About Us

Dr. Terry Willard

College Founder

Terry Willard, Cl.H., Ph.D. is recognized as one of North America’s leading Clinical Herbalists. After over 40 years of clinical practice and teaching, he is now in semi-retirement. He founded Wild Rose College in 1975, and continues to teach with us. His latest course is Cannabis for Healthcare Providers.

He spends most of his time writing, formulating nutritional products and researching. He is the author of 12 books. Terry has spent many years representing the Health Food industry interests at both federal and provincial levels.

He is the past president of the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations, past president of Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioner and a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild.

Yarrow Willard

College Director

Yarrow Willard is a Clinical Herbalist and Wild Rose Alumnus, co-founder of Harmonic Arts.

He enjoys sharing health-empowering teachings on advanced nutrition, and cultivating a deeper connection with the natural world. He strives to continually update his knowledge in the growing-edge science of natural wellness.

He is the current director of Wild Rose Herbal College. Yarrow teaches our seasonal Medicinal Mushroom course, and co-teaches several Wild Rose courses along with workshops and webinars in the Wild Rose Herbal Village.

Farrah Thompson

General Manager

Farrah Thompson is a Scottish born and Canadian raised herbalist, educator, mama, and medicine maker.

As a graduate of the Botanical Medicine program through the National University of Medical Sciences, Farrah has completed extensive studies in herbal medicine. Her focus is on women’s health, stress prevention, and disease. She has a deep passion for plants, their medicine, and the profound transformations they inspire in us.

Farrah combines her knowledge and enthusiasm for botanical medicine with her business, organization, and leadership skills in her role as GM at Wild Rose College. She is responsible for overseeing and coordinating across all departments and is committed to making the Wild Rose experience better for all those involved.

Farrah gives recognition and respect for the First Peoples of Canada, acknowledging that the land on which she lives includes the traditional territories of many nations including the Haudenosaunee, Erie, Anishinaabe, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), Huron-Wendat, and Mississaugas. As a settler here, she is grateful for all the generations of people who have been stewards of this land. She recognizes and deeply appreciates their contributions in shaping and strengthening not only this community, but our country as a whole.

You can learn more about Farrah at northwoodherbal.com.

Becky Starling

Education Manager

Becky Starling is a Community Herbalist and Education Manager with Wild Rose. She manages our popular Herbal Village, a herbal membership group and site with hundreds of members, where she teaches webinars and tutorials while supervising and managing incredible events and a steady lineup of experts and teachers.

She also runs our popular Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship Program, pairing students with clinical mentors across Canada, the US, and beyond.

A prolific organic gardener and reiki practitioner, Becky creates herbal remedies and inspires and educates folks about plants and their many uses. She is the founder of Cedar Hill Herbs where she creates herbal tea blends and remedies from homegrown and ethically wildcrafted plants.

Becky is a mother of two and is authoring the new and upcoming Natural Pregnancy & Childbirth course at Wild Rose College.

“I respectfully acknowledge that I am a visitor to these lands and that I live, work and play on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Syilx tmixʷ (Okanagan) and Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc) First Nations.”

Jacqui Wyman

College Coordinator

Jacqui is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, certified from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is a graduate of the Phytotherapy Program at Pacific Rim College. As an herbalist living in Victoria BC, she acknowledges and is grateful for the Lekwungen People, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations communities, for allowing us to live, work and play on their lands.

Jacqui is excited to be a part of the Wild Rose Herbal College team and to continue expanding her knowledge and continuing education in herbal medicine.

Jacqui manages student services, admissions, and college administration at Wild Rose Herbal College.

Dionne Jennings

Communications Manager

Dionne Jennings has a mission as a Community Herbalist: connecting plants & people.

Dionne has a particular passion for teaching & researching. Her Ukrainian Canadian heritage drives her interest in studying Ukrainian/Slavic Folk & Herbal Medicine. You can follow Dionne at YEG Herbalist.

She enjoys utilizing her writing and communication skills on behalf of inspiring and “growing” future herbalists as the Marketing and Communications Manager with Wild Rose Herbal College, where she oversees the social media, marketing and outreach team and represents the College at herbal events near and far.

As a herbalist currently living in Winnipeg, she acknowledges she lives on the traditional lands of the Anishnaabe (Ojibway), Ininew (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dene and Dakota, and the Metis people. She is committed to working towards an inclusive community for all races, genders and beings, while always advocating for the plants within the herbal medicine community.

Chelsey Berendse

Communications

Chelsey Berendse is a herbalist and wellness coach, eternally inspired by plants, people and the relationship between the two. Apprenticing and interning in gardens and apothecaries in Canada and the United States, studying and working alongside traditional healers in South America and completing a clinical Phytotherapy diploma program have all contributed to her understanding of plant medicine and healing.

She loves supporting people with their health and wellness, especially through the vitality of plants. She is particularly interested in the realm of plant therapeutics in mental health, as well as making plant medicine. She’s currently scheming and dreaming of her own herb farm in the future (One day, sigh)

As a herbalist currently living in Treaty 1 territory (aka Winnipeg) she lives on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene and Métis peoples. These lands provide abundance and nourishment, for which she is in reverence of every day. She is committed to working towards a welcoming space for all races, genders, and beings in the herbal medicine community.

Carley McConkey

Communications

Carley (she/her) is Registered Holistic Nutritionist having graduated with honours from The Institute of Holistic Nutrition in 2017. She is currently expanding her knowledge and pursuing her passion for natural medicine by working towards becoming a Clinical Herbalist with Wild Rose College.

Carley believes that health involves much more than just nutritious food and supplements—such as mindfulness, mindset, connection with nature and community. She believes deeply in educating and empowering others to take their health and well-being into their own hands so that they can live a happy, balanced, and abundant life.

Carley is currently located in Toronto Ont. As a settler, she acknowledges that she lives and works on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. 

She is committed to learning/unlearning, and to do her part to amplify and support the voices of BIPOC in the herbal medicine community and beyond.

Carley is honoured to be a part of the Marketing and Communications team at Wild Rose College. Her goal is to help build an inclusive community and to inspire those interested in pursuing an herbal path.

Nicole Slierings

Education

Nicole is a herbal enthusiast and plant lover. At the College, she coordinates and creates content for the Herbal Village, supports our students in their herbal journeys, and assists in the continual improvement of our courses and programs. She brings her previous experience as a library technician to help connect students with our resources.

Nicole completed herbal studies at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and the Herbal Academy. She also finished the Culinary Nutrition program at the Academy of Culinary Nutrition and loves incorporating cooking and nutrition as another wellness tool. She has an interest in end-of-life care and completed the End of Life Doula program at Douglas College as well.

As a resident of Southern Ontario, she respectfully acknowledges that she is a grateful visitor on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Mississauga, and Wendake-Nionwentsïo peoples. Nicole is committed to cultivating an inclusive and safe community for all.

Maddie Laberge

Communications

Maddie (she/her) earned her Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Human Nutritional Sciences and worked as a Holistic Nutritionist for several years. She is an author, stepmom, dog mom, and plant lover. Maddie now uses writing to reach others. She proud to be part of the Wild Rose College Marketing and Communications team.

Maddie currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta. She acknowledges the traditional land on which she resides on. Respecting Treaty 6 Territory, honouring the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose ancestors’ footsteps have marked this territory for centuries; such as nêhiyaw (Nay-hee-yow) / Cree, Dené (Deh-neyh), Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-in-ah-bay) / Saulteaux (So-toe), Nakota Isga (Na-koh-tah ee-ska) / Nakota Sioux (Na-koh-tah sue), and Niitsitapi (Nit-si-tahp-ee) / Blackfoot peoples. Also acknowledging this as the Métis’ (May-tee) homeland and the home of one of the largest communities of Inuit south of the 60th parallel.

Katie McIntyre

Student Services Coordinator

Katie (she/her) is a passionate herbalist who is pursuing her designation as a Clinical Herbalist with Wild Rose College. Previously working in a multi-disciplinary healthcare field, she has experienced the benefits of different treatment methods for overall health and wellbeing. This inspired her to practice herbal medicine. She is also a Reiki Master and draws great inspiration from nature and frequently practices Shinrin-Yoku. Her dogs are her adventure buddies, and they are frequently out hiking for hours.

She has an ambitious indoor food and herb garden which is unabashedly taking over her house. She uses these plants to not only feed her family but to provide herbal products to her friends and community.

Living as a settler in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, she acknowledges and respects that she resides on Treaty 6 Territory and Metis Nations of Alberta Region 4 land, which was originally known as Birch Hill and home to the Nehiyawak and Hohe Nakota peoples. The surrounding land offers many opportunities to explore and connect with plants and people. She sends her appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of these lands.

At Wild Rose College, Katie provides guidance and assistance to students who are traveling along their own herbal paths. She is one of our Student Services Coordinators and takes great pride in helping students reach their herbal goals. She is committed to creating a safe space for all peoples, all genders, all ethnicities, and all backgrounds within the College and the herbal medicine community.