What is the American Herbalists Guild Council of Students?
The CoS is a board comprised of Student Representatives from botanical medicine and four year on-site naturopathic programs. Each school that is a member of the AHG is entitled to a seat on the Council. Additionally, seats are reserved for an Independent Study representative for herbal students not affiliated with a school, and Mentorship Students, those engaged in private apprenticeship or the AHG mentorship program, but not also enrolled in a school.

The CoS meets by phone conference call and/or at the AHG national symposium. An AHG Council member or administrator is available at the meetings to serve as a liaison between the CoS and the AHG administration and the board of directors. The CoS has the option of a column in the AHG News and Views, a semi-annual newsletter distributed to all members.

What is the purpose of the Council of Students?
The overall goals of the CoS are to bring the needs and concerns of herbal students to the forefront of the AHG, to develop programs that facilitate the growth of students into herbal practitioners and AHG professional members, and to increase the visibility of AHG in schools, increasing the number of student herbalists -— and eventually, herbal practitioners -- within the AHG. With ongoing input and guidance from students, we can work to increase botanical medicine educational opportunities and their quality, and ultimately, strengthen the viability of the herbal professional.

The CoS strives to be an active body with an active board, keeping AHG apprised of the needs of students both in the organization and generally, representing the interests and concerns of schools to the AHG and the goals and interests of the AHG to schools.

Who is eligible for Council of Students membership?
Any student enrolled in a school that is a member in good standing of the AHG is eligible to serve as a Student Representative from that school to the AHG. Any school may become a member of the AHG. To qualify as a school, the program must have an enrollment of a minimum of 10 active students per year. School membership in the AHG is $150 per year. This entitles the school to all rights and privileges of a Sponsoring Membership, including a subscription to JAHG for the school library. A School Membership also qualifies the school for a free listing in our web-based Directory of Herbal Education. In addition, this fee covers the cost of the Student Representative’s membership as a full voting student member of the AHG with all of the rights, privileges, and services thereof.

Current CoS Representatives

Jamey Kowalski currently resides in St. Petersburg, FL and is a senior treating intern at the Professional Herbalists Training Program, under the direction of Bob Linde, AP, RH.  This two-year program focuses on Traditional Chinese Herbalism.  He brings his knowledge of western dietary health and nutrition to his clients and enjoys working with many of the adjunctive Chinese approaches such as moxibustion, auricular therapy and breath work. After years in the world of technology at a large corporation, Jamey is enjoying the jump into this new field and is studying Yang Tai Chi and Qi Gong to better manage stress.  Down the road he plans on practicing herbalism in Oregon, which hosts fewer hurricanes, less sun, but more trees!

Jayne Stevlingson Tamburello is the student representative from Tai Sophia Institute, located in Laurel, MD. Ms. Tamburello, a chartered financial analyst, left a 20-year career in finance to pursue a dream of helping people achieve greater health and vitality through natural medicine. Ms. Tamburello is the president and founder of the JMS Foundation for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving children around the world and lives outside of Philadelphia with her two small children.

Malgorzata (pronounced "magorsha") Polak is the school representative from the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, California. She is a graduate of the Roots of Herbalism Program and currently works in the garden assisting with the garden apprentice program. She has a background in production farming and environmental restoration. She is currently working towards becoming a nurse and being able to fuse conventional and alternative medicines.

Carol Simon, of Southeastern Pennsylvania, is the student representative for Jeanne Rose's Institute of Aromatic & Herbal Studies. She has a varied array of work experience and education relating to holistic health. Carol completed a 3-year horticulture program at the famed Barnes Foundation in Merion, PA. She expanded on this with participation in gardening programs at Longwood Gardens, Chadds Ford, PA, and then as a buyer for Waterloo Gardens for over 7 years. Carol also has received certifications in the following: Thai Yoga Massage, Aromatic Indian Head Massage (Champissage), and Chakra Balancing. Carol is a Reiki Master, a birdwatcher, an accomplished singer/songwriter, a newlywed, a mother of two college students, and a lover of laughter. Her goal is to develop herbal and aromatherapy workshops for young women in an effort to empower them with the wonders of nature.

Cheramy Trice is the representative for the East West School of Herbology in Santa Cruz, CA. She completed her formal studies in 2006, but continues to serve her school and learn everything she can about herbal medicine. She has a background as a science teacher and a medical librarian which she uses to further her personal goal of educating others about the beauty of nature and the simplicity of its medicine. She owns and operates Essence & Spirit Holistic Health, and works as a professional herbalist and Registered Aromatherapist in Houston, TX where she lives with her husband and their three fur-daughters (dogs).