Rick D. Pollard, Ph.D.

04 May Rick D. Pollard, Ph.D.

Rick began his work in the therapeutic industry in 2004 and brought his extensive and varied experience to be our Director of Business Development. From 2021-2022 Rick served as the Executive Director at Maple Hall. He was employed as a retail District Leader for 16 years before starting his life-changing career in schools. 

In 2004, he began with the inaugural team of New Leaf Academy of NC, an all-girls therapeutic boarding school that he helped lead for over five years. He continued his career in therapeutic education as he led admissions teams for wilderness programs, assisting families with placements for various diagnoses. For three years, he was Assistant Head of School at Brandon Hall School, an independent boarding school in Atlanta, GA. For six years, Rick considered it a privilege to lead a team at a residential treatment program that brought so much positive change and healing to the lives of adolescents and their families prior to arriving at Maple Hall. 

Rick was a board member of NATSAP from 2018 until 2021 and is Vice President of the GEMS conference. Rick received his M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Mercer University. His research topic focused on the topic of Educational Leadership and working with students on the gender spectrum.

In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of activities including kayaking, hiking, singing and painting. He loves his daily walks and time with his family and Yorkshire terrier daughters, Katy and BeBe.