Robert J. “Bob” Fetsch, Ph.D. (co-director)
970-217-8162
Co-Director
Robert “Bob” Fetsch is a State Extension Specialist and Professor Emeritus in Colorado State University’s Department of Human Development & Family Studies. He is Co-Project Director of the Colorado AgrAbility Project with Rebecca Hill. For 15 years now he has led the National AgrAbility Project’s Quality of Life (QOL) study with Colorado and 13 other states. Results have shown that:
- 82% (n = 136/165) of AgrAbility participants reported improved QOL levels.
- 83% (n = 140/168) of AgrAbility participants reported improved independent living and working levels.
- On average our AgrAbility group of 240 participants’ QOL levels increased 26%.
- On average their psychological well-being improved 28%.
- AgrAbility participants reported renewed hope, feeling worthwhile again, and regaining control over their lives.
Rebecca Hill is the Co-Director of the Colorado AgrAbility Project. Rebecca is an Extension Professor at Colorado State University and Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI) Affiliate. She is an Agricultural Economist and currently teaches Water Law Policies and Institutions as well as Agricultural Marketing at CSU and conducts research related to Community and Economic Development.
Chad Reznicek is the Behavioral Health Specialist with the Colorado AgrAbility Project and committed to helping expand and improve behavioral health support and resources in rural communities. Prior to joining the AgrAbility Team, Chad spent 20 years as a licensed therapist, providing behavioral health services in diverse settings with special focus areas in suicide prevention, trauma, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Both of Chad’s parents were raised on farms and he grew up in a small farming community in central Nebraska with a deep respect for agriculture as the heart of our rural communities.
Jim Kuemmerle has a background in clinical social work, prominent in rural communities in several states including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wyoming and Colorado. During the First Gulf War, he served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a flight operations specialist in an attack helicopter battalion and during the War of Terror, he served in the Pennsylvania and Colorado Army National Guard as a behavioral health officer in a mobile medical unit. Jim is a retired first responder, trained as a firefighter, EMT, and hazardous materials technician. He volunteers as a Boy Scout leader, serving as a mentor for the youth in his community, state and around the country.
Kirsten Wulfsberg is a licensed professional counselor, who spent 20 years working in psychiatric crisis management within a hospital/emergency department setting. Kirsten is passionate about behavioral health education, training and working with people in a preventative manner, and believes feeling engaged in your community is a key component of that.
Julie Elliott is a licensed professional therapist, who spent 15+ years providing behavioral health services, vocational services, and education in diverse settings with special focus areas in trauma, suicide prevention, mood disorders, disability, families, and substance abuse. Julie grew up in Northwest Colorado and is from a 5th generation ranch family. She is committed to helping others improve their behavioral health by providing them with support and resources in their rural communities and embraces the strong spirit of the west and western agriculture.
Ashley Buchanan M. A. Ed/SPE, M. Ext. Ed. is excited to be a Rural Rehabilitation Specialist within the Colorado AgrAbility Project. Prior to joining the project, Ashley worked with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as both a VR Counselor and Business Outreach Specialist. She was a Special Education teacher within Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in multiple rural portions of Colorado. Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver, her first master’s in special education from the University of Phoenix and her second Masters of Extension Education from Colorado State University.
Natalie Bachmeier supports the Colorado AgrAbility Project with research, evaluation, grants, and communication. She holds her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health and is passionate about rural health and building strong community partnerships. In her free time, she enjoys spending time hunting, biking, and camping throughout Colorado with her family.
Melissa Pearman Fenton, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University. She completed her Ph.D. in Youth Development and Family Science at the University of Florida and a NIDA T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Florida Substance Abuse Training Center in Public Health. Melissa’s upbringing in a rural Nebraska community drives her passion for supporting rural people’s health and well-being. Her research examines the influences of rural contextual factors on rural adolescent and young adult behavioral health, with the goal of informing prevention and intervention efforts to reduce behavioral health disparities among rural populations.
Ana Gutierrez-Colina is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in psychology and completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Georgia. She additionally completed her residency and an NIH-funded T32 postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology and health self-management at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Broadly, her program of research aims to improve the health and well-being of youth and families from historically underserved backgrounds, with a specific focus on Hispanic youth and families living in rural areas. Ultimately, her goal is to co-develop, in collaboration with communities and stakeholders, digital evidence-based interventions that optimally promote wellness, resilience, and health outcomes.
Dr. Pisegna is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Colorado State University and in conjunction with the Colorado AgrAbility Project. Dr. Pisegna is a practicing occupational therapist and has worked in acute care, inpatient, and community rehabilitation settings. Her research centers on studying rural health disparities among individuals with disabilities, occupational therapy mental healthcare in neurorehabilitation, and implementation science using mixed methods and community-engaged research. Dr. Pisegna has also been active in non-profit grassroots disability and social justice advocacy.
Ms. Leather’s was raised in the rural plains of Eastern Colorado in an agricultural community and has worked in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability services for over 40 years. She received her Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Science in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Specialty Certification in Blind Rehabilitation from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado.
G. James Sanchez has been employed with Goodwill Industries of Denver for over 17 years. Mr. Sanchez has had many roles and worked on many programs during his time at Goodwill. He started as a Program Manager with the Advancement Plus program in Adams County and then became the Manager for all of the Adams County Goodwill Workforce Programs. He then started the Goodwill Career Employment program for Arapahoe County. Mr. Sanchez is now the Director of Career Development Services and oversees programs serving youth and adults. Prior to working with Goodwill, Mr. Sanchez had over 20 years’ experience working with for-profit and non-profit human services agencies in the Denver Metro area. Mr. Sanchez has worked with at-risk youth, incarcerated youth under Senate Bill 94, closed-head injured adults, HIV/AIDS adults and Section 8/low-income housing recipients. Mr. Sanchez has a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Colorado State University.