Amanda Lattin BA, MAT, Dip. Aroma, MH, RA - Vice President

Amanda Lattin is a trained chemist, teacher, and practicing herbalist and aromatherapist. Amanda earned a BA in chemistry from Huntingdon College, and an MAT with a concentration in chemistry from Lewis and Clark College, before earning her diplomas in both Herbal Studies and Aromatherapy from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She is a Registered Aromatherapist through the Aromatherapy Registration Council.

Amanda has almost 20 years of experience as a professional educator. She has developed and taught curricula on chemistry, biochemistry, and essential oils at several institutions including the College of Botanical Healing Arts, the Traditional Roots Institute at the National University of Natural Medicine, and the American College of Healthcare Sciences. Amanda is currently a professor and the Aromatherapy and Spa Management Program Chair at the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

She founded her herbal and aromatherapy consulting practice, Terracina Aromatics and Herbals in Portland, Oregon, in 2007, designing its line of therapeutic aromatherapy products. Amanda has serviced hundreds of clients with aromatherapy and herbal consults and has collaborated widely with other holistic and allopathic healthcare providers to bring aromatherapy and herbal supports to their clients.

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Julie Duke, CA, LAMT - Secretary

Julie Duke became a level one certified aromatherapist with the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy in 2023. She is the founder and director of Island Haven Animal Sanctuary and has been using essential oils with the sanctuary animals since she was gifted her first bottle in 2017.

Julie has studied with Jade Shutes, Caroline Ingraham and Nayana Morag among others and is always looking to expand her aromatic education. In 2023 she founded Duke Apothecary and began distilling her own line of local, sustainably sourced hydrosols.

Julie is honored to be an AIA Area Representative and looks forward to supporting members and nurturing our aromatic community.

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Amanda May-Fitzgerald, AAS, RA™, BS in IHS - Treasurer

Amanda May-Fitzgerald, RA™, BS in IHS, is a passionate integrative health consultant specializing in aromatherapy and herbal product formulation. She strongly believes in the beautiful connection of art and science in nature, inspiring a holistic approach that bridges the gap between self-care and health care for her clients. With 10 years of experience in integrative health, she has developed a strong skill set in product formulation and supporting trauma survivors. Her most crucial passion project is developing research reporting guidelines for aromatic-focused research with the Aromatic Research Quality Appraisal Taskforce (ARQAT) to further contribute to the evidence base of aromatherapy. In her free time, she enjoys being out in nature, tending to her garden, singing, and playing her guitar.

Cary Caster, BS, LMT, CCA - Director

Cary Caster, BS, LMT, CCA is a Botanist, Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Clinical Aromatherapist whose life’s passion is to help people to be their best self every day. She believes that people can take their health and wellness into their own hands by incorporating the healing benefits of therapeutic quality essential oils and other natural remedies with the assistant of qualified professionals.

Lorrie Hargis, RA, CH - Director

For 37 years, Lorrie has been a global leader in developing Certified Organic therapeutic skin care, perfumes, and health care products. She has led the curriculum development and training programs at Fortune 500 companies and taught thousands of people to better their health and well-being.

She is the founder of the Lorrie Hargis International School of Aromatherapy where she teaches, guides, and certifies her students to be safe and effective Aromatherapists.

Judy Ratliff, MA, BSN, NC-BC - Director

Judy Ratliff is a registered nurse, certified Integrative Nurse Coach, and clinical aromatherapist with a deep passion for blending time-honored healing traditions with modern, evidence-informed practice. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Holistic Health and a Master of Science in Cannabis Therapeutics, reflecting her commitment to expanding the boundaries of integrative and plant-based care.

Judy brings over three decades of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan, with a special focus on older adults and end-of-life care. She serves as a faculty member with the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy, where she helps guide the next generation of nurses in whole-person healing.

As a member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists, Judy is dedicated to honoring the roots of aromatherapy while envisioning its future within clinical, community, and educational settings. Her work is grounded in compassion, presence, and the transformative power of nature’s wisdom.

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Mimi Russell de Martin, RA®, NCPA, AAT, CFEP, RT - Director

Mimi is a highly adaptable practitioner and language professional whose varied career encompasses the fields of wellness, language services, luxury retail, the travel sector, and marketing. She currently operates as a self-employed Practitioner, offering specialised therapies in Aromatherapy, AcuAroma, and Flower Essences. Her practice is dedicated to holistic wellness, considering the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. Mimi's approach involves thorough client assessments, the creation of bespoke blends tailored to individual requirements, and the provision of ongoing support through follow-up sessions. Her services are available to both private individuals and corporate clients, including tailored aromatherapy consultations and the development of innovative product formulations.

Before embarking on her current path, Mimi worked as a Language Professional, with expertise in writing, copywriting, localisation for advertising campaigns, and translation. She has contributed to significant academic, multinational, and non-governmental linguistic projects, with experience spanning sectors such as cargo, health insurance, luxury retail, and skincare. Her earlier professional history includes her tenure as Boutique Director at Hermès and a range of managerial roles at Sabre Travel Network, covering marketing, regional management, customer service, and training. Prior to these, Mimi held positions in international security coordination, purchasing, and customer service at American Airlines, Eastern Airlines, and Braniff International within the travel industry.

Mimi's educational background includes Aromatherapy Certification (Levels 1 & 2) from the New York Institute of Aromatherapy, certifications from the Tisserand Institute in Aroma Psychology, Practical Aroma Psychology, and Formulation, and a Certified Flower Essence Practitioner qualification from Lorrie Hargis International School of Aromatherapy. She is also certified in Acu-Aroma Therapy with Angela Sidlo. Her academic studies feature Advertising, Marketing, and Business Administration at Universidad del Istmo in Panama, complemented by additional coursework at Braniff International College and Universidad de Panama. Further professional development includes Strategic Planning at UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business and Negotiating to Yes.

Mimi's career has afforded her international experience across the United States, France, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, all of Central America, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French, with some proficiency in Portuguese.

Her professional credentials include Registered Aromatherapist, Certified AcuAroma Therapist, NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist, Certified Flower Essence Practitioner, and Registered Translator.

Mimi is an active advocate in her field, acting as the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) Representative for Panama and Latin America, a Committee Member of the Research Academy, and is currently serving as an AIA Board Director for 2026–2027. She is also a member of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA), and The Flower Essence Society. Her interests include aromatherapy and herbalism, wellness, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Her dedication and achievements have been acknowledged through several corporate awards. Mimi remains passionate about empowering individuals and communities to adopt gentle, effective practices for nurturing the mind, body, and spirit, promoting balance and harmony.

Veronica (Rhani) Thomas - Director

Veronica “Rhani” Easterling Thomas is the Founder of Multicultural Aromatherapy which is the first African American owned aromatherapy school. Established February 2008 on a virtual platform, Rhani saw the need for women with small children, like herself, to gain a convenient aromatherapy education by providing the “live experience from the comfort of home”. The necessity for more African American aromatherapists led to her coining the term Afro Aromatherapy™ based on African Herbalism principles. The multicultural spirit created a safe space for people of all nationalities, social and educational backgrounds to network and support each other in a group setting. Rhani’s certification program has certified a number of aromatherapists, and she also provides consultation services to many companies including, Likisma Aromatherapy (UK) and The Oprah Show guest, Jasmine Lawrence of Eden Body Works. Also, recent research on the toxicity of relaxers and hair products being linked to cancer and fibroids in Black women motivated Rhani to develop a clean beauty database for consumers and a class to help African Americans recognize toxic products and provide “clean beauty” consultations to businesses using essential oils.

Rhani’s specialty is Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain, and as a result of her personal experience with fibromyalgia and her “Fibro Facets” Approach, she has developed a special technique to relieve pain that combines empowerment, self care and essential oils. She has lectured on a number of platforms and written articles for aromatherapy journals and business magazines. Rhani Thomas has a strong educational background in aromatherapy, herbalism, and holistic health, including The Tisserand Institute, Elizabeth Ashley, Renee’ Hughes and many CE classes, Aromatherapy Conferences and Summits. She is a graduate of the Stratford Institute’s Natural Health Consultant program which she uses to enhance her aromatherapy program by teaching a Holistic, Mind, Body, and Soul experience. Her Aroma Pow Wow™ sessions provide free training to individuals as she saw unsafe use of essential oils on social media platforms. Rhani created the Aroma Lineage Task Force in 2023 by inviting a group of aromatherapists who volunteered information and made contributions to the Aroma Lineage Project™ (Founded June 2021) which is her research on Aromatherapy Heritage. In 2025, she became an Honorary Professor at HPOC-University and is currently one of the Founders of the first Black Aromatherapy Organization.