ALTHEA'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Open Board Positions
There are currently two seats open on the Board of Trustees. These are pivotal roles that ensure not just the effective functioning of Althea but also its growth and future prosperity. Now, more than ever, we need committed individuals that can support us in fulfilling Althea’s mission and vision.
If you are interested in joining the Board, you are encouraged to click here and fill out an application (link below) and attend our next meeting, the third Sunday at 12pm in Nona's Nook. Submit your application via email to Richard Kitzman at admin@altheacenter.org as soon as it is ready.
If you have any questions please see any of the current Board members listed below or Rev. Christina.
Thank you,
Robert Engelke, Board President
Robert Engelke (he/him)
Board President
Robert Engelke brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience as the owner of a successful business, where creative problem-solving and forward-thinking leadership have been central to his success. A proud second-generation board member in the metaphysics movement, he carries on a family legacy of service to the new thought community with both dedication and vision.
A Denver native, Robert earned his degree in Economics from Colorado State University. He is passionate about building and learning new technologies and enjoys extensive travel adventures with his family. At home, in Cheesman Park, he is the proud father of two adult children and his four cats, who bring plenty of joy and laughter to his life.
With a deep love for this community and spiritual living, Robert is honored to help support us into its next chapter of growth and transformation.
SARONA RUNNING HORSE (she/hers)
Vice President
I was born and raised in Southern New Jersey near the Pine Barrens and was always most comfortable in nature exploring, hiking, bicycling, and camping.
After moving to Seattle in 1996 on three different occasions people mentioned CSL Seattle to me. I decided I needed to check it out and in 1997 I took their foundations class and joined their community. Thus, my spiritual journey continued and expanded. I became a Reiki healer and also a Realtor there.
When I moved to Santa Fe in 1994, I joined the Religious Science church there and also discovered different healing modalities working with Shaman and other energy healers. I became an Avesa Quantum Healer and was a Real Estate Broker there. I had a five-acre property with two horses, a spiral labyrinth, two pyramids and the property gridded with rose quartz. It was my retreat. I loved it and was sad to leave it, but it became obvious that it was time to move and at the end of 2014 I did that.
Upon moving to Denver, I heard about the Spiritual Science Church. I attended there for a year and then discovered CSL Denver. I felt more at home there until I attended a deep dive with Jonathan Ellerby more than five years ago. Then, I felt I had found my spiritual home at Althea and have been attending ever since.
HEIDI PETERSON (she/hers)
Member At Large
Heidi Peterson has been part of the New Thought community for more than 25 years. In fact she believed that such a beautiful new way of thinking existed as a child, proclaiming to the pastor of her church that, “God is everywhere.” She has taken the philosophy of New thought into her work as a teacher, her business, The African Cowgirl where she works with Artisans in Senegal and Ghana, and even applied it to her training and riding horses.
Heidi is the proud mother of two sons, and three grandchildren. She is the eldest child of long time members Dick and Lee Peterson. Althea is a very special place and she is proud to serve on the board.
Rick Shaffer (he/him)
Member At Large
Born in Denver, Rick spent his first three years in Golden before moving with his older brother and younger sister to Durango, his parents’ hometown, where he lived for the next twelve years. His great-grandparents were among the founders of the Christian Science Church in Durango and served as Christian Science Practitioners. They also helped fund the construction of the church built in 1922, which remains in use today—an upbringing that immersed him early in metaphysical thought.
At age fifteen, he returned to Denver to complete high school and later attended Fort Lewis College and Metropolitan State College of Denver. His college years were shortened by the Vietnam War, during which he served six years in the Colorado Air National Guard.
He went on to work for five years as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Jefferson County. After exploring several career paths, he ultimately found his professional home in real estate appraisal, where he built a 38-year career.
Spiritually, he attended Mile High Church for several years, followed by Unity of the Foothills, where he served on the board for more than three years. He discovered Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality in 2015 and previously served on the Althea Board of Trustees for approximately three years. He currently lives in Denver and is semi-retired.
Diane Beale (she/her)
Member At Large
Diane has been happily attending Althea for over ten years and considers it her spiritual home. During her career, she’s served on several non-profits and finds the work challenging but rewarding.
Forty years ago, she founded Expanded Learning, an international organization that taught Spanish to adult professionals. Recently, she retired from that and is now free to support Althea in any capacity needed.