Matthew Alfs MH, RH (AHG)

Program Director

     Matthew Alfs is an herbal clinician, author, and educator.

     As a clinician, he is one of only about 200 practicing herbalists to have achieved the status of Registered Herbalist (R.H.), after having undergone a rigorous peer review of his education and clinical practice by the only professional body of practicing herbalists in the USA, the American Herbalists Guild.  He has been in clinical practice since 1996 and is currently the clinical director of an integrative, natural-health-care clinic located in the northeast-Minneapolis area of Minnesota.

     As an author, he has written MWSHS's textbook (300 Herbs: Their Indications & Contraindications--A Materia Medica & Repertory) and its 1200-page series of Workbooks.  He has also written the highly-acclaimed, regional, wild-plant guide entitled Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of Minnesota and Wisconsin and has been published in a wide variety of both scholarly journals and popular magazines.

    As an educator, he has served as a faculty member of two major universities and is currently a faculty member of two different colleges in the Twin Cities area.  However, the Midwest School of Herbal Studies is now his chief instrument in sharing the joys and rewards of herbal healing with as many people as possible.  As the school's founder and director, he is dedicated to making it the foremost forum for herbal education in the entire world!

     Laurie Swadner BS

Senior Student Coordinator

     Laurie Swadner is the Senior Student Coordinator for MWSHS. As such, she coordinates with individual students to insure that they are progressing smoothly in their studies, providing assistance and encouragement where needed.  She also coordinates MWSHS' workshops and special events. 

     Laurie is also the Coordinator of Clinical Services for the natural-health-care clinic affiliated with MWSHS, insuring that both our various practitioners and our clients experience the very best in our clinic. She has a rich background in natural health-care, including both formal education in herbal healing and considerable experience in the natural-product industry.

Kara Carper MA, BS

Assistant Student Coordinator

     Kara Carper is a nutrition educator who has worked at a nutritional counseling facility for the past three-and-half years.  She holds a bachelor's degree in business (international business) and a master's degree in holistic health care (emphasis in herbology), with a career goal of becoming a licensed nutritionist. 

     An Assistant Student Coordinator with MWSHS since the beginning of 2007, Kara assists the Senior Student Coordinator in caring for student needs and in facilitating the smooth transfer of lessons and materials between MWSHS and its students.

Sara Ruiz BA 

Webmaster/Innovator

     Sara is not only MWSHS' technical-support specialist, but also an innovator behind our constant expansion as a school, having served as our Senior Student Coordinator from 2004-2006 and continuing now as a consultant.

      A longtime supporter of the benefits of integrative healthcare, Sara served as a clinic assistant and natural-products coordinator for a major university from 2001-2003 and in MWSHS' natural-health-care clinic from 2004-2006.

     Sara holds a bachelor's degree in biology, a bachelor's degree in nutrition, and a certificate in nutritional counseling.