SLC: 1-800-407-3251

Orem: 1-800-864-0012

Ogden: 1-833-878-7749

Faculty & Administration
Ogden Branch Campus

Our faculty consists of contract working professionals unless otherwise stated.

McKaela Bigler, LMT, graduated with a Certificate of Massage Therapy from Cortiva in 2018. She specializes in sports massage and injury rehabilitation. In 2023, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science, with a minor in Nutrition Education, from Weber State University. McKaela is currently pursuing certification as a strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA. She teaches Kinesiology, Pathology, and Sports Massage at our Ogden campus.

Meridith Bott, LMT, graduated with a Certificate of Massage Therapy from the UCMT in 1998 and began her career in corporate massage while collaborating with personal trainers at the Life Center in Sandy. She later served as a personal trainer at Lady Fitness, specializing in geriatric care and women’s health. Over the past decade, Meridith has transitioned to a home-based private practice, offering personalized treatments tailored to each client’s needs. She is dedicated and passionate about sharing her expertise in the field of Massage and Bodywork. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and three adventurous sons. Meridith teaches Seated Chair Massage, Geriatric Health and Wellness, Myofascial Release, and Prenatal Massage at our Ogden Campus.

Rylee Blackburn, LMT, graduated from Myotherapy College in 2020 with her Massage Therapy Certificate. With a background in powerlifting, she has an in-depth understanding of strength, movement, and the demands placed on the body. After sustaining a back injury in 2019 that paused her competitive lifting career, Rylee turned to massage therapy for rehabilitation, which ignited her passion for bodywork and shaped her commitment to helping others achieve functional, long-term wellness. She specializes in sports massage and has worked with several University of Utah sports teams. She teaches Sports Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, and Anatomy at our Ogden campus.

Jill Chambers, LMT, Reiki Master/Teacher, is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Master, graduated with a Certificate of Massage Therapy from the Myotherapy College of Utah in 2018. With over six years of experience in the spa industry, she earned her Master Reiki certification in 2024. Jill serves as the Ogden Spa Manager and an instructor for Massage 1 and 2, Seated Chair Massage, and Hydrotherapy.

Justin Cottle, LMT, graduated from UCMT with a Certificate of Massage Therapy in 2012. He is a dedicated anatomy educator with over a decade experience in hands-on cadaveric instruction and lecturing in the classroom. He spent most of that time as the Lab Director at the Institute of Human Anatomy, where he learned the art of cadaveric dissection and jump-started his career. Justin currently teaches, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Pathology at the Ogden campus.

John Edwards, BS, graduated from Utah Valley University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He worked as a cost accountant, an accountant, and for the past several years as a charter school Business Manager. In John’s free time he enjoys being in nature with his family scuba diving, taking underwater photography, skiing, bicycling, hiking, and camping. John is the school accountant working out of the SLC campus.

Theresa Ellis, BA, LMT, practitioner/violin artist, is well-versed in therapeutic massage, energy work, and harmonic services, focusing on balancing specific wellness frequencies in the body. She is the owner of The Healing Tree, a Music & Wellness Clinic in Eden, UT. Theresa graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Utah in 1992, and completed the Renaissance College Massage Program, specializing in CranioSacral Therapy, in 2014 with a Certificate of Massage Therapy. Theresa enjoys playing music with her band, balancing both her professional and personal life. Theresa teaches Craniosacral at the Ogden Campus.

Dani Hatch, BA, graduated from Weber State University in 2023 with a degree in Film Studies and Business Administration. On movie sets and in office settings, she loves collaborative creative projects, especially ones that propel individuals’ careers. She enjoys all things storytelling from watching and discussing movies, to reading and writing, to themed game nights with family and friends. Dani is an admissions representative for the Ogden campus.

Jeremy Kellum, LMT, MBA, graduated from Healing Touch School of Massage Therapy in 2003 with a Certificate of Massage Therapy. He got his Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2012 and his Masters of Business Administration from Western Governors University in 2022. He specializes in connective tissue and injury-related massage. He has worked on rehabilitating professional and semi-professional athletes and has been a massage instructor, beginning in the state of Mississippi, since 2006. Jeremy is Healing Mountain’s school director and Board Chair on the SLC Board of Directors.

Nicole Lund, LMT, CPT, graduated with a Certificate of Massage Thearpy from Healing Mountain in 2022 and received her CPT from NASM in 2023. After two years in the spa industry, Nicole transitioned to private practice, focusing on personalized, individual client needs. She has received Structural Integration training and holds several advanced NASM certifications to continue her education both as an LMT and CPT. Nicole’s passion for the human body and how it functions drives her desire in helping others learn to love and appreciate their own body in a pain free state. Outside of work Nicole loves spending time with her horses and she is certified in Equine Massage Therapy. She teaches Hydrotherapy, Massage 3, and Sports Massage at the Ogden campus.

Nerissa McNeil, AAS, graduated from BYU–Idaho in 2022 with a degree in Marriage and Family Services. Passionate about helping others achieve their goals, she finds joy in seeing people flourish and pursue their dreams. As Admissions Director, she oversees admissions while continuing to serve as the Orem campus Admissions Representative and providing Career Services support. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and furthering her education in psychology.

Amy Moon, LMT, CST-T graduated from Myotherapy College of Utah in 1999 with her Massage Therapy Certificate. She has an HR Certificate from Ensign College and additional training in Co-Active Coaching and is a practicing therapist specializing in Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. She volunteers with the nonprofit Thrive, offering Craniosacral Therapy to torture survivors. Amy and her husband love staying active with their children and spending time with family and friends. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, yoga, Pilates, and dancing. Amy is passionate about teaching the next generation of therapists in a variety of modalities, especially ethics and business. She teaches Ethics of Touch, Energetic Anatomy, Prenatal, Acupressure and Lymphatic Drainage at our Ogden campus.

Taylar Ngo, LMT, graduated with a Certificate of Massage Therapy from the Utah College of Massage Therapy in 2015 after being introduced to Structural Integration while working as a fitness trainer. Upon graduating, he became a Structural Integrator and has since continued to develop a structural approach to bodywork, focusing on posture, injuries, and athletics. He has also worked in the spa industry for over six years. A lifelong athlete and fitness trainer for over 12 years, Taylar remains fascinated by the human body and appreciates how his approaches to bodywork and fitness have influenced one another. Taylar currently serves as the Ogden Campus Director and Program Supervisor, teaching Massage 3, Myofascial Release, Licensing Exam Prep, Ethics & the Law, Universal Standard Precautions, Career Development, Reflexology, and Business Basics.

Aaron Nikola, completed the Crystal Healing course at HMMS in 2005. Since then, he has actively practiced Crystal Healing and Chakra Layouts. In 2006, he began incorporating his crystal healing expertise into the massage field by teaching and working with both clients and students. Aaron is also a silversmith who integrates healing crystals into his designs. In 2011, he became the manager of the Healing Mountain Crystal Shop. Aaron graduated from the school’s Massage Program in 2013 and became a faculty member at Healing Mountain Massage School in 2017. Furthermore, from 2018 - 2023, Aaron taught the Sound Healing course for Healing Mountain’s Holistic Health Practitioner program. He continues to practice Sound Healing privately, sharing his knowledge and passion for using sound as a healing modality.

Jesse Nikola, LMT, BFA, graduated from HMMS in 2000 with a Certificate of Massage Therapy, and furthered his education from SLCC with an Associate of Visual Art and Design in Multimedia, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from UVU in Graphic Communication. He worked as the SLC campus spa director for eight years and SLC campus director for seven years. He currently is the school’s president and chief executive officer.

RJ Nikola, LMT, JCD, BA, is the founder of Healing Mountain. He graduated from UCMT with a Certificate of Massage Therapy, has a JCD in education and a BA in education from BYU. He is the author of Japanese Full-Body Shiatsu and Creatures of Water. Randy served as a commissioner on the ABHES accrediting bureau from 2009-2017, served two terms on the Utah State Massage Board, and is currently a member of the Utah State Massage Therapy Education Peer Committee.

Emily Shirley, LMT, is a 2022 graduate of HMMS with a Certificate of Massage Therapy. For the past three years, she has been helping clients heal and recover in a chiropractic setting and is developing her own full-time private practice. Emily specializes in a unique blend of Swedish and Trigger Point therapy, combining deep relaxation with targeted tension relief. In addition to her work with clients, she shares her passion for massage therapy by teaching Acupressure and Reflexology at our Ogden campus.

Melissa Welter, BSBM, MBA, graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2011. Melissa has previously worked for Utah College of Massage Therapy as a regional financial aid director and has been in the financial aid field for almost two decades. Melissa is our school Financial Aid Administrator.

Page updated: 03/4/26