Research to Recovery 2026

Born right here in Richmond and raised in the foothills of central Virginia, Robyn Hantelman was meant to walk a winding path defined by a unique blend of spirit and service. Long before she was ever a leader in the recovery movement, she was a teenage EMT and a cheerleader—a combination that perfectly illustrates her lifelong drive to be vocal, save lives, and lift spirits. With early career aspirations of medical school eventually drifting toward clinical mental health counseling, Robyn often felt like a square peg in a round hole. Despite degrees (B.S. in Sociology and M.Ed. in Community and College Counseling from Longwood University) and working in roles counseling Veterans, TBI survivors, and supporting families of organ donors, she repeatedly found that traditional clinical roles just didn't capture the value of the lived experience and human connection. However, it was through her own challenges--- navigating multiple chronic illnesses, removing roadblocks caused by physical and emotional trauma, and a grueling journey through opioid dependence and overdose--- that Robyn found her true calling. In 2017, after countless attempts at recovery via abstinence, Robyn embraced an unconventional and holistic pathway including medications such as buprenorphine, integrated family support, non-traditional and non-judgmental MARA meetings, and endless outpatient therapy. This personal transformation re-ignited a professional spark in Robyn as she became a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist in 2019, a trainer of the Virginia PRS curriculum three years later, then completed the VCU DBHDS Recovery Leadership Academy to close out 2022. After spending five dedicated years serving mostly rural communities within Virginia’s Community Services Board (CSB) system and co-founding the VACSB Peer Services Subcommittee, Robyn’s long and winding roads led her to come beautifully full circle.  Today, she serves as the sole Registered Peer Recovery Specialist at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, relaunching and expanding their post-overdose outreach and support program, First Responders for Recovery. Gone are her old concerns about not belonging or feeling like a square peg, as she is proudly aligning her lived and living experience within the top-notch world class EMS provided by RAA. After traveling the globe from Dublin to San Antonio discussing the work side of recovery, Robyn is happy to be touching down in RVA at last. She is back in the world where her journey first began, while braving other new frontiers in recovery work along the healthcare continuum. Always a fierce advocate for the idea that there are as many pathways of recovery as there are individuals seeking healing, Robyn knows it is a sacred honor to walk alongside others on their journey. Her leadership style is rooted in the belief that judgment heals no one, mutuality is more beneficial than any hierarchy, and that acceptance and belonging are the perfect healing antidote for our past hurts. When she isn’t training the next generation of peer specialists or advocating for compassionate care in public service settings, Robyn is centered by her awesomely noisy family: her son Sawyer (who is her number one reason for everything), husband Peter (who stayed when most would have bailed), and her chihuahua-hybrid doggos (who contribute to the noise, but also give so much love). Robyn spends her time perfecting her gluten-free pancake recipe, going to AJR shows, making playlists for all occasions, and discovering dazzling new features on Canva. A warm, witty, and wellness-focused Richmonder who has finally found her way back to the start, Robyn is a presenter who speaks from the heart of lived experience and invites all to find their own place of belonging in the local recovery community. Her biggest wish is for attendees to welcome an unconventional journey, to always lead with both heart and hope, and to be open to big adventures, new faces, and super safe places where everyone belongs.