Erika Berg, PhD, is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at North Dakota State University where she oversees a Minor in Equine Assisted Services for undergraduate students and is the Program Director for Bison Strides, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. She is a PATH Intl. Advanced CTRI and ESMHL who has been part of the EAS industry for over 30 years. A lifelong horse woman who grew up riding hunters, she volunteered for a therapeutic riding program while in graduate school at Purdue University and instantly fell in love. She began her doctoral studies at Texas A and M University where she had the opportunity to work with the Bryan School District coordinating horses and volunteers to support kiddos in their Adapted Physical Education classes. Since that time Erika has held various positions at equine assisted services programs in Missouri, Minnesota and North Dakota. In 2026, she spent 5 months in Iceland as a Fulbright Scholar working with educators and EAS practitioners to build curriculum and gain a more global perspective of this incredible industry.
“HHRF’s support of groundbreaking research in the equine assisted services field is essential to building an evidence base that promotes best practices, prioritizes the well-being of both human and equine partners, and creates a solid foundation for the next generation of practitioners and researchers. As part of the Education Committee, I am excited to work alongside colleagues who share the same passion and commitment for advancing the field of EAS.”