NTI Faculty
Char Leberer BA, CN, CMT, ND
Char Leberer began her journey into holistic healing in the mid eighties when there was only a whisper of knowledge or interest in the subject of prevention. A lifelong learner, she received her BA in 1969 and her ND in 1999. Having both created the curriculum and taught every course, she currently trains and supervises the faculty, acts as Director of the school, and creates new programs and courses.
Chef Lynda Lacher
After spending 23 years in the natural foods industry in sales, Chef Lynda made the move to pursue her true passion of teaching and cooking for people. She completed the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program with Deans List honors and trained in France for her externship. She subsequently taught at the Le Cordon Bleu Minneapolis campus from 2002-2005. She has been the cooking instructor of the NTI Natural Chef Program for the past four years.
Nancy Hostetler, BS, MNT
Nancy Hostetler holds a BS degree from Bowling Green State University in Business Administration and an MNT diploma from NTI. Prior to her career in holistic nutrition, she spent 20 years as a professional in the business world. After being a part of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Arthritis Foundation, teaching on nutritional subjects at Longmont Free University, and maintaining her own nutritional consulting business she now devotes her time to instructing and coordinating the Homestudy program for NTI.
Jess Kelley, MNT
After graduating from the Nutrition Therapy Institute, Jess Kelly started Durango Nutrition, where her philosophy is to use food as medicine. She specializes in digestive disorders and hormonal balance and brings her continuing education in Functional Blood Chemistry, Endocrinology and Thyroid disorders through Apex Energetics to the classroom. In addition to instructing in the Homestudy program at NTI, Jess teaches a variety of nutrition classes through Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. She also combines her undergraduate degree in journalism with her passion for nutrition in a monthly nutrition column for Skiing Magazine and as Editor for Edible San Juan Mountains Magazine.
Caitlin O’Connor, BA, ND, CPM
Dr Caitlin O’Connor graduated from the University of Colorado in 2000 with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Business. She went on to earn her Doctorate in Naturopathy and her Certificate of Naturopathic Midwifery from Bastyr University in 2008. She currently practices naturopathic medicine in Denver, focusing on whole family health including preconception, fertility, pregnancy, pediatrics and beyond. Dr. O’Connor brings her expertise to Anatomy and Physiology and her passion for family health to the Reproductive Health and Nutrition course.
Sarah Cook, ND
Dr. Sarah Cook graduated with honors with her BA in Pre-Medical Studies from Washington University in 1999. In 2003 she received her Homeopathic Medical Assistant Certification from the Desert Institute of Classical Homeopathy. She earned her Naturopathic Doctorate in 2005 from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. She has worked with clients providing homeopathic care and services since 2006. After four years in private practice in naturopathic medicine, she now works as the Lead Practitioner for Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy in Los Gatos, CA. She teaches Homestudy courses and the Nutrition Curriculum for the Natural Foods Chef program.
Kathy Westover, MNT
Kathy Westover is a Clinical Nutrition Therapist and founder of To Your Health! Nutrition. She is a graduate of the Master Nutrition Therapy Program at the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado and has a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Westover is the referred Nutrition Therapist for the North Vista Medical Center in Firestone, Colorado and for the Healing Gardens Health Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. She brings her background in education and five years in private practice to second year course, Clinical Nutrition.
Dianne Koehler, MNT
Dianne Koehler graduated from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in 2007. Since graduating she has become a teacher and active community speaker. She has continued her education through additional training in holistic health, high level wellness, herbal therapeutics, functional blood chemistry analysis and functional endocrinology. She is also a Denver Chapter Leader of the Weston A. Price Foundation and is the local nutrition educator for the group. Additionally, her continuing private practice keeps her up to date on the latest research and allows her to bring current client perspectives into her teaching.
Amy Richardson, BS, MNT; Living Well, LLC
In 1992, Amy Richardson received her BS in Advertising from the University of Texas. She worked in advertising and marketing until her passion for health and nutrition led her to complete her certificate at NTI in 2007. She has worked with Bradley Richardson, DC, since 2002 in a chiropractic practice and currently brings her clients closer to balance in the body by assessing digestion, diet, lifestyle, blood work and hormones. She also holds interactive educational seminars for the public concerning health, metabolic weight loss, stress management, wellness and nutrition. She has taught Body Typing & Business I.
Francesca Quinn, ND
Dr. Quinn’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Certificate as a Massage Therapist and a Doctorate in Naturopathy. She is the owner of Vitality Natural Medicine in Cherry Creek where she offers cooking classes and specializes in women’s health, cardiovascular healing, digestion and environmental health. Dr. Quinn is a natural teacher who brings her clinical expertise, in-depth understanding of the human body and sense of compassion to her classes at NTI. She has taught Weight Management and Sports Nutrition, Business I, Digestion and Detoxification and Nutrients: The Building Blocks.