Our Board of Directors

Daryl Ackley

Eagle Point, Oregon

Daryl Ackley has been involved with KSC since 2001, formerly as the lawn mower guy at the farmhouse.  He has been on the board for a few years and is currently serving as the KSC Treasurer.  Daryl moved to Southern Oregon in 1975, raised his family here, and lives with his spouse, Sally, on 20 acres a few miles out of Butte Falls, Oregon.  He retired from the State of Oregon as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind and is the owner of an agency (ACES) that helps individuals experiencing intellectual/developmental disabilities find jobs in the community.  Daryl is currently working on writing a poem on his personal experiences related to each of the 37 Practices of a Boddhisattva.

Kathy Gaines

Board Secretary—Medford, Oregon
Kathy has been a part of KSC since 2017. In July of 2022 she joined the Board of Directors and also assumed the role of secretary. In her professional career she worked in healthcare as a registered nurse in a variety of roles supporting patient care. This included patient care, staff education, organizational change and readiness and project management. In November of 2021 she retired after working 40 years at a local hospital. Her interests include all things gardening, learning new uses for flowers and herbs, reading and caring for her two dogs and two cats.

David Kennedy

Ashland, Oregon
David earned a B.A. in Anthropology, and an M.S. in Environmental Education, and has worked as a teacher, recreational aide, truck driver, warehouseman, professional (paid) actor, bookseller, botanist, gardener, school bus driver, hospital porter, and journalist.  David’s personal interests include gardening, art, reading, science, music, understanding humans, animals, and the universe.  David writes poetry, especially Haiku, cooks, has published many opinion pieces in local papers, and is a certified cat weirdo and all around animal lover.  He’s been a Buddhist for about 45 years.

Sue Kretschmann

Co-President—Talent, Oregon
Sue and spouse Roland, have been part of the KSC sangha since 2009. Their daughter, Ronnie, was one of the early Dharma Kids. Sue’s professional career was in hospital-based nursing as a RN, with roles in leadership, education, and organizational development. She has served on the KSC board since 2014. Her many roles include board link to the Administrative Assistant and the following teams: Volunteer Organizing, Technology, Zoom Host, and Embracing Conflict. Sue enjoys tending their orchard and veggie garden, hiking, camping, reading, trying new recipes from all over the world, knitting, and their many pets.

Barbara Mathieson

Ashland, Oregon

Barbara began meditating 30 years ago in the Zen tradition, but in 2014 she attended the annual KSC personal practice retreat and was immediately hooked. She currently practices at KSC with Calm Abiding, Green Tara, and Insight groups. She acts as a Zoom host, helps on the gardening team, and joined the Board in 2024. A retired English professor, Barbara enjoys spending time with her husband Tom in their garden and orchard, hiking, reading, attending theater and music events, and considering the ever-surprising human mind.

KRistienne McFarland

Ashland, Oregon
"I was introduced to Tibetan Buddhism when I lived in Bodh Gaya, India as a teenager and have practiced off and on since then.
I have been coming to KSC since moving to Ashland almost 6 years ago. The first few years I was on the periphery, especially during the pandemic, but I have been seeking ways to participate more fully as a member of the sangha. I have taken part in the Insight group over the past two years and volunteered for a few events, as I have been able.
I finally am at a place in my life where I can practice regularly and seek to give back some of what I have gained by having access to KSC and the community it brings. 
Professionally, I am a certified nurse midwife of many years and, since completing a doctoral degree, I have become a professor at OHSU in the School of Nursing. I now teach primarily in the graduate department entirely online and conduct academic research. This gives me more flexibility to participate in the activities of KSC.
My skill set (at least the part of it that would benefit KSC) includes communication, organization and knowledge development. Thirty-three years as a health care provider have given me a unique view on the world and how people can best be served through compassion and caring."

Hank Minnick

Ashland, Oregon
Hank Minnick has been an active member of the KSC Sangha since October of 2018. He has served on the membership team and cleaning team. He presently is a member of both the Joyful Effort and Insight I groups. Outside of KSC, he is a business program graduate from Southern Oregon University and presently works in manufacturing at Scharffen Berger Chocolates.

Phyllis Norris

Member Emeritus—Ashland, Oregon
Phyllis has served on the KSC board since 2000. She is board link to the Compassion in Action and Publicity teams. She is a retired CPA, and oversees KSC accounting functions, prepares budgets and financial reports. Phyllis also leads the Green Tara, Mahakala and Chenrezig practices in rotation. She previously served on the board, and as President and Treasurer, of Kagyu Droden Kunchab in San Francisco. Her interests include photography, interior design, pickleball, global travel, and travel writing.

Laura Parrish

Co-President—Eugene, Oregon
Laura serves as the residential retreat coordinator for KSC. Laura is a retired attorney who has studied the Dharma for 20 years. She’s been a member of the KSC sangha, initially with the “northern sangha” (Eugene), and for the past 7 or so years with the Ashland sangha. Laura serves as board link to the KSC Newsletter. Her interests include music, playing piano, walking, hiking, gardening, camping, reading, knitting, and writing.

Matt phillipy

New Member - Bio coming!

Martha Wilhelm

Talent, Oregon
Martha has served KSC on the board since 2014, as well as in the capacities of Events manager, Garden team, Mahakala chopon, a practice leader for 4 Tantric Deities, former Dharma Kids leader, Phase Forward team member and Zoom host. She is a former public school educator. Martha’s interests include land stewardship, travels, visual arts, friendships and family, contemporary writings, dharma, and learning about aging with grace. She completed a pilgrimage to Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet in the fall of 2019.

jerry wujek

Ashland, Oregon

Jerry has been a part of KSC since 2021.  He has been meditating and following the Buddhist path since 1993.  He has a B.A. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.  He has carried out research in the areas of nerve regeneration, spinal cord injury, and Multiple Sclerosis.  In 2004, he joined the National Institutes of Health where he managed the evaluation and funding of scientific research in vision and ophthalmology.  In 2020, Jerry retired and moved to Ashland, where he enjoys vegetable gardening, reading, as well as volunteering at KSC for Morning Meditation, Calm Abiding Meditation, and Sunday Meditation.