Meet Our Board

Judy Swallow, MA, LCAT, TEP
Judy was a founding member of the original Playback Theatre company in 1975, and for 25 years has been the founder and co-director of Community Playback Theatre in Highland, NY. She taught Playback Theatre both locally and internationally, and is pleased that Playback Theatre is now practiced and performed in over 50 countries worldwide. Judy is also co-director of the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute, in New Paltz, NY. She is a certified Rubenfeld Synergy ® practitioner and teacher, and has a private practice in New Paltz. She has 9 grandkids.

“I like being a bridge between people whose visions and work support a world where people can teach, learn and live together, enriching each other in the process.” Judy


Tom Cornell, Jr.
Tom was a family friend of the late Clare Danielsson, founder of Boughton Place. Born in NYC and raised in the Hudson Valley, Tom values the ecological and social roots Clare established at Boughton Place. As a member of the Catholic Worker movement and a resident at its farm in nearby Marlboro, he continues to help interpret the portion of Clare's legacy that includes community living, social change, and environmental healing. He is a farmer, community organizer, and activist.



Casandra Beam, Secretary
Casandra is a lifelong practitioner of the healing arts. Her professional studies include a BA with honors from Columbia University, Reiki Mastership, Interfaith Ordination, over 300 hours of psychodrama training, and 15 years of management in non-profits, retail and real estate companies.



JoyAnn Savino
JoyAnn juggles many plates, including a full time position at Handle With Care Behavior Management Program, her own business as a mediation and conflict resolution trainer, and facilitator for the world renowned “Alternatives to Violence Program”. She brings with her over 20 years experience mediating disputes in Ulster County as the former Director of a NYS funded Mediation Center. Her favorite things in life are playing with her beautiful grandchildren and her very funny dogs & cats, getting dirty in her garden and dreaming on the beach (or off the beach).


Eric Gidseg, Ph.D.
Eric recently retired from a long and rewarding career as a teacher in early childhood classrooms. He has served on several boards including four years as co-chair of the New York State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching. Eric is currently teaching courses and developing curriculum for SUNY at New Paltz and Capella University.



Dan Whitley
Dan has experience working in the non-profit sector—focusing on education, health care, social services, and the environment—in rural and urban settings in the US and internationally. His primary interests are health care innovation and policy, and authentic community development.




Roy Ford