Faculty | Augusta School of Massage

Home Program of Study Calendar Continuing Education Testimonials Directions FAQ Login

Site Search

User login
Username: * Password: * Create new account Request new password

	Leigh Ann Keels, LMT, Director With over twenty years of professional and administrative experience, more than ten of which have been as a massage therapist, Leigh Ann is the owner and director of Augusta School of Massage, Inc and Tuscany - A Classic Italian Spa. She attended Clemson University, in Pre-Physical Therapy, and the South Carolina Massage Therapy Institute in Columbia, SC. She continued her training in Neuromuscular Therapy and Orthopedic & Pain Management along with Structural Integration. Leigh Ann is a nationally certified massage therapist and specializes in medical massage therapy for injury and pain management.
	Matt Keels, Adminstrator, LMT Matt Keels has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University, as well as Certification in Massage Therapy from the Augusta School of Massage Inc. He has over 15 years of experience in project management, software implementations, capital equipment justifications and purchases, and general business practices. With Matt's business education and training, he is well qualified to oversee the day-to-day operation of the school.
	Jean Kernaghan, Assistant to the Director Jean was a legal secretary/legal assistant/paralegal for 25 years before joining the Augusta School of Massage. During her legal career, she received an award for being Outstanding Legal Secretary of the Year by the Augusta Legal Secretaries Association and served in various offices of that organization including President and Representative to the Georgia Legal Secretaries Association. She has been with the school since 2001, almost from the beginning. She has served in various positions at Augusta School of Massage, including Secretary, Director of Financial Aid, and Administrator. Jean performs many duties for the school and helps to insure that we will continue to grow and improve. Jean is also a licensed ethetician, having recently graduated from The Augusta School of Esthetics.
	Nicole M. Pamintuan, NCTMB, LMT, Director of Education: Nicole Pamintuan, graduate of Augusta School of Massage and Excelsior College, has progressed in the field of massage therapy, working first as a therapist, than as a spa manager, and finally into teaching and graduate placement. She has worked in Augusta, GA, New York City, NY, Madrid, Spain, and Las Vegas, NV. As the Director of Education, Nicole is committed to giving the students the highest quality training and education as well as the benefits of her varied experience.
	Stephen W. Gaston, Anatomy & Physiology Instructor Steve Gaston has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College and a Masters degree from Emory University. He has recently retired from working as an EMT in the emergency room of the Medical College of Georgia. He has 20+ years experience teaching CPR/First Aid. He has taught anatomy and physiology in a Paramedic Technology Program at Columbus Technical College and has been teaching anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and clinical pathology at Augusta School of Massage since the school's inception.
	Chuck Lubeck, NCTMB, LMT Chuck Lubeck is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Therapeutic Massage and is the owner of Augusta Orthopedic Massage, LLC. He holds advanced certifications in Orthopedic Massage, Medical Massage, Myofascial Release, Active Isolated Stretching, and Soft Tissue Release Technique, all of which he teaches here at the school. James Waslaski and prominent educator Stuart Taws have utilized Chuck's abilities as their Teaching Assistant.
	Geraldine Jones, Instructor, NCTMB, LMT Geraldine Jones graduated from Savannah State College with a B.S. degree in Biology. She is also one of the first graduates of Augusta School of Massage and is employed by Tuscany, A Classic Italian Spa. Geraldine is also a graduate of Augusta Technical School and is a licensed nail technician. She instructs in Neuromuscular Therapy, Cranial Sacral Therapy, spa treatments and other modalities.
	Laura Beth Bargainnier- LMT, Financial Aid Administrator Laura Beth has an Associate of Science degree from Young Harris College and a Bachelors degree from Georgia College & State University in Exercise Science. After college, Laura Beth graduated from the Augusta School of Massage. She is currently employed at Tuscany, A Classic Italian Spa as a Massage Therapist. Because of her experience with massage school and as a practicing massage therapist, Laura Beth is ideally suited to assisting potential students as they seek financing to further their education. Her primary role is to assist students in determining their eligibility for federal student aid, help students to complete the federal student aid application (FAFSA) and administering the Financial Student Aid program.
	Travis Holley, NCTMB, LMT Travis is a graduate of the Augusta School of Massage and works as an instructor and coordinator of fieldwork events and student clinics. He instructs Swedish massage, Chair massage, and Reflexology to name a few. Travis is also employed as a therapist at Tuscany, a Classic Italian Spa, and assists the owner is the day-to-day operations of the spa.