Traci Berardelli

Equine Specialist/Co – Barn Manager

Traci has had an interest in horses for many years. She has been involved with Marley’s Mission for two years. A mother of four,  Traci enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and the horses.  Traci’s offered her time as a volunteer with Marley’s Mission while her daughter was receiving treatment at the farm.  Through these experiences, Traci’s sensitivity and compassionate awareness of the powerful healing that the horses possess motivated her to become more involved.  Traci is fully certified with EAGALA as an equine specialist and joined the treatment team with Marley’s Mission.

Alishia Allegrucci

Equine Specialist /  Therapist

Ms. Allegrucci has been working as an equine specialist at Marley’s Mission since opening day in 2010.    It was not long before Ms. Allegrucci found herself applying to graduate school soon after working at the mission in order to obtain a new role as a therapist.  In May 2013, Ms. Allegrucci graduated from Marywood University with a Masters in Social Work.  She is currently applying and seeking her Licensure exam to before the end of 2013 summer.  Ms. Allegrucci concentrated on trauma work with children during her studies.  While at Marywood University, she was elected as president of the Scranton Student Weekday Association.  Ms. Allegrucci performed extensive field placements at Children and Youth Services of Lackawanna County and Marley’s Mission.  Ms. Allegrucci passion for horses and helping children are now combined with the work she does at Marley’s Mission.  Ms. Allegrucci recently accepted a position as barn management at Marley’s Mission in March 2013.    

Ms. Allegrucci is a 2010 graduate of Keystone College receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. She also pursued concentrated coursework in Psychology and Political Science. While at Keystone, she was selected to participate in the Inside Out Program, a program that partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Ms. Allegrucci also performed an Internship in the Office of the Lackawanna County Juvenile Probation Department.

Since age 7, Ms. Allegrucci has had a passion for horses. One year after she began riding, at age 8, she began actively competing in horse shows and she continues to do so. She participated in Interscholastic Riding at Lakeland High School and was a member of the Intercollegiate Riding Team at Wilkes University. Her college riding experience led to her showing in a variety of states across the country. In her career, Ms. Allegrucci has competed and qualified for the Pennsylvania State Horse Show and she has competed as far away as Ocala, Florida.

Ms. Allegrucci successfully completed the two levels of training to obtain her certification in the internationally recognized EAGALA Model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

Click here to read about Alisha in the Keystone College News.

Brooke Herman

Equine Specialist

Brooke Herman has been a volunteer at Marley’s Mission since 2011, however, her passion for horses started long before then. Through high school she was the stable hand at a local standard bred harness racing barn.  Ms. Herman obtained invaluable experience in that position, working from the ground up in the barn and ultimately managed the barn the barn and trained the horses. Ms. Herman studied at Pennsylvania State University in the Agriculture program then transferred to Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, PA to study Intercultural Youth Ministry. During her time at Baptist Bible College, she had the opportunity to visit Kenya, Africa to work with the women and children. In the summer of 2013, Ms. Herman worked at Skyview Ranch in Millersburg, Ohio as one of the head wranglers where she taught equine camp, lead trails, and management over the barn. Along with her passion for horses she also has a passion for children. When she’s not in the barn working, Ms. Herman is involved with children in some way. One of her commitments to children is her position with NEPA Youth for Christ where she’s been an active leader since 2012. Combining her two passions, she has seen and experienced firsthand the extraordinary healing a horse can bring to those in need – especially children.  In 2014, Ms. Herman joined the team at Marley’s Mission as an Equine Specialist and continues to pursue her goal in Equine Therapy.