The Green Institute
Welcome to the Green Institute!
The Green Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing no-cost mental health treatment and assessments as part of an ongoing research agenda to understand the best ways to prevent and treat mental illness and to identify biopsychosocial factors which predict
mental illness with the aim of improving treatment and recovery.
Green Institute Staff
Dr. Melinda Green
Green Institute Director
Dr. Green is a licensed psychologist, researcher, and college educator who has devoted her professional life to understanding the most effective ways to promote behavioral health and wellness. Dr. Green specializes in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders and in the promotion of healthy weight management.
Within her specialty area, Dr. Green has published numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and a novel, all of which aim to educate others about eating and weight-related disorders. Dr. Green has presented her research at local, regional, national, and international conferences including conventions of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Midwest Psychological Association, the National Eating Disorders Association, and the Academy for Eating Disorder’s International Conference on Eating Disorders.
In recognition of her contributions to eating disorder prevention and treatment science, Dr. Green received the 2004 Science Directorate Dissertation Research Award of the American Psychological Association and the 2017 Psychotherapy with Women Award from the American Psychological Association Society for the Psychology of Women.
Elisabeth Sage
Laboratory Coordinator
Elisabeth is the Laboratory Coordinator of the Green Institute who has a passion for eating disorder recovery. She is a graduate of Cornell College and has been working under Dr. Melinda Green since 2016. Elisabeth is a trained co-facilitator for Dr. Green's group treatment programs for eating disorders.
In addition to her co-facilitating role, Elisabeth works behind the scenes with conducting psychological and cardiac assessments with clients, grant writing, program development, and statistical analyses for the research side of this Clinic. She is looking forward to continuing her education at the University of Kansas in the fall in their Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program.
Austin Green
Chief Operating Officer
Austin Green is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Green Counseling Services and the Green Institute. Austin received his bachelor's degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell College in 2020. He has a background in running and operating other small businesses.
Austin handles different aspects of the Green Institute including marketing/graphic design, web development, general operations, scheduling, and client correspondence.
Board of Directors
George Estle
President & Board Member
George Estle has over 40 years of experience in health and human services. He received his M.S.W from the University of Illinois, Urbana campus.
Mr. Estle recently retired after 33 years as CEO of Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he strategically developed the organization from a single service residential treatment agency to a multi-service healthcare organization offering treatment, prevention and research programs. His pioneering work created Iowa’s first psychiatric residential treatment program for children. He also developed a range of innovative programs for children including sexual abuse treatment, autism, and expressive arts therapy.
Mr. Estle founded the Tanager Place Research Center, a collaborative effort between Tanager Place and five academic institutions.
Dr. Jennifer Rogers
Board Member
Jennifer Rogers is an Associate Professor of Instruction and serves as Director of the B.S. Human
Physiology program at the University of Iowa. She received her Ph.D. and post-doctoral training in Exercise Science at The University of Iowa.
Dr. Rogers currently teaches anatomy and physiology coursework in the Department of Health and Human Physiology. Other areas of teaching expertise include nutrition- and exercise- based courses related to healthy living. In addition to her faculty position, Dr. Rogers is as active member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Physiological Society, the Physiology Majors Interest Group, and other professional organizations centered around undergraduate education. She regularly conducts educational research evaluating teaching and learning in physiology and has presented her findings at national meetings.
Dr. Catherine Desoto
Board Member
Catherine DeSoto is a professor at the University of Northern Iowa and co-directs the Psychoneuroendocrinology Lab at UNI. She earned her doctorate at the University of Missouri (2001) with specialization in Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Her principal area of research involves investigating the influence of hormones on both normal behavior and the expression of psychopathology, particularly borderline personality. She has a secondary interest in how nutritional cofactors affect mental health.
She has published in leading peer reviewed journals including Psychoneuroendocrinology, Clinical Toxicology, and Brain, Behavior and Immunity. Her research articles have led to recognition by the National Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, and have been reviewed in popular media outlets ranging from Science to First for Women.
Dan Hartnett
Treasurer & Board Member
Dan Hartnett has lived in the Cedar Valley Corridor for the past decade and calls Cedar Rapids home. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Kelly, and their toddler, Nora. All three family members are avid bicyclists and enjoy hiking in the local state and county parks. Spending time with family has been one of the biggest silver linings of the past year.
Dan has been in the financial services industry for the past 10 years serving as a relationship manager for Wells Fargo Bank. He is an active member in the community serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor and as a member of the United Way Workplace Volunteer Council.
In the News
