Juliet L. King, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, LMHC, is an Associate Professor of Art Therapy at The George Washington University and Adjunct Associate Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine; Department of Neurology. Prof. King developed the inaugural graduate art therapy program at the IU Herron School of Art and recently edited and published a textbook: Art Therapy, Trauma and Neuroscience: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives.

Director of Education and Public Programs at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Ruhle leads Reflections, the museum’s Alzheimer’s program, and all public programs. She is a board member for the NC Alzheimer’s Association and was named 2014 Museum Educator of the Year by the NC Art Education Association.

Undergraduate Junior Psychology major and Human Development minor from Howard University.

After careers as an art educator and journalist Michael Pretzer decided to change professions and become an art therapist. He earned a master of arts degree in art therapy at George Washington University and for the past six years has worked with adolescents at Newport Academy in Rockville, MD. He contributed a chapter about being a male art therapist to the recently published Exploring Ethical Dilemmas in Art Therapy.

Elizabeth (Libby) Smith is a recent graduate of Hofstra University in Long Island. She graduated summa cum laude in both her Master's and Bachelors programs. She enjoys working with a multitude of different populations including, but not limited to, veterans, oncology patients, and psychiatric patients. She hopes her research investigating art therapists' opinions of political discussions will open up the art therapy field into new discussions on how to manage notoriously "taboo" topics with various clientele.

Margaret Carlock-Russo, EdD, LCAT(NY), ATR-BC, ATCS, is a board certified art therapist and licensed creative arts therapist, currently serving as the President of the American Art Therapy Association. Margaret has over 25 years of experience as an art therapist working with individuals and groups. Much of her career has been spent working with people with health conditions or impairments, learning disabilities and dementia. Most recently, she has developed Chroma Soul Arts, an organization focused on providing community groups and retreats, addressing issues of aging, social connection, self-care, and wellness. Margaret is also an associate faculty at Prescott College, coordinating their Expressive Arts Therapy Post Master’s Certificate Program.

David E. Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM is Professor for the Florida State University’s Graduate Art Therapy Program and Program Coordinator for the FSU/FL Dept of Correction’s Art Therapy in Prisons program. Dr. Gussak has presented and published extensively internationally and nationally on a myriad of topics, including forensic art therapy, art therapy in forensic settings, with violin and aggressive clients, professional identity, ethics, and supervision. He has held numerous roles for several professional organizations, including the American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board and he currently serves on the editorial board for several professional journals. He has also served as a supervisor and mentor for many over the last 30 years.

Evie Soape, ATR, LMHC, is an art therapist with the Art Therapy in Prisons Program developed in collaboration between Florida State University and the Florida Department of Corrections. She provides art therapy services for individuals incarcerated in two male correctional institutions in North Florida. Ms. Soape obtained a master’s in art therapy at Florida State University where she expanded her interest in forensic psychology and trauma transformation by incorporating knowledge of art therapy practice and approaches such as cognitive-behavioral art therapy and mindfulness-based art therapy, among others. She continued to nourish this interest upon entering the workforce after graduation. Ms. Soape worked for several years at a non-profit community mental health facility, providing therapeutic services to individuals, families, couples, and groups in outpatient and in-home settings. 

Ms. Soape is honored to serve as a team member for the Art Therapy in Prisons Program and is excited to bring the benefits of art therapy to individuals housed within Florida’s correctional institutions, as well as contribute to the knowledge base on the efficacy of art therapy in forensics.

Erin Partridge, PhD, ATR-BC is an artist and board certified, registered art therapist. Her clinical experience includes work in community, pediatric, forensic, and geriatric settings. Erin received a BFA, studying fine art, psychology and women’s studies in at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She went onto obtain a MA in art therapy from New York University in 2008, and a PhD in art therapy from Notre Dame de Namur in 2016. Erin’s teaching and lecturing experience includes teaching at NDNU in the art therapy department, guest lectures in art and counseling programs, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, workshop facilitation at several national conferences, and interviews with media about art therapy.

Her research interests incorporate the lived experience and focus on participatory, ethnographic, and art-based approaches. She is currently working on responding to the findings of her research within the elder care context, and conducting continued research in this setting.

Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist, Advanced Certified Trauma Practitioner, Ursuline College Counseling and Art Therapy Faculty practicing in Northeast Ohio for 20 years, primarily working with children and adolescents. Gretchen is also a Buckeye Art Therapy Association (BATA) Past President, BATA Honorary Life Member and since 2017, has served on the AATA Board of Directors.