Meet Our Board of Directors
Denver Family Institute is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of therapists and professionals from diverse backgrounds. The Board Members serve as a guiding force and help to develop and leverage the organization’s resources.
William Gaskins
Bio coming soon!
Harsha Sekar
Harsha Sekar is a Partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. His practice focuses on securities issuances, venture capital and private equity. Harsha supports a number of Denver-area nonprofit organizations and has served on multiple boards.
Why I love DFI: Excellent mission, unparalleled program, dedicated students and staff, skilled clinicians.
Marcus King-Stockton
Marcus is a Trader Specialist at Charles Schwab. He educates, advocates, and consults with clients surrounding their investment needs.
Dr. Nicholas Manning
Dr. Nicholas Manning (he, him, his) is the Director for People Operations at Support, Inc., where Nicholas serves the organization’s staff and providers by focusing on improvement of the employee and contractor experience. Dr. Manning has worked in the human service industry since 2004 in a variety of roles, including direct care professional, program supervisor, program manager, and the last 8 years as a director at Support, Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Manning worked in adolescent behavioral healthcare for Deveraux Colorado for 8 years as a program supervisor and manager.
What I love about DFI: I have had the fortune to work on strategic planning efforts with the group at DFI. The transparency leadership has about their strengths and weaknesses is refreshing. DFI wants to be better and is willing to address what needs to be done to do so. You couple that type of integrity with a wonderful mission to provide a great learning experience and therapeutic services to communities in need and DFI is no question a place I want to support any way I can.
Along with his direct experience of the human service industry, Nicholas has conducted research specific to Colorado’s Program Approved Provider Agencies and Community Center Boards, focusing on minority hiring practices. In October of 2020, Dr. Manning successfully defended his cornerstone research on the topic of the Glass Ceiling and Colorado’s PASA’s and CCB’s, thus earning a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
Dr. Manning has used that experience to support the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council within Support, Inc. In addition, Dr. Manning maintains Alliance’s IDEA Committee Chair, tasked with aligning and making a difference in the makeup of organizations within the industry. Lastly proud parent-of-four along with his partner and is an avid Denver Broncos Fan.
Emily Dorn
Emily has been involved in the DFI community since 2015 as a student, Board member, Board chair, and currently as the Executive Director. Prior to entering the field of mental health, Emily spent 12 years in public education and nonprofit leadership as a special education and general education teacher, administrator, and systems leader. Most recently, Emily led the External Relations team for Rocky Mountain Prep, a growing network of elementary schools in Denver and Aurora. After graduating from DFI, Emily opened a private practice and joined the PASS Center as a therapist specializing in attachment and post-adoptive support for families. Emily holds a master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Denver Family Institute.
The best way to spend a day: Traveling, adventuring, or exploring with no particular agenda or destination
Emily Fisher
Emily is a current second year at Denver Family Institute. She previously served as an intern and first year student representative for the board. She received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University and is in the process of obtaining her LMFT for the state of Colorado. She actively participates in the DFI community where she provides her clients with systemic, strength based counseling. Emily is also employed by Aurora Mental Health as a School Based Therapist for the Cherry Creek School District.
What I love about DFI: DFI has given me more than just an MFT certificate and additional training. DFI has provided me with friends, family, and a community of people who hope to make an impact in the field of mental health.
Chloé Miller
Chloé Miller s a first-year MFT student and student therapist at Denver Family Institute. She received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis on Mindfulness-based Transpersonal Counseling, from Naropa University and is currently in the process of obtaining her LMFT and LPC. She is working at Modern Love Counseling as a strengths-based, relational therapist for individuals and couples and is also a dating & relationship educator/coach at her company, AND, SWIPE RIGHT. She is an active member of the DFI community and supports her clients and cohort with a holistic approach including a well-rounded mental health education in addition to diverse professional and personal experiences. Furthermore, Chloé is a professionally trained Second City Improv Comedian; she believes comedy, humor, and a little playfulness are incredibly potent and can be some of the most rewarding elements of relational healing, “Laughter can be the brightest light during the darkest times, and a little bit of well-timed humor is magical and pure.”
Athena McCullough
Athena completed her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary and her Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from DFI. During her time as a student at DFI, she served as an intern and on the board as a student representative. She has continued her service on the board since graduating. Athena is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She works in private practice in southwest Littleton and owns a therapy group (www.mcculloughfamilytherapy.
My favorite way to spend a day: Anything that involves a slow morning and/or coffee with a friend.
Anna Khandrueva
Anna is a 2022 DFI graduate; she is continuing to serve on the Board after representing her cohort for two years as a student representative. She is a psychotherapist with a private practice, Courage to Heal Therapy, in Broomfield, CO, where she focuses on working with couples, trauma, and bipolar disorder. She moved to the United States from Russia in 2001 and initially pursued a career in finance before completing a master’s degree in social work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Anna is currently pursuing her LCSW and LMFT licenses in Colorado.
A book I’d recommend:“Humankind” by Rutger Bregman. It masterfully shows that people are inherently good and debunks some famous psychological dogmas, such as the Stanford Prison Experiment.
