Valentine McKay-Riddell, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director
Lewis Riddell, Secretary-Treasurer
Lumina Greenway
Robert Benfield-White
Madeleine Benfield-White
Claire McKay
Edward Keller
 

Valentine McKay-Riddell, Ph.D., is the founder and Executive Director of Orenda Healing International, a 501c.3. nonprofit organization devoted to promoting individual and community health and wellbeing. Born a "Navy brat" in Orlando, Florida, she has lived in Canada, Mexico, and much of the United States, and has traveled in England, Ireland, and the British West Indies. She studied creative writing, education and child psychology at the University of Texas in Austin, painting and sculpture at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, and Arts and Consciousness at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California. She holds a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) in Palo Alto, California, and a BFA in painting and sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is a member of the Adjunct Faculty in ITP's Global PhD Program and serves as Co-President of the Institute's Alumni Association.

She has taught art-making to young people and adults since 1965, and Healing Art^© - a blend of shamanism and art-making which she developed in 1984 to heal herself of cancer - to AIDS and cancer patients; incarcerated, homeless, and challenged youth; developmentally disabled adults; and women in transition in Texas, California, Oregon, and New Mexico. She is a certified Reiki Master in the Usui Lineage.

Dr. McKay-Riddell is currently researching the influence of filmmaking on intergenerational reconnection between Navajo adolescents and elders in Shiprock, NM. She maintains a private practice in holistic counseling and shamanic healing in Santa Fe, NM, where she and her husband Lewis Riddell share a home with their two cats and an amazing number of birds, squirrels, moles, gophers and other urban wildlife. She is the author of The River Goddess & Other Stories, the first book of The Alyssa Chronicles, a series on real magic and self-empowerment for teens. In her free time she visits with her two adult daughters and five grandchildren.

Lewis Riddell was born in Media, PA. He holds a BS in geology from Waynesburg College and a BFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. He is an informal student of Transpersonal Psychology, a practitioner of spiritual guidance, and holds an Advanced Certificate in Psychodrama.

Lewis moved to California in 1969 following a tour of duty as a naval officer in Vietnam and Key West, FL. A professional painter, he has worked with at-risk youth and the developmentally disabled adults in California and New Mexico. His new paintings and nature photography are available for viewing and purchase in the Turtle Island Publications Gallery.

Lumina Greenway is a member of the Board of Directors of Orenda Healing International. Born in Providence, RI, she is an Owner/Director of Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. in Bennington, NH, and a professional photographer with focus on architectural detail and the natural world (especially marine mammals).

She worked as a volunteer from the late 50's to the mid 70's in medical settings treating severely ill and impaired children, in drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics as a counselor and therapist, and (through the Greenwich Garden Club) on local environmental issues including the National and Connecticut Clean Air and Water Acts.

Lumina moved to Taos, NM in the mid 90's, where she studied Reiki and Healing Art^© with Valentine McKay-Riddell, became a member of the Orenda Healing International Board of Directors, and later served as Treasurer. She served on the Board of Directors of Taos Talking Pictures (a 501.c.3) for 4 years until its dissolution in 2004. Lumina moved from Taos, NM to Nelson, NH in 2003 to spend time with an elderly Aunt. She was a member of the Nelson Conservation Commision, a Trustee of the Olivia Rodham Library in Nelson, and pursued her Reiki and healing practice. At the end of 2009 Lumina moved to Rhode Island in order to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren and is currently living in Wakefield RI and adjusting to the latest move. She is pursuing the possibility of a Reiki practice with a local practitioner.

Edward F. Keller moved from Hawaii to Santa Fe, NM in the early '90's, where he studied Healing Art with Valentine McKay-Riddell and became a member of the Orenda Healing International Board of Directors in 1995. Edward holds a BFA in Art History and Interior Design from New York Institute of Technology. After a successful career in retail furniture and commercial interior design, he spends much of his time working in photography and mixed media assemblage-pieces which are shown internationally and included in many public and private collections.

He holds a Master's degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM. He plans continued involvement with Orenda Healing International, particularly in its work with young people.

Claire McKay is a member of the Orenda Healing International Board of Directors. Born in Austin, TX, Claire holds a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in School Psychology. She is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Claire was a Board Member and Treasurer of the Austin Center for Attitudinal Healing, Board Member of the Austin Children's Museum, and Board Member and Secretary-Treasurer of St. Francis School.

Robert Benfield-White is a Board Member and Director of European Operations for Orenda Healing International. Robert is currently working in Human Services in Stockholm, Sweden.

Madeleine Benfield-White is a member of the Orenda Healing International Board of Directors. Madeleine works in Stockholm, Sweden, with a large computer service organization.