JACO Board and Staff

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    Catherine Ballard

    Catherine’s prior career was as a health care attorney at the Columbus law firm of Bricker & Eckler.  Her focus was on patient care initiatives to help prevent patient harm.  She has always been interested in western psychology and eastern philosophy.  She found that the Jungian world seeks to blend these concepts in a way that works for her.  She has been on the JACO Board since 2019.  She was the Board chair from 2023-2026. 

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    Gus Brunsman

    Emeritus Member

    Photojournalist, audiographer, creator of an extensive audio CD collection of JACO lectures designed to preserve the gems of wisdom of each guest long after they left town. Thanks to these recordings we have among others: Jim Hollis telling the world’s funniest joke; Dick Sweeney making Jungian concepts easily understandable; John Beebe simplifying personality types; Erik Goodwyn revealing the placebo 72% Rule; and Pittman McGehee reminding us that complexes trump Ego. 

    Sociologist by training, I enjoy photographing people…people fascinate me. 

    I enjoy talking  about my trip to Bollingen & the Red Book.

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    Maggi Colwell

    Maggi Colwell joined the board after relocating to Columbus during the pandemic.  She is an artist, Board Certified Registered Art Therapist℠ (ATR-BC®), and Jungian analyst in training at the C.G. Jung Institute Zürich, with a background in ceremonial ritual.

    In her private practice, Chiron Art Therapy, Maggi works with women navigating childhood trauma, chronic medical issues with stress-related symptoms, and complicated grief. She brings Jungian psychology, art therapy, dream analysis and shadow work to that often-overlooked territory where the body, psyche, and soul meet.

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    Dawn Costin

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    James Fidelibus

    James is a Jungian Analyst and Licensed Psychologist. He received his diploma from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. You may contact him at 614-890-4904 or by email at fidelibus@sbcglobal.net

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    Martha Gostely

    Martha's career was in librarianship at Columbus Metropolitan Library. Later, she returned to college and, subsequently, enjoyed a second career working in occupational therapy with children and adolescents. She has always been interested in spirituality and psychology and  has found a blend of these in Jungian psychology. She has been on the JACO Board since 2024.

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    David Hett

    David is a retired teacher of the psychological-spiritual work called the Diamond Approach, or Diamond Heart, of which he was a student for 24 years. He was also one of the early certified teachers of the Enneagram in the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Institute. A lifelong student of Jungian and archetypal psychology, David has an M.Div. from Garrett Theological Seminary at Northwestern, and also a B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois. He is also a retired United Methodist clergy. His primary interest throughout his adulthood has been in the intersection of psychology-religion-spirituality-and culture. He has presented on various topics at JACO, and also facilitated several book studies. David is in private practice as a Spiritual Director and works as a freelance teacher and writer. He lives in the Chicago area near his family.

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    Jeff Holman

    Jeff is a Certified Educator of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., who works for OhioHealth and the Methodist School in Ohio, directing programs and affiliations.  He serves ACPE as the Chair of Certification and as member of the Board of Directors.  He makes use of Jungian theory in his work and values the community and offerings of JACO.  Jeff enjoys teaching, stories, hikes, Dungeons and Dragons, and Kentucky bourbon.  He has been attending JACO events since 2014 and has been on the Board since 2024.

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    Mary Marx

    Worked in research and evaluation at University of Cincinnati. Long term interest in Jung, depth psychology, mythology, and the humanities. Enjoyed a two-year program at Pacifica. Taught myth and folktale English classes at Chatfield College. Moderator at UC Osher Life Long Learning (OLLI) for classes on Lou Andreas-Salomé; Remedios Varo; Snow White; Mary Renault’s The King Must Die; and, Seamus Heaney’s Sweeney Astray. Member of JACO Programming Committee and Board, and Cincinnati Jung’s Steering Committee. Moderates Jungian book and film studies. Favorite travel: with extended family, and to myth sites. 

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    Alissa Ohashi

    Alissa Ohashi is an interdisciplinary artist and facilitator working across photography, collage, performance, and installation. Her work explores the interplay between individual parts and the emergent whole, illuminating processes of integration, transformation, and collective meaning-making. She also leads workshops at the intersection of art, psychology, and esoteric studies and has served as Arts in the Parks Coordinator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Arts Council, developing statewide public art programming. 

    Ohashi holds an MFA and a BA in Strategic Communication. Most recently, she is a 2025 Greater Columbus Arts Council “Artist Projects” grant recipient. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, including seven solo shows.

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    Clair Simmons

    Discovering the teachings of Carl Jung in college confirmed in me a feeling that the inner life is as important, if not more so, than our perceptions of the outer world.  This was a pivot point in my life that switched my focus to wholeness and meaning rather than the expectations of others. To that end, I have recorded my dreams for many years; entered Jungian analysis; studied Dream/Body Work, an offshoot of Jungian Psychology; and participated in the Gurdjieff Work. All these activities enriched my life tremendously.   Finding the Central Jung Association of Central Ohio (JACO) has provided a new group of amazing friends who share those interests. My professional background includes working for Save the Children Federation American Indian Program, assisting several Washington state tribes to develop grassroots health programs, and eventually becoming a Risk Manager for several corporations and ultimately for Kitsap County, Washington. 

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    Karen Smith

    Karen started her career as a registered nurse working in a hospital setting. After 14 years as a nurse, she became an attorney working as a regulatory attorney helping hospital clients navigate the myriad state/federal laws and regulations. She has always enjoyed working with finances and is proud to serve as treasurer of the Jung Association of Central Ohio.

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    Raymond Sprogis

    Raymond graduated from the Ohio State University with a B.S in Psychology. His work experience at the Ohio State University spans employment while a student, OSU Hospital Medical Records Management, and Human Resources Generalist. With his interest in human behavior, working in a university setting allowed him to apply his education. In continuing his search to understand why we are the way we are, finally led to finding the Jung Association of Central Ohio. He has been a Board member for six years, with a focus on maintaining the comprehensive JACO Library.

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    Dick Sweeney

    Emeritus Member

    Richard J. Sweeney, Ph.D. is a founding member of JACO.  He is a Jungian analyst, a licensed professional clinical counselor, and a former Roman Catholic priest. He holds a Master of Arts in English literature, Master’s degrees in both philosophy and theology, and a Doctorate in psychology and religion.  He went on to earn his Diploma in analytical psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute Zürich.  He is the founding chair of the Ohio Valley Association of Jungian Analysts and continues to be an active member of the International Faculty Wing of the C.G. Jung Institute Zürich. Several years ago, he relocated from Columbus, Ohio to Maine where he currently practices and is a board member of the Maine Jung Center.

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    Stephen Weed

    Office Manager

    Stephen Weed is the current office manager for JACO.  He served on the JACO Board of Directors from 2015 to 2022 and presented a number of Second Saturday programs on Jung's Psychological Types and mental function pairs. He is an MBTI Master Practitioner and taught personality type courses locally for more than 20 years.