Richard Stubbs, LPC,
MT-BC, CATP
Richard Stubbs is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified music therapist, and certified child and adolescent trauma specialist with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. As the founder of Roll Play and Grow, Richard combines his expertise in mental health with his passion for storytelling and games to teach others how to use tabletop roleplaying games (TRPGs) to improve social-emotional learning skills. He has worked in therapy and education settings to help clients develop skills in self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and responsible decision-making through the power of play and narrative.
An innovator in the field of therapeutic gaming research, Richard has received grants to pilot TRPG programs in schools and is developing Legends of Lorem™, a TRPG designed to foster social-emotional learning. He has presented at conferences such as Save Against Fear and the Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health. When not designing games, providing care, or running workshops; Richard enjoys mountaineering, rock climbing and photography. He is the father of four amazing daughters. You can see more about him on Instagram @TRPG_therapist
Kelsey Ross, LSLPA
Kelsey Ross is a licensed Speech and Language Pathology Assistant with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is currently working in her local school district in Central Point Oregon, where she has been dedicated to introducing the untapped resource of tabletop role-playing games to her district, running multiple games a week with a variety of students from MAPS students to fifth graders. Kelsey has been using tabletop role-playing games to enhance communication skills and to provide strategies to regulate and define emotions and feelings.
Outside of her professional life, Kelsey has a fierce love of stories, and a passion for making things. Often browsing the internet then thinking, “I can make that.” She enjoys quality time with her husband and three daughters. She believes in making learning fun and accessible, fostering both growth and creativity in her work.
Janae Stubbs
Janae Stubbs received a bachelor's degree in Physics Education and a self-earned master's degree in Momming. She taught science in middle school until she decided to take on a new role as a homeschool teacher for her four amazing daughters.
Janae works hard to help our team meet educational standards and use teacher-approved explanations (i.e., avoiding too much psychobabble after dinner). She also helps create and direct the art and graphic design of our game Legends of Lorem™. Janae serves the invaluable roles of cheerleader, advisor, and support to her spouse, Richard (named above). Roll Play and Grow and Legends of Lorem™ would not exist without her.
Nikolas Sorensen, MA, MBA
Nik Sorensen has spent his career working in international humanitarian and development research, program design, and implementation. He is a published author and thought leader on the impacts of climate change and water scarcity in fragile states and has worked with organizations like Plan International and Save the Children US.
That career aside, Nik is an avid player of tabletop roleplaying games (TRPGs) and is passionate about the impacts TRPGs have had and can have on the development of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills in children and adults.
He has led research with Roll Play and Grow, bridging psychotherapeutic evidence around TRPGs' impact on executive functioning skills with educational discussion around social and emotional learning in school settings. When not working, Nik enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and spending time with his wife and son.
Erin Sorensen, Ph.D.
Erin Sorensen is an international education researcher who has focused on researching, designing, and implementing education systems in conflict and emergencies, focusing on refugees and their barriers to education and has worked with organizations like the International Rescue Committee and Education.org.
Additionally, Erin is a folklorist by training. She brings a strong background in qualitative research and education-based research design to Roll Play and Grow and understands the power stories have in education and development. Erin enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband and son, and in her free time, she can be found hiking, camping, and serving in her community.