NMCTR Board
Our Board is made up of community members who donate their time on a volunteer basis. They provide oversight and governance and recognize their responsibility with donations of both time and money. We are proud to enjoy 100% participation from the Board for financial contributions on an annual basis.
Shelley Phelan
President
Shelley was born and raised in New Mexico, spent 17 years in Dallas, and returned to NM in 2002. She has a degree from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and a Bachelors in Marketing from NMSU. Shelley spent many years in retail, advertising and marketing and worked for the Dallas Morning News before relocating to Santa Fe. NMCTR is one of many community organizations She has been involved with through the years including CASA, Many Mothers, Habitat for Humanity, SFIS and Boys and Girls Club. She is also NMCTR Volunteer Coordinator and assists with lessons and horse care. NMCTR gives Shelley the opportunity to combine “my love for horses with my desire to help those in need.”
Chris Swanson
Secretary
Chris was born and raised in rural Indiana. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from DePauw University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Chris lives in Los Alamos, where she moved in 2016 to begin work on labor relations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Prior to this, Chris did union work with classified school employees in California, followed by years of work as a mental health and social work professional serving a broad range of populations. Outside of her deep commitment to her career, Chris is passionate about environmental issues and spends as much time as she can outdoors. In addition to being an avid hiker and an amateur photographer, Chris enjoys competing with her dogs in K9 Nose Work.
Drew Nucci
Treasurer
Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire, and his master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College. He is also a CPA. Prior to joining Prep, he taught at the Academy for Technology and the Classics and at Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. When not in the classroom, Drew enjoys gardening, hiking, cooking and time with his wife.
Andrea Antillon
Board Member
Andrea has practiced law for over twelve years. She has a LL.M. in Taxation and focuses on real estate, taxation, and natural resources. She has represented private companies, public companies and private equity funds, both on national and international matters. Andrea has worked with many nonprofits, helping to get them organized and advising board members on duties and responsibilities. In addition to working as an attorney, Andrea is an avid horse woman. She got her start playing horse polo at Stanford University and has ridden ever since, working on ranches in Montana and Wyoming, guiding trail rides through Teton National Park, taking jumping and dressage lessons, participating in ranch sorting, and training horses.
Nancy Desiderio
Board Member
Nancy grew up in Albuquerque. She earned a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College. After living in AL and WA, Nancy returned home for good. She and her spouse, Mike, moved to Pecos, N.M., and she commenced law school at the University of New Mexico. After graduating, Nancy worked for the U.S. District Court in Santa Fe, and was on the Board of the Pecos Valley Medical Center. Nancy is the oldest of eight children, six adopted. Her parents became treatment foster care parents when she was in high school, giving her experience with people facing physical, mental, emotional, and financial challenges. Nancy is a rider with the NMCTR program, keeping her mobile despite having multiple sclerosis. She and her family love working at the barn and taking care of the NMCTR "herd."
Zella Kay Cox
Board Member
Zella moved to Santa Fe from Chicago in 1996. There, she was a member of the Board of Thresholds, an organization dedicated to providing services to individuals with behavior and/or mental disorders. The organization was focused on assisting individuals who were homeless and mentally ill, helping them find housing, treatment and appropriate employment. In Santa Fe, Zella has worked with organizations addressing the issues of literacy, high school drop outs, and juvenile justice. She also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for nine years and subsequently joined the Board of the Child Advocacy Network which oversees the CASA programs throughout New Mexico. Zella looks forward to assisting us with community outreach and public relations.
Liv Turner
Board Member
Liv and her family recently relocated to her husband's hometown of Santa Fe from Sacramento, California. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, earning a B.A. in English Literature, and a Juris Doctorate from John F. Kennedy Law School. She recently retired after serving a combined 18 years at University of California at Berkeley and the Judicial Council, primarily in administrative, payroll, and human resources capacities. She recently worked at the SF Recovery Center as a Case Worker teaching life skills to women. She has a strong interest in learning about how horse therapy can help regulate the emotions of those in recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. She is a member of the SF Women's Club and 100 Women Who Care. She's very happy to a be a Santa Fecina.
Advisory Board
John Berkenfeld, Ret. Executive Director, El Rancho de Las Golondrinas
Deborah Lamal, Advisor
Marilyn Miller, Advisor
Don Miller, Advisor
Mike Phelan, Deloitte Consulting, Advisor
