Faculty - Wall
Our New Jersey massage school faculty is composed of experienced, caring massage therapists who are devoted to sharing their knowledge and skills with students in a holistic educational setting. They bring a rich diversity of backgrounds to their classrooms. Lead instructors are Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) and meet the educational requirements of the NJ State Board of Education. Our lead instructors have, on average, five years teaching experience, and several of them have tenure exceeding 10 years.
Our faculty has been trained in the TIPP™ Learning System. TIPP analyzes a student's individual learning style and suggests approaches to enhance their ability to learn. This knowledge also allows instructors to understand and teach to diverse learning styles.
Adrienne F. Asta, NCTMB
Adrienne has been an instructor at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy since March 2002 and is currently serving as the Cortiva's Wall Campus Director of Education. She sees about 7 clients per week in her private practice which consists primarily of Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy and Swedish Massage. Adrienne is Nationally Certified and a professional member of the AMTA where she currently volunteers at the state and national levels. She also volunteers for the Community Service Grant Review Committee for the Massage Therapy Foundation. Adrienne holds advanced certification in Neuromuscular Therapy and Prenatal Massage and regularly takes continuing education in the areas of education, technique and research. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from Trenton State College
Kristen Curnan
Kristen graduated academic valedictorian from the Somerset School of Massage Therapy in June of 1998 and became a member of the faculty immediately after graduation. She is a New Jersey State Certified Massage Therapist and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist. She teaches Anatomy, Physiology, Massage Therapy Technique and the Spa Foundations course in the base program as well as the Neuromuscular Therapy and Stone Massage continuing education programs at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy. Kristen also maintains a private practice dealing mostly with chronic pain complaints.
Jon DeGeorge
Jon attended the 6 month program at Somerset School of Massage Therapy and graduated in September 2004. He has been a massage instructor at Cortiva Institute since 2004. He has his BA degree from Mercyhurst University, Jon is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist. He is a professional member of the AMTA.
Denise Lombardi, NCTMB
Prior to graduating from our NJ massage school, Denise graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Mass Communication. She worked as a television producer for years until a career change led her to Massage Therapy. Upon completion of the professional program at Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy, Denise was hired as an assistant and is now a lead instructor. In addition to her private clients Denise has worked with a physical therapist and at various onsite events.
Karen Roche
Karen graduated from Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy in June 2005 and has been teaching for Cortiva since her graduation. She is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and a Healing Touch practitioner. Karen also specializes in Spa Modalities including Hot Stone, Aromatherapy and Raindrop Therapy .
