It Takes A Herd Foundation, Inc.

Karen Coppola, CDP, EAL
Founder & President, It Takes a Herd Foundation Inc.
Karen Coppola is the founder of It Takes a Herd Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that
delivers dementia-friendly equine-assisted programming to care partners and their loved ones
living with dementia.
 
Her work as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator, VA
Peer Mentor in the Caregiver Support Program, and her experience as a lifelong equestrian
certified in Equine Assisted Learning has led to the development of her innovative It Takes a
Herd™ program.
 
Karen has been highly sought after as a contributor to clinical research at Massachusetts
General Hospital and Dartmouth College, and co-chairs UMass Chan Medical School’s “Impact
of Illness on Family Caregivers” course.
Karen possesses a unique combination of lived caregiver experience, professional health care
training, and leadership in community-based dementia support programs. She is widely
regarded for her compassionate leadership and unique ability to coach caregivers through both
equine activities and the daily challenges of dementia care.

Dr. Jeanine McCleod, Ed.D.. Clerk, Board of Directors, It Takes a Herd Foundation Inc.

Dr. Jeanine McCleod brings over three decades of experience in education, nonprofit
leadership, and adaptive programming.
She is a long-serving educator with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she teaches
outdoor education, water safety, and inclusive aquatic programs for students of all abilities.
She is also a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and an advocate for adaptive access to
outdoor environments.
Her background includes academic appointments at the undergraduate level, collegiate
coaching and program management, and active service as a nonprofit founder and
community advocate.
She currently serves as President of the Four Points Project, a 501(c)(3) organization she
founded to raise awareness and provide access to resources for veterans and caregivers. As
Clerk of the Board for It Takes a Herd Foundation Inc., she supports the governance and
operational oversight of a dementia-friendly equine-assisted program dedicated to
fostering connection, camaraderie, and community among care partners and their loved
ones.