally Based Interventions & Personifications; Living, Dying, and Grieving; Management of High Risk Patients; Supervisor of LCSW=s for clinical hours towards independent practice.

Gerry says - "After working in several youth programs, I took time off to build a successful practice for myself and family; but then I quickly realized that my true interest and passion is in youth development, and I am glad for the opportunity to be involved with the Arslanian’s in making Eagle Ranch Academy the best in the world.  I am excited about the limited enrollment and personal approach we take at ERA, and the difference we make in the lives and families of talented and gifted young people. Our Value Based Program meshed with the treatment we provide is creating healthy and happy young people that are able to rejoin their families in a productive way."

 

Dan, LCSW
Therapist

Education
B.S. degree in Sociology, Brigham Young University
M.S. degree in Social Work, Brigham Young University
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Utah
-Member of National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Related Experience:  Wilderness Youth Treatment Program (therapist); Youth Residential Treatment Center (therapist); Utah State Department of Corrections (therapist), National Honor Society, Club President, Salutatorian

Areas of Special Training:  Substance Abuse Treatment; Depression and Self Esteem
counseling; Grief Counseling; Anger Management; Stress Management and Crisis Intervention Co-dependency Issues, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Utah State Dept of Corrections at the Utah State Prison (therapist); Adolescents and family therapy.

 

Annie, LCSW
Therapist

Education
B.S. degree in Psychology/Sociology, Southern Utah University
M.S. degree in Social Work, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Utah

Related Experience:  Youth Foster Care Program (Clinical adolescent); Youth Residential Treatment Center (therapist); Southern Utah Home Care and Hospice (Social Worker); Danville Services (Behaviorist); Kolob Care and Rehabilitation (Director of Social Services); Rocky Mountain Child Services (Internship)

Areas of Special Training: Trauma and Substance Abuse; Children’s trauma, Attachment Disorders Death and Dying Counseling; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Working with Adolescents with dual diagnosis of mental heath and substance abuse: Foster care / Adoption Family Reunification.

 

Sherrie, APC
Therapist 

Education
B.S. degree in Social Work,  Southern Utah University
M.S. degree in Social Work,  University of Phoenix
-Licensed Social Worker, State of Utah

Related Experience:  Youth Residential Treatment Centers (therapist), St. George Intermountain Specialized Abuse Treatment Center.

Areas of Special Training:  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Anger Replacement Therapy;  Group therapy including substance abuse, anger management, life skills, and other various skills based on the needs of the group; Working with Adolescents with dual diagnosis of mental heath and substance abuse; Professional therapeutic counselor working with adolescents.

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MEDICAL STAFF

 

Dr. Nielsen, MD
Psychiatrist

Education
BS degree, Utah State University
M.D. degree, George Washington University
-Certified American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
-Member of the American Psychiatric Association
-Member of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Related Experience:  Private Practice of Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry (St. George, Utah); General Medical Officer (USAF); Clinical Director, In-Patient Child Psychiatry Unit for Primary Children’s Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT); Director of Youth Services, Utah State Hospital (Provo, UT); Consultant for numerous Hospitals and Mental Health Centers including Idaho State Correctional Institution, SLC Mental Health Center; Program Director Adolescent Unit (St. Alphonsus Regional Center, St. Lukes Regional Center and InterMountain Hospital (Boise, ID); Adult Mental Health, Family and Children Services (Boise, ID).

 

Dennis, PA-C
Medical Consultant

Education
BS degree in Chemistry and Zoology, Southern Utah University Physician Assistant Program, University of Utah
-Licensed Physician Assistant-CS, State of Utah

Related Experience:  Urology PA, Cope Urology; Family Practice PA, Callahan Clinic;
Cardiology PA, Cardiology Consultants.

 

Roxann
Nurse

Education
Nursing Education, Utah Valley State University
-Licensed through Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

Related Experience:  22 years working as a nurse with the majority of that time at Youth Residential Treatment Centers; Utah Country Corrections (nurse).

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PROGRAM STAFF

 

Katherine
Program Director

Related Experience:  Katherine has worked in this industry for 18 years in the following areas: Eagle Ranch Academy (Assistant Program Director), Millcreek Youth Center (Psychologist Assistant), Youth Residential Treatment Program (Assistant Program Director), Mississippi State Hospital (CNA)

Katherine says - "I have worked in different programs, but nothing compares to the program we have developed here at ERA.  Our Value Based Program is creating healthy young people that are becoming leaders of great character."

 

Megan
Academic Coordinator

Education
B.S. degree in Behavioral Science, Utah Valley State University
Has worked in this industry for 5 years and this is her 3rd year Eagle Ranch Academy.

 

 

Dan
Education Specialist and Instructor

Education
AA degree, Idaho State University
BS degree, Idaho State University
MS degree, Brigham Young University
Licensed in the State of Utah, Office of Board of Education

Related Experience:  Teacher and football Coach at Aberdeen Public Schools (Washington), Minidoka County Schools (Idaho), Murray City Schools, Snow College & Weber County Schools (Utah);Youth Residential Center (Professional Staff/Teacher); In-Service Youth Program (Professional Staff/Teacher).

 

Darrell
After Care Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator

Education
B. S. degree, Southern Utah University

Related Experience:  Youth Residential Program (Case Manager/Professional Staff); Boswell Regional Center, Mississippi (Residential Service Program Supervisor, overseeing 30+ Direct Health Care employees).

  

Kathy
Director of Seminars

Kathy says,  "An important part of our program at Eagle Ranch is our involvement with the Parents and the Child. Our Emotional Growth Seminars help provide Students and Parents with valuable tools for rebuilding and then maintaining their relationship. It is all about letting go of the past, and moving into the present with the tools and skills to look forward to a great future."