Frank Vitale, M.B.A.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Drawn to Tai Sophia by the values and principles that have so ably guided the Institute, Mr. Vitale was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2010 after serving three years in other executive roles at Tai Sophia, including Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Development and Operations Officer, and Vice President for Business and Finance.

Mr. Vitale brings to his role as President and CEO nearly 40 years of experience as a for-profit and non-profit executive, primarily engaged in strategic business development, operational excellence, and resource development. In 2000, he made a conscious decision to transfer his years of experience as a for-profit executive to the work of socially-minded organizations. As a result, and prior to joining Tai Sophia in 2007, Mr. Vitale moved from the New York area to Baltimore, MD, to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of a large 501(c)(3) public benefit organization whose focus included mental health and education. During his five-year tenure and with an emphasis on SROI (social return on investment), programming revenue grew from $10 million to more than $22 million, with more than 400 direct care workers employed.

Previously, Mr. Vitale served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development and Corporate Affairs for a highly diverse, international technologies company, which, during his 13-years, grew nearly fourfold to $4.3 billion. His career also includes executive-level business development assignments in the fields of health care and electronics technology. He began his career as a journalist and continues to enjoy writing and photography.

Mr. Vitale earned a master’s degree in business administration from Temple University, a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Delaware Valley College, and completed the extended executive business development programs at the Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a graduate of the Center for Management Design with a focus on organizational change and corporate culture.

fvitale@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6610

Judith K. Broida, Ph.D.

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Judith Broida joined Tai Sophia Institute as Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2008. In October 2009, she was appointed the additional post of Provost, and in 2010 was promoted to Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Previously she served as Associate Provost and Dean of Professional Studies at the University of Maryland; as Associate Dean of Public Policy, Planning, and Urban Development at the University of Southern California; and as Associate Dean and Director of the Division of Business and Management at Johns Hopkins University.

In each institution, her goal was to create stimulating and energizing learning opportunities for the non-traditional student and to enhance the quality of the academic experience for faculty, students, and the community. Several of these unique programs, such as the Business of Medicine, have won national awards. Dr. Broida taught graduate courses for more than 15 years at these institutions.

In addition, she worked at a Fortune 100 company and two federal government agencies as head of human resource development. For 25 years, she has been consulting in leadership, strategic planning, board development, organizational change, human resource development, and customer service.

Her undergraduate degree from George Washington University is in sociology/art history. She has two master’s degrees—from George Washington University in counseling, and from Johns Hopkins University in management—and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. She was selected to participate in the Leadership Maryland program in 2001, is a graduate of Harvard’s Management and Leadership in Education program, was chosen as a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Examiner (State of Maryland), and has twice (2000 and 2002) been named one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland.

jbroida@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6655

Gail Doerr, M.S.

Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Management

Gail Doerr rejoined Tai Sophia Institute in March 2012. She brings more than 20 years of executive-level experience in marketing and communications within healthcare and in marketing and enrollment management in higher education, including her time at Tai Sophia from 1999 to 2003 as Director of Communications and Outreach.

From Tai Sophia, Ms. Doerr joined the University of Maryland School of Nursing as the Assistant Dean for Communications and Professional Development. In this role, she provided the leadership for positioning the college and its programs within the highly competitive field of nursing. Within the first year of Ms. Doerr's tenure, through strategic branding and communications, the university moved up in U.S. News and World Report rankings from number ten to number 7 among more than 400 national nursing schools. She was responsible for enrollment marketing and enrollment management for baccalaureate, master, and doctoral programs, and successfully launched Maryland’s first doctor of nursing practice degree and first clinical nurse leader master’s degree.

Ms. Doerr also worked in program and business development and communications for the LifeBridge Health System and Howard Community College. She has consulted on organizational development, as well as marketing and branding, and teaches courses in leadership, change management, and personal values. Ms. Doerr is active in Howard County, serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of Health.

Ms. Doerr holds a bachelor’s degree from Mercy College, a master’s degree from Fordham University, and post-graduate certificates in leadership and organization development from the Harvard Business School and Georgetown University.

gdoerr@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6652

Deneb A. Falabella, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM)

Associate Vice President for Student Teaching Clinic

Deneb Falabella is Associate Vice President for Student Teaching Clinic at Maryland University of Integrative Health. She previously served as Associate Director of MUIH’s Master of Acupuncture program from 2006 through 2011, and she has been affiliated with the university since 1999. Her former roles have included serving as a clinical supervisor and teaching as an assistant faculty member.

Ms. Falabella holds a certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine; retains Diplomate status in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM); is recognized as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist by the National Association of Detoxification Acupuncture (NADA); and maintains a part-time acupuncture practice at MUIH’s Natural Care Center. She is also a member of the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture and enjoys being engaged in the community and offering her experience and leadership in the profession.

She has a Bachelor of Art and English from Muhlenberg College and a Master of Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now MUIH).

dfalabella@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6681

Louise Gussin, J.D., M.D.E.

Vice President for Administration and General Counsel

Louise Gussin brings to Maryland University of Integrative Health a mix of legal and academic experience. She began her service at Maryland University of Integrative Health in November 2008 as director of business services, was promoted to associate vice president for business and administration in August 2009, and was elected vice president for administration and general counsel in June 2010.

In addition to serving as general counsel, Ms. Gussin serves as corporate secretary, and oversees human enrichment, risk management, and health, compliance, and safety. She is also the university’s chief information officer, overseeing campus technology resources, and leading the build-out of the university’s campus-wide database and the business and systems integration for online learning.

Ms. Gussin has previously served as: assistant attorney general for the state of Maryland, representing the University System of Maryland and other public higher education institutions; academic director of the legal studies program at University of Maryland University College, serving as curriculum expert for the development of online legal studies courses; adjunct professor at University of Baltimore School of Law and at University of Maryland University College, where she taught several online courses; and attorney in private practice, representing clients in a variety of corporate, real estate, and litigation matters.

Ms. Gussin earned her juris doctorate degree from University of Baltimore School of Law. She also earned a Master of Distance Education and a certificate in Distance Education and Technology from University of Maryland University College. Ms. Gussin earned two undergraduate degrees from University of Maryland University College: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies.

lgussin@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6618

Marc Levin, M.B.A., M.A., CPA

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Marc Levin joined Tai Sophia Institute in March 2008 as Associate Vice President for Financial Services, was promoted to Vice President for Business and Financial Services in September 2008, and to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in September 2012.

Mr. Levin has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations for public and private healthcare companies. He is proud to use his talents not only to strengthen the financial foundation of Tai Sophia, but also to expand Tai Sophia’s impact on the world.

Mr. Levin holds a Master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland. Mr. Levin has earned a Master of Art degree in Transformational Leadership and Social Change from Tai Sophia Institute. He is also a certified public accountant and the author of Eight Shifts for Wellness: Practical Transformative Steps to Enhance Health, Wellness, and Well-Being.

mlevin@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6646

Liz Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, CHN, CNS

Academic Director, Nutrition and Integrative Health

Dr. Lipski is the Director of the Nutrition and Integrative Health program at Tai Sophia Institute. She has been working in the fields of nutrition, holistic health, herbology, and lifestyle management for more than 30 years. Prior to joining Tai Sophia, she served as Director of Doctoral Studies and Educational Director at Hawthorne University.

She has been extensively published in many academic journals and is the author of four books, including Digestive Wellness and The Digestive Connection. Dr. Lipski speaks nationally and internationally, is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine, and serves on advisory boards for the Ceres Foundation and the Autism Help Alliance.

She received her doctorate in clinical nutrition from the Union Institute with a specialization in functional medicine, is board certified in clinical nutrition (CCN) and holistic nutrition (CHN), and is a certified nutrition specialist (CNS).

llipski@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext.6687

Jeff Millison, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)

Academic Director, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Jeff Millison is the Director of the Master of Acupuncture program at Tai Sophia Institute. A faculty member of Tai Sophia Institute since 1992, he currently serves as a clinical supervisor and teaches multiple courses. Mr. Millison served on the board of the Maryland Acupuncture Society from 1992 to 1996 and is certified as a Diplomate in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

He has been in clinical practice since 1991 and is the co-founder and co-director of the RiverHill Wellness Center (Ellicott City, MD), a multidisciplinary and integrative center for health and healing.

Mr. Millison is a 1991 graduate of the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now Tai Sophia Institute). He also earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1985, and in 1988 completed course work towards a master’s degree in holistic psychology from Boulder College. In 1996 he completed a two-year program in Chinese herbal medicine.

jmillison@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6638

James Snow, M.A., RH(AHG)

Interim Academic Director, Integrative Health Sciences

James Snow is the Acting Director of the Integrative Health Sciences Department at Tai Sophia Institute and has also served as Director of Tai Sophia’s Master of Science in Herbal Medicine program.

He has been working in the field of herbal medicine since 1986, completing the herbal residency program at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine in 1991. Mr. Snow is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, practicing as a clinician and/or training clinical students since 1994.

He has conducted and published research on the cognitive effects of rosemary, is a contributing author to the Gastrointestinal Nutrition Desk Reference and serves as a reviewer for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. He is currently working to develop research tools in the field of wellness.

jsnow@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6675

Michael Tims, Ph.D.

Academic Director, Herbal Programs

Michael Tims is Director of Herbal Programs at Tai Sophia Institute. He has taught at the University of Maryland and Montgomery College, and has had broad experience in the herbal supplement industry as a managing partner of Cash Grocer Natural Foods, as a clinical herbalist, and as an academic researcher focused on the chemical ecology of endangered medicinal plant species.

Dr. Tims also collaborated with federal regulators to provide medicinal plant toxicity assessments. He co-developed HerbMed, a web-based herbal database providing access to scientific data on the use and safety of herbal medicine, and he completed an NIH/NIST postdoctoral fellowship developing Botanical Standard Reference Materials.

As the founder of Radix Medicina, a science education and writing business, Dr. Tims provided experimental design support for analytical methods development and field experiments for the herbal products industry, and developed online biology textbooks. He also created a science education blog, Bardo’s Calculus, and a blogging collective for writers and artists at the Hyattstown Millstone.

Dr. Tims received his BA in English/Writing from George Mason University and his Ph.D. in the Chemical Ecology of Medicinal Plants from the University of Maryland, College Park.

mtims@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6668

Cheryl Walker M.L., MCC

Academic Director, Graduate Programs in Health Philosophy and Promotion

Cheryl Walker is Director of Graduate Programs in Health Philosophy and Promotion at Tai Sophia Institute. She is also Program Manager for the Institute’s Health Coaching and Wellness Coaching graduate certificate programs. She previously served as director of Tai Sophia Institute’s Transformative Leadership and Social Change (TLSC) program and was a faculty member in the TLSC program for 10 years. She also served as Dean of Students from 2000-2005.

Ms. Walker has been a senior consultant and executive coach with a leading international organization development firm, consulting and coaching in the areas of leadership effectiveness, communication skills, team building, conflict resolution, diversity, change management, and transitional strategies. She has a comprehensive understanding of organizational change and has been intimately involved with helping organizations through challenging transitions. Her work has involved organizational restructuring, change management, cultural renewal, downsizing, and strategic redirection. She also brings to her work at Tai Sophia Institute more than 30 years as a successful small business owner.

Ms. Walker received a bachelor’s degree from Antioch University and has a Master of Leadership from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She also holds a Master Certified Coach (MCC) certification from the International Coach Federation.

cwalker@muih.edu
410-888-9048 ext. 6695