Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Kay Ek, Herbert Grant, and Dr. John W. Seymour to the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. All three are appointed to four-year terms that expire on January 6, 2014.

Ek, of St. Paul, is retired from her professional position as the founding director of the Office of Natural Family Planning with the Diocese of Saint Cloud. She is president of the Billings Ovulation Method Association – USA, and a member of the National Advisory Board to the Diocesan Development Program for Natural Family Planning with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. Ek, who has been a member of the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2006, is reappointed as a public member.

Grant, of Minneapolis, is a marriage and family therapist in private practice in Minneapolis, as well as a contract mental health provider for the Native American Community Clinic and the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. He is also an adjunct assistant professor with the University of St. Mary’s Marriage and Family Therapy program in Minneapolis. Grant earned his master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bethel College in St. Paul. Grant, who has been a member of the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2006 and is currently vice-chair, is reappointed as a marriage and family therapist member.

Seymour, of Mankato, is an associate professor in the Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Counseling and Student Personnel, and a part-time clinical supervisor and staff therapist with Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota in St. Peter. Seymour earned his Ph.D. in counseling from Texas A & M University in Commerce, Texas, holds a master of arts degree in family therapy and psychology from the University of Houston at Clear Lake in Houston, Texas, a master of divinity degree in pastoral studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude in sociology and religion from Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas. Seymour, who has been a member of the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2006 and is currently chair, is reappointed as a marriage and family therapist member.

The Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy licenses and disciplines marriage and family therapists. The board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor.