Meet the Advisory Council: Robyn Hantelman, M.Ed., CPRS-R/T, COAPS-T, CPMC, ADS

Robyn Hantelman brings a rich blend of lived and living experience, creative innovation, systems-level macro thinking, and a deep commitment to peer support core values to the Association for Peer Support Advisory Council. Born in Richmond, Virginia, and currently residing just west of the city, Robyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master of Education in Counseling from Longwood University. This educational foundation paved the way for more than a decade of work in clinical behavioral health roles before she "leveled up" and began her own recovery journey. After becoming a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia in 2020, Robyn spent five transformative years within Virginia’s Community Services Board (CSB) system—including two years in a dedicated leadership capacity—where she championed the growth and integration of the peer workforce across multiple levels of behavioral healthcare.
 

A proud graduate of the VCU/DBHDS Recovery Leadership Academy’s second cohort (2022), Robyn was one of the original Emerging Leaders who envisioned and proposed the groundbreaking 2023 Virginia Year of the Peer (YOTP) initiative. #YOTP2023 was a watershed moment for the Commonwealth, driving a deeper public and clinical understanding of the recovery workforce while forging strong, lasting connections between peers, clinical partners, and their communities. The momentum of that movement birthed an annual statewide peer recovery conference that continues to thrive in 2026 and beyond.
 

As a person navigating a journey to overcome opioid dependence, mental health challenges, chronic health issues, and trauma, Robyn is a fierce advocate for identifying systemic gaps and driving change where it is needed most. Her advocacy has made a tangible impact by removing barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), creating professional frameworks for peers to grow into leadership roles, and streamlining Virginia's crisis continuum of care, starting with the very first call to 911. Today, she coordinates the First Responders for Recovery program at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, where she serves as the organization's sole Peer Recovery Specialist. Always seeking the "road less traveled," Robyn channels her energy into taking peer support into uncharted territories—specifically bridging the gaps between traditional healthcare, emergency medical services, and authentic peer care.
 

Robyn seamlessly weaves her personal recovery story into a relentless drive for policy change, harm reduction, and stigma elimination. When she isn't developing highly interactive workshops or crafting eye-catching branding and logos using her infinite Canva skills, she can be found catching a live outdoor concert, exploring Richmond's local gluten-free foodie scene, or writing a series of blog posts in the form of letters to her ten-year-old son, Sawyer. Robyn is proud to share her life and home with Sawyer, his father Peter, and as many chihuahua rescues as their house and budget can handle.