​STAR STAFF

​Lynn Klimas Petr
Lynn is STAR's Founder and serves as full-time Executive Director Emeritus. She holds a bachelor's degree in special education, and a master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Tennessee. She is an Advanced Level PATH Intl. Instructor and mentor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Lynn is also very involved with PATH Intl. and currently sits on their Board of Trustees. 

Emily Justus
Emily serves as STAR's Executive Director. She holds a bachelor's in Business Marketing and an MBA from Elon University where she also played Division I soccer. She brings extensive experience in leadership, fundraising, and marketing, with a career that includes fundraising for a $3 billion capital campaign at the University of Virginia and overseeing high-profile marketing initiatives, including NASCAR sponsorships and major campaigns at Tombras in Knoxville. Read more HERE.

Angela Bartlett
Angela serves as STAR’s Development Director, bringing nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Georgia, a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Kentucky, and earned her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2025. Before joining STAR, Angela served as Senior Director of Development and Marketing at Positively Living & Choice Health Network, where she expanded fundraising initiatives, launched new donor programs, and led major events. Prior to that, she spent over seven years at the Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging, where she secured millions in grants and philanthropic support. Angela grew up attending horse camps and has always loved being around horses. She lives in Rocky Hill with her husband, their basset hound, and their cats. Angela is passionate about strengthening community partnerships and advancing STAR’s mission through strategic development and marketing efforts.

Lisa Bell
Lisa serves as STAR's Volunteer Manager. She has a lifetime of experience riding and working with horses in various disciplines but currently spends her weekends at barrel races and rodeos. Lisa enjoys working with people and horses, and is thrilled to combine both of those passions here at STAR! 

Chandler Rhea Blankenship
Chandler serves as STAR's Operations Support. She has a bachelor's in English literature from Maryville College along with a certification in Non-Profit Management through the Non-Profit Leadership Alliance (NLA). Chandler's hobbies include reading, writing, and spending her free time with horses. She has been volunteering with STAR since 2010 and is excited to join the STAR team!

Chris Cannon
Chris serves as STAR's Communications Manager. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Writing & Communications from Maryville College, and he has a passion for writing and sharing stories of individuals and organizations. Chris enjoys camping with his wife and two children, and he's passionate about nature photography and the outdoors. He looks forward to sharing STAR's story!

Abby DuPont
Abby serves as STAR's Equine Manager. She has trained in various disciplines, but her favorite is show jumping. Abby has a passion for horses and is happy to work with all the various horses we have at STAR! She currently owns an off the track thoroughbred that she has partnered with for many years. 

Brittany Ferrell
Brittany serves as STAR's Program Director and is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Tennessee Wesleyan College and a master's degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Tennessee. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS) and has experience working with children with Autism. She has a lifetime of experience riding and working with horses.

Kara Price
Kara serves as STAR's Heroes & Horses Manager. She is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) and oversees our Heroes & Horses program. Kara grew up riding and working with horses and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in social work. ​

Kristen Sanders
Kristen serves as STAR's Director of Operations. She is an Advanced Level PATH Intl. Instructor and mentor. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and a MBA degree from Tennessee Technological University. Kristen has been working in nonprofit administration for most of her career.  She is also very involved with PATH Intl.

Whitney Seymore
Whitney serves as STAR’s Facilities Assistant. He comes to STAR with years of experience in construction, framing, plumbing, and electrical work. Though he doesn’t have much horse experience, he is a regular jack of all trades and is a great addition to the STAR family.

Stephanie Studer
Stephanie serves as STAR’s Barn Manager. She holds an associate's degree in liberal arts & sciences from Pellissippi State Community College. She has always been involved in the equine world and currently owns a horse, pony, donkey, and two goats. Stephanie is a certified Chris Irwin Trainer with a silver level standing in both groundwork and riding.

Part Time Staff

Robin Bowen
Robin is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She has been involved with STAR since 1989, is a parent of a participant, and assists with various special events. She also had an important role in the start of our Heroes and Horses program. Robin was named Region 5 PATH Intl. Professional in 2016!

​Elizabeth "Ellie" Carr
Ellie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and holds a bachelor's degree in animal science with a concentration in Equine Science and a minor in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been volunteering and working with different therapeutic riding facilities for over six years, and has been around horses since she was little.

​Ansley Cate
Ansley is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science from East Tennessee State University. She started out as a volunteer at STAR and worked her way up to becoming an instructor. Ansley continues to improve her knowledge and horsemanship skills by riding and working with horses in her spare time. ​

​Marc Churchwell
Marc is a retired Navy Master Chief with 28 years in the submarine force. He holds a BA in Elementary and Special Education from University of West Florida (UWF), also a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from UWF. Marc retired from UWF in 2018 as the Founding Director of the Veterans Center. During his tenure at UWF, he served on several Advisory Boards in support of the Veteran community. His primary job now is playing with his granddaughter. He has volunteered at STAR for a couple of years and very much enjoys working with the horses and supporting the Veterans in the Heroes and Horses program.

Cathie Haviland
Cathie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She grew up on a farm in upstate New York where she showed western pleasure and competed in barrel racing. Cathie's passion for therapeutic riding started when her niece, now an adult, was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. To make a difference in the world of Autism, Cathie graduated from the University of Tennessee with a master's degree in Recreational Therapy and became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).  

Samantha "Sam" Holyfield
Sam is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She graduated from St. Andrews University with a bachelor's in Therapeutic Horsemanship and minor in Psychology. She has been working with horses for more than 10 years and has ridden almost every discipline.

Julie Johnston
Julie serves as STAR's Equine Assistant and Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) trainee. As an avid horseman her entire life in both English and Western riding, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge to STAR! Julie has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and an Associate's degree in Business & Equine Studies from Hiwassee College. She is looking forward to enriching the lives of both horses and humans through the STAR experience.

Betsey Knight
Betsey is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH Intl. She has a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Child Development from California State University at Chico. She is a certified CHA instructor and owner/operator of Shadow Mountain Farm, a horse camp for girls.

Kim Lynch
Kim serves as STAR’s Minis in Motion Manager. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and oversees our Minis in Motion, Reflections, and Field Trip programs. Kim has been involved with horses almost all her life and has been teaching and volunteering with Therapeutic Riding part time on and off for more than 20 years, including time spent volunteering and receiving her CTRI training with STAR. She is excited to join the STAR team full time after working more than 23 years in construction and engineering as a Support Tech. 

Sandy Manns
Sandy is a PATH Int’l Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and has with a lifelong passion for horses. She loves to learn and takes every opportunity to improve her knowledge and skills; whether that is further developing her horsemanship or mastering a new Excel formula. Sandy works full time as an accountant, and when not working, she enjoys spending time with her grandkids or getting in a good gym workout.

Kate McCormick
Kate is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2007 with both a bachelor's and master's degree in special education. She taught Special Education in school systems primarily in NYC and CT for a decade, focusing generally on high school students with mental health and behavioral challenges, and children of all ages of Autism. For the past five years, she has been teaching mounted therapeutic riding lessons and unmounted equine learning lessons, as well as serving as an education consultant to various therapeutic riding facilities in the northeast. Kate recently moved to TN with her three kids.