Ben’s Ranch Foundation has added Dr. Carol D’Amico, PhD and Matthew Swartz to its Board of Directors. Ben’s Ranch Foundation connects teens struggling with mental health challenges to paid internships on farms, stables and equine therapy facilities. The jobs compliment medical therapies by helping give teens purpose and exposure to the healing powers of animals and nature.

Dr. D’Amico is an education and workforce development consultant in Indianapolis. She is the former Assistant Secretary in the Office of Vocational and Adult Education in the U.S. Department of Education and also served as the Executive Vice President of Ivy Tech Community College. Most recently, she served as the Executive Vice President of Strada Education Network. D’Amico received her Doctor of Education from Indiana University – Bloomington.

Swartz is the CEO of Growing the Results LLC and resides in Lebanon. He has worked in all aspects of agricultural education including University Extension, high school and the agriculture industry. He’s worked for companies including Pioneer, Monsanto, Syngenta, FMC, Helena, Nutrien and BASF. Swartz has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education and Farm Management from The Ohio State University and holds a Master of Science Degree from Purdue University.

You can view all of the Ben’s Ranch board members here.