LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Hearts and Hands Behind PPS
Portland Psychedelic Society is guided by dedicated individuals committed to education, integration, and community around psychedelic exploration. United by a shared vision, they help shape PPS’s mission and ensure it remains inclusive, supportive, and responsibly engaged.
Max Kelemen
Executive Director
I was trained in non-profit leadership, ethics, policy reform, and facilitation, holding a Master’s in Public Administration. I have worked as a guide, mentor, and administrator for organizations like: the Northwest Outward Bound School, SOS Outreach, and New Vision Wilderness. I bring a mindfulness and human-centered approach to leadership. In other roles, I have engaged with policy reform in public education, hunger relief, and ending the war on drugs.
Since moving to Portland in 2017, I became more outspoken and involved with the psychedelic movement. I advocate for wider acceptance, support, and policy reform to provide safe guidance within our communities. As the Executive Director for Portland Psychedelic Society my wish is to create a safe, connected, creative, and a well-healed psychedelic community.
Keith Gilmore
President
I am a writer and public speaker, and I work professionally offering psychospiritual counsel to individuals, couples, and organizations. Since 2019, I’ve served as the facilitator for the PPS Men’s Support Group. I am now serving on the Board of Directors to do my part in stewarding the psychedelic ecosystem through an integrated development.
I believe that PPS serves an integral function in the local community and beyond as a platform for dispelling stigmas, informing the culture, and encouraging healthy community in this world of distraction and disconnection.
In my creative work, I write essays on culture, ethics, psychology, spirituality, philosophy, and psychedelics. My speaking focuses on promoting psychological individuation and cultural amelioration. My interest lies in understanding and addressing the tendency of our age towards cynicism, nihilism, finger-pointing, and disconnection, and discovering and exploring methods for interconnection, healing, human flourishing, and reinvigorating culture with spirit.
I am continually humbled by the psychedelic experience; it has been a profound ally along my own path of individuation.
Taryn Wheeler
Secretary
My involvement with PPS comes from a deep commitment to creating spaces where people feel supported, seen, and empowered to explore psychedelics. After 15 years in business operations and project leadership, I now help purpose-driven leaders build conscious, scalable businesses from the inside out. Through a blend of operations consulting, transformational coaching, and psychedelic integration support, I help founders and professionals streamline their systems, align their teams, and grow with clarity, integrity, and heart.
At PPS, I bring a fusion of structure and soul to support our internal systems, volunteer infrastructure, and mission-driven growth. Outside of work, you can usually find me writing, lifting heavy things at the gym, or exploring the Pacific Northwest with my golden retriever, Huxley.
Steven Merriss
Treasurer
I first encountered psychedelics while attending college and I’ve had an interest ever since. I believe psychedelics can play an important role in self-discovery, creativity and spirituality. My primary interest is on the spiritual side and the feeling of connection and oneness that they can make possible.
I obtained an Economics degree from University of Oregon and have spent close to 25 years in the accounting field as a CPA where I have been able to work with many nonprofits in the local community. I’m using my background to assist the Portland Psychedelic Society in accounting and management and I’m happy to be able to help in this time of renewed interest in the potential benefits and therapeutic applications for psychedelics.
Heather
Events Chair
I serve as the Events Chair, helping to coordinate the people and processes that go into producing Portland Psychedelic Society’s many on-going and one-time events. I come to this position with over 15 years of event coordination experience in the nonprofit world. I look forward to broadening and diversifying the types of events PPS offers to better serve the needs and interests of the growing psychedelic community.
My personal experience with psychedelics has been deeply spiritual in nature, shaping my understanding of my place in the world. I strongly believe these medicines have the potential to transform lives, engender more compassionate relations between people, and reveal the profound truth of the “interconnectedness of all things.” It is vitalizing to be a part of the psychedelic renaissance!
Brie Leagjeld
Creative Director
My journey towards thriving as an individual, photographer, and visual artist has been deeply influenced by psychedelics. Through these meaningful experiences I've becoming increasingly driven to promote the transformative potential for introspective personal growth and creative exploration. I had a blast taking these team portraits!
Drawing from my background in fine arts and experience as a professional in small business, I work to creatively amplify the authentic voice of Portland Psychedelic Society and foster active community engagement. By building connections, cultivating positive dialogue and encouraging responsible usage, we are enriching our collective understanding of the profound impact psychedelics can have on the human experience and I’m grateful to be part of this unfolding field of possibility.
Peggy Parks
Member at Large
As a member of the Portland Psychedelic Society Board of Directors, I have been working on organizational development and strategic planning. I have an MBA and have served on several non profit boards. I am using that skill set to bring structure to PPS. This will allow us to be a more productive , directed and powerful resource in our community. At the same time I am exploring the multiverse. This is an energizing and amazing opportunity that I am pursuing with joy.
Julian Voss-Andreae
Member at Large
I grew up in Hamburg, Germany, where I explored my fascination with art and later with physics at the Free University Berlin. After completing my graduate research, which took a deep dive into the foundations of quantum physics in Anton Zeilinger’s lab at the University of Vienna, Austria, my heart pulled me to Portland where my beloved wife-to-be resided, and where I discovered my passion for creating sculpture. Since graduating from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2004, I have been working as a full-time sculptor. I operate my art studio in Sellwood, where my team and I fabricate sculptures in stainless steel, bronze, stone and glass.
Just as quantum physics unlocks a door to transcend our current materialist-reductionist paradigm, I view traditional plant medicines as opening a door to the sacred within ourselves and to the interconnectedness we have with each other and with the living world. The potential for healing, both on an individual and a societal level, is profound and urgently needed.
Adriana Voss-Andreae
Interim Fundraising Chair
I hold an MD and PhD in neuroscience from OHSU and have built my career at the intersection of science, public policy, and community advocacy. For over a decade, I worked to transform food systems and expand access to healthy food for low-income families.
Driven to address the roots of the climate crisis, I became the founding Executive Director of 350PDX, where I helped grow a grassroots climate justice movement that mobilized thousands and achieved major policy wins. I also played a leadership role in the Portland Clean Energy Fund—the first successful BIPOC-led climate justice ballot initiative in the nation.—which now generates about $200 million annually for climate action, economic opportunity, and community resilience. My work has also included managing a successful legislative campaign and serving as Senior Strategist at Just Solutions, focusing on equitable climate investment.
As humanity faces ecological, social, and spiritual crises, I believe psychedelics offer powerful potential to expand consciousness. By reconnecting us with our shared humanity and the unity of all life, they can support healing at personal, community, and systemic levels. I’m committed to ensuring safe, ethical, and equitable access to psychedelics—so their benefits can reach all communities, especially those historically marginalized or harmed by injustice.
Huxley
Ambassador of Pawsitive Energy
At 5 years old, Huxley is the regal, goofy golden retriever who melts hearts across Portland Psychedelic Society. Named after Aldous Huxley, he’s a mellow old soul in a fluffy coat. He never shows up empty-pawed, always arriving with a stuffie in his mouth to gift to new friends. Whether he’s lounging in the sun at a PPS picnic or offering comfort with his snuggles and full-body wiggles, Huxley has a sixth sense for when someone needs love. He’s here to remind us that a good life can be as simple as presence, play, and a really good nap.
Moyo
Lead Happiness Specialist
Moyo (named in homage to the legendary Japanese psychedelic rock band Kikagaku Moyo) is our resident joy-bringer and adventure buddy. A sporty pup with a passion for trails, rivers, toys, and tail wags, he keeps spirits high and hearts full. Whether he's joining a meeting or chasing a frisbee, Moyo’s always down for fun—and reminds us to play a little every day.