Nina Ekholm Fry is the Director of Equine Programs at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at University of Denver where her work encompasses therapeutic human-horse interactions and equine behavior and welfare. She is an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, and leads the post-master Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program. For the past 15 years, she has focused on horses in human services, specializing in the inclusion of equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling. Nina is a board member of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA Inc.), past chair of the Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP), and previously served as the chief editor of the HETI Journal: International Research and Practice, published by the International Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy (HETI). Nina has a background as a mental health professional, specializing in trauma treatment, as a competitive rider, riding instructor (CHA), adaptive riding instructor (PATH Intl.), and equine behavior consultant. She teaches Equine Behavior at Yavapai College and is actively engaged in national and international organizations for both human and equine health. She has a particular interest in applied ethics and social justice perspectives within human-animal interactions, including human-horse conflict.
Equine-Assisted Mental Health Certificate | IHAC | GSSW | University of Denver (du.edu)
