SLC: 1-800-407-3251

Orem: 1-800-864-0012

Faculty & Administration
Salt Lake City Main Campus

Our faculty consists of contract working professionals unless otherwise stated.

Megan Allen, LMT, graduated from UCMT in 1993. Megan has been working in various areas in the field and instructing for over 25 years. She became a birth doula in 2014 and specializes in prenatal and infant massage. She currently teaches Massage 1, Hydrotherapy, Prenatal, Geriatric Health & Wellness, and Ethics of Touch at our SLC campus.

Sara Bateman, LMT, graduated from Healing Mountain in January 2015, and was immediately hired at a wellness clinic. While working as a chiropractic aid and massage therapist, she was allowed to view the medical side of massage therapy and incorporate massage with other therapies. sara is studying to become a physical therapist assistant at Salt Lake Community College and plans to utilize massage alongside physical therapy. Sara currently teaches Kinesiology and Sports Massage at our SLC campus.

Hillarie Christley, MS, is an occupational therapist and has been working since 2008. She became a certified lymph therapist in 2019 and works in her private practice with clients who want manual lymphatic drainage. She teaches intro to Lymphatic Drainage at our SLC campus. .

Jessica Derrick, LMT, CPT, CES, graduated from the Myotherapy College of Utah in 2007. She is also a certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist, specializing in sports massage, performance, and recovery. She teaches sports massage and kinesiology at our SLC campus.

John Edwards, BS, graduated from Utah Valley University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He worked as a cost accountant, an accountant, and for the past several years as a charter school “Business Manager”. In John’s free time he enjoys being in nature with his family scuba diving, underwater photography, skiing, bicycling, hiking, and camping. John is the School Accountant working out of the SLC campus.

Wendy Edwards, LMT, graduated from Healing Mountain Massage School in 2007, and has been an instructor at the school for the last 7 years. She has a passion for education and has been teaching in one form or another for the past 25 years. Wendy has done advanced training in Myoskeletal Alignment, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Hydrotherapy, Structural Integration, Visceral Manipulation, and Reiki. She teaches Massage Therapy III, Anatomy & Physiology, Kinesiology, and Intro to Lymphatic Drainage at the SLC Campus.

Avery Farmer, LMT, RYT, graduated from UCMT and continued her education in studies of Reflexology, Ashiatsu and yoga teaching. She has worked in the spa industry since graduation and has a passion for Shiatsu and Reflexology which she currently teaches at the SLC campus as well as Anatomy & Physiology and Pathology.

Daniel Fisher, LMT, Reiki Master/Teacher, graduated from Healing Mountain in 2015. Daniel has been a Reiki Master/Teacher since 2000 and completed Craniosacral 1 Certification with the Milne Institute in 2018. He currently teaches Craniosacral, Reiki, Crystal Healing, and Massage 1 & 2, as well as Reiki 2 for the Holistic Health Practitioner Program at the SLC campus. He is also the school’s Spa Director and sits on the Orem campus’s Board of Directors.

Dea Giokas, BS, LMT, graduated from the Massage Therapy program at Idaho State University. She worked and travelled with the football team at ISU before moving to Utah, where she continued to specialize in sports, deep tissue, and rehabilitative bodywork. She is passionate about student success and support, fully embracing her role in each student’s journey. In addition to being the Program Supervisor at our Salt Lake City campus, Dea teaches Licensing Exam Prep and Ethics and the Law.

Libby Hudspeth, LMT, graduated from UCMT in 2017, and received her Pre- and Postnatal Massage Training from Rebecca Overson’s program in 2019. She has seen a variety of clients for the past three years. She is currently working towards becoming a certified birth doula. Libby teaches Prenatal Massage at the Salt Lake City campus.

Jodie K. Johnson, LMT, SLC Admissions Representative graduated from UCMT in 2000. Jodie has worked over 23 years in the spa industry both in Utah and Colorado. She specializes in Swedish Massage. Next to her family, her passion for the healing arts of Massage has brought incredible joy and fulfillment into her life. She loves sharing this passion with students at Healing Mountain. She teaches Massage 2, Reflexology, and Licensing Exam Prep at the SLC campus.

Jeremy Kellum, MBA, LMT, graduated from Healing Touch School of Massage Therapy in 2003. He got his Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2012 and his Masters of Business Administration from Western Governors University in 2022. He specializes in connective tissue and injury-related massage. He has worked in the rehabilitation of professional and semi-professional athletes and has been a massage instructor, beginning in the state of Mississippi, since 2006. Jeremy is the SLC Campus Director and serves on both the SLC’s and Orem’s Board of Directors.

Summer Nelson, LMT, graduated from HMMS in 2024. She has been involved and passionate in energetic and crystal work since 2009, before finding her way to Healing Mountain in 2022 as a determined front desk receptionist. She is dedicated to assisting students through their massage school path and spreading the knowledge that was given to her during her time. Summer is the Education Assistant and an LMT in the spa at the SLC campus, as well as, the Registrar for all campuses.

Aaron Nikola finished our Crystal Healing course in 2005 and since then has been immersed in the practice of Crystal Healing and Chakra Layouts. Since 2006, Aaron has been applying his expertise in the crystal field by teaching and working directly with clients, students, and healers alike. In 2011, Aaron became the Healing Mountain Crystal Shop Manager.

Jesse Nikola, BFA, LMT, graduated from Healing Mountain in 2000 and furthered his education from Salt Lake Community College with an Associate in Visual Art and Design, and a BFA from UVU in Graphic Communication. He worked as the SLC campus Spa Director for eight years and SLC Campus Director for seven years. He currently is the school’s President, COO, and serves on the Orem’s Board of Directors and on the SLC Board of Directors as chair member.

RJ Nikola, JCD, BA, LMT, is the founder and CEO of Healing Mountain. He graduated from UCMT, has a JCD in Education and a BA from BYU. He is the author of Japanese Full-Body Shiatsu, and Creatures of Water. Randy served as a commissioner for the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools – ABHES from 2009-2017, and is currently a member of the Utah State Massage Board.

James Seay, LMT, graduated from UCMT in 1997. He has helped open top spas such as; Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, The Spa at Pebble Beach, and The Waldorf Astoria Spa - Park City. James has become versed in many modalities, including thai, sports, reflexology, lymphatic, craniosacral therapy, and lastone therapy. He maintains a private practice as part of the Dynamic Wellness group in Millcreek. James teaches Massage 2 and Reflexology at the SLC campus.

Michael Sudbury, LMT, graduated from HMMS and has studied extensively with John Barnes, PT, LMT, creator of the Myofascial Release Approach®. He runs a thriving, specialized MFR practice helping frustrated people recover from chronic pain. Michael teaches the Myofascial Release course in our Holistic Health Practitioner program at the SLC campus.

Melissa Welter, BSBM, MBA, graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2011. Melissa has previously worked for Utah College of Massage Therapy as a Regional Financial Aid Director and has been in the financial aid field for almost two decades. Melissa is our school Financial Aid Administrator.

Rashelle Youngdell, LMT, graduated from HMMS in 2015. She has 10 years prior experience in sales, marketing, training, billing, and bookkeeping. Rashelle is dedicated to spreading the knowledge of not only the physical, but also the emotional and energetic aspects of a healthy and vivacious lifestyle through massage. Rashelle teaches Business Basics, Reflexology, Acupressure, and Universal Standards & Precautions at the SLC campus.

Page updated: 08/19/24