People |

Staff
Compos Mentis’s small staff of paid employees supervise activities with the assistance of numerous volunteers. Family and friends of Compos Mentis apprentices are encouraged to become volunteers at the farm, to the extent that it is possible.

Compos Mentis Program Coordinator Shannon Haskins oversees all aspects of day-to-day activities, with the help of an assistant program coordinator. To discuss the program with Shannon or make an appointment to visit, please call 607-229-6392.
 

Volunteers
To volunteer your time and talents to Compos Mentis please contact Paula Winner, board member and volunteer coordinator, 273-3204, or pj54winner@gmail.com

Volunteers are needed both at the farm and off-site, during the growing season and during the off-season. At the farm, volunteers assist staff members with construction projects, work day tasks, weekend chores, and more. Some volunteers work with apprentices, either side-by-side in mentoring relationships, by sharing their love of gardens and the outdoors, or by leading other activities.

These core volunteers are trained by the staff and commit to working at least one day a week. Other volunteers are needed for a variety of activities and to lead work groups on Open Fridays.

New in 2008, Open Fridays are a day when community members are welcome to be guests of the farm. Guests work side-by-side with apprentices, volunteers, group leaders, and staff members.


To download a volunteer form, please click here.

Board of Directors

Abby Eller
board chair
Abby has been director of Cornell University Summer College since 1990. Her son, who has bipolar disorder, lived for a while at Gould Farm in western Massachusetts, which was an inspiration to her.

Howard M. Feinstein, M.D., Ph.D.
board vice chair
Howard is a psychiatrist who has practiced in Ithaca for over forty years with a special interest in psycho-pharmacology. An historian and writer, he has taught courses at Cornell about the history of psychiatry.

Lynn Gerstein, LCSW
board secretary
Lynn is a licensed clinical social worker who works at Gannett Health Center at Cornell University and previously worked for the Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County.

Nancy T-M Kung, Esq.
board treasurer
Nancy is an attorney and specializes in not-for-profit law and patent law.

William Chernish, Ph.D.
Bill is a former assistant dean of Executive Education at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. He has been involved with numerous not-for-profit organizations, including the Franziska Racker Centers, Tompkins County United Way and the Atlanta chapter of the American Red Cross.

Stephen Cole
Stephen is a retired professor in the Department of Theater, Film and Dance at Cornell University.  After an active career in the theater, Stephen is an avid volunteer at Compos Mentis, sharing interesting readings and discussions with our apprentices. 

Robert Mendola, M.D.
Robert is affiliated with Gannett Health Center, Tompkins County Mental Health Center and Cayuga Medical Center. He is on staff at Family and Children's Services and at The Beechtree and Oak Hill Manor nursing homes. His interests include community mental health and geriatric psychiatry.

Marvin Pritts, Ph.D.
Marvin is chair of the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University as well as a member of the board of directors of the Cayuga Nature Center.

Winthrop (Pete) Wetherbee, Ph.D.
A retired professor of medieval literature, Pete has been working with inmates at Auburn Correction Facility, coordinating a program which offers Cornell courses for credit.

Paula Winner, CSW
Paula is a clinical social worker who has worked at Family & Children’s Services in Ithaca.