As always, host Bob Barrett selects an Academic Minute to air during The Best of Our Knowledge.
Each week this program examines some of the issues unique to college campuses, looks at the latest research, and invites commentary from experts and administrators from all levels of education.
For this week‘s edition (#1258), Bob has selected Dr. Erika Berg of North Dakota State University’s segment on equine assisted therapy.
Dr. Erika Berg received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Purdue University. She earned her Ph.D. with a focus on equine metabolic pathophysiology from the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri. Dr. Berg became involved in the field of equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) as an undergraduate and has continued to pursue this area of interest throughout her career. Dr. Berg holds her Advanced Level Instructor certification through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) and serves as a PATH Intl. Faculty Evaluator and PATH Intl. State Chair of North Dakota.
She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at North Dakota State University where she oversees the interdisciplinary minor in Therapeutic Horsemanship. Dr. Berg’s developing research program focuses on how horse and human interactions affect both equine and human participants. She is currently investigating the effects of an equine assisted psychotherapy program for at-risk youth in a residential child care facility and evaluating stress behaviors in therapy horses.
