About Us

My name is Ryann and I have loved animals for as long as I can remember. I knew I wanted a career working with animals, but I wasn’t sure exactly how. I learned about Animal-assisted interventions, animal therapy, education, and activities, in college. I have been fascinated by these services and have been able to volunteer with two different organizations providing horse therapy as well as participate in dog therapy. I wanted to start an organization that can do Animal-assisted interventions including education and eventually therapy services.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Natural Resources with a focus on environmental education. I continue to get animal care and husbandry certifications as well as herpetology certifications. I will be starting a PhD in Science Education in Fall 2026 focusing on the use of animals in the classroom. I created Georgia Animal Therapy and Education (GATEway) Farms to begin my dream of doing professional animal and environmental education. I am so happy to be able to provide animal education and interactions to Athens, Georgia, and the surrounding counties.