Marsha Nelson, PhD
Vitae & More
Education
1966
Graduated from South Hills High School - West Covina, CA
1973
Mt. San Antonio College - Walnut, California Associates of Arts Degree
California State University at Los Angeles Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (General)
1975
California State University at Los Angeles California Elementary Teaching Credential
1976
California State University at Los Angeles Master of Arts in Elementary Education
1999
Summit University Doctorate of Philosophy / Emphasis: Psychology / Specialization: Creative Journal Expressive Arts
Employment
1966 - 1974
Waitress, PBX operator, Factory work for Mattel Toys, Store Clerk for W.T. Grants
1974 - 1977
St. Mary Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA — Elementary School Teacher
1977 - 1987
Little Lake City School District, Santa Fe Springs, CA — Elementary School Teacher
1978 - 1986
Seal Swim School - Seal Beach, CA founder, director and swim instructor
1987 - 1993
Stay at Home Mom
1993 - 1997
M&M Travel in Edinburg, Texas founded and operated
2000 - 2018
El Rocio Retreat, Mission, Texas — owner/operator
2004 - Present
Project Insight™ www.project-insight.net Executive Director
2008 - Present
Visioning(R) Co-founder & Training Supervisor - Visioning(R) Certification Program www.visioningcoach.org
2009 - Present
Creative Journal Expressive Arts workshop facilitator
2013 - 2016
Creative Journal for Schools Program Director
2017 - Present
Workshop Facilitator at Kensington Place Redwood City Memory Care (kensingtonplaceredwoodcity.com)
Accomplishments
1985 — Junior Woman's Club of Seal Beach, CA club president
1986 — Junior Woman's Club of Orange County, CA Woman of the Year
1982 - 1987 — Junior Woman’s Club of Seal Beach, CA member
1988 - 1989 — Founder and President of UCI Physician & Resident Spouse Organization
1989 - 1993 — AAUW Board of Directors in Lake Arrowhead, CA
1996 - 2006 — Zonta Club of West Hidalgo County, TX Board of Directors
1997 - 2017 — Founder and Director of Third Thursday Potluck Workshops
2002 - 2010 — South Texas Professional Golf Association Junior Program Tournament assistant
2003 - 2005 — Mission C.I.S.D., Mission, TX co-founder of the Journaling from the Heart program
2005 - Present — Renaissance Club of McAllen, TX Historian
2005 - Present — Project Insight™ 501 (C) 3 non-profit (art therapy methods for the fulfillment of life) Executive Director
2005 - 2006 — Vet Center in McAllen, TX - volunteer workshop presenter
2006 - 2007 — Project Jumpstart with the National Guard - volunteer workshop presenter
2008 — Leadership Texas Graduate
2008 - 2009 — Audie L. Murphy Veteran Hospital workshop presenter
2009 — Texas Education Region 1 - Grief Workshop Presenter
2009 — Renaissance Club of McAllen, TX President
2009 — Leadership Texas Region Liaison
2011 — Penitas Public Library spearheaded the collection of 8,000 books for the new library
2011 — Texas Oncology-McAllen Cancer Survivor Workshop Presenter
2012 - 2018 — H.O.P.E. Cancer Survivor and Caregiver Weekly workshop founder & presenter
2014 — Leadership America Women Graduate
2015 — Army-Navy Federal Credit Union’s Hometown Hero Award
2017 — Summit Expressive Arts Conference, NYC presenter
2017 – 2021 — Permian Basin Mental Health Conference in Midland Texas
2020 — Kensington Place Memory Care Residency, Redwood City, California
2020 — Vet TRIIP non-profit Zoom workshops presenter
2020 — Fundamentals from the Heart non-profit Zoom workshops presenter
2021 — Vet TRIIP Women Only Group Zoom weekly presentations
2021 — Kensington Place Zoom Series Presentations
2021 — Texas Career Development Association Presenter
2021 — Vet TRIIP Women Only Zoom Sessions
2021 — Art Spark Texas presenter
2021 — Alma Ingram, PhD "Let's Take a Look" LLC Office Staff sessions
2022 — Kensington Place Zoom Series Presentations
At the present, I enjoy…
Traveling worldwide to lead groups and offer workshops for Creativity and Journaling along with my friend and business partner, Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D., A.T.R., R.E.A.T. psychologist and author.
Getting to know and supervising over 200 trainees in the Creative Journal Expressive Arts international training program for the past 25 years
Visiting with my children, grandchildren & sister whenever possible.
About My Family
I am married to Dan Nelson, CJEAI™ certified presenter. I have two grown sons, William and Richard Cleghorn, and two stepchildren, Jennifer Nelson Veale and James Nelson. Dan & I have 5 grandchildren.
