Luminosity

For 30 Years, ITEA has been Luminous

In 2026, ITEA celebrates our 30th Anniversary! Founded in 1996 by Sandy Lillie, with the support of Terry Skellon and Hilary Skellon, the birth of ITEA forged a new path for students across the country, and especially in the western United States, to learn Classical Five-Element Acupuncture and Do Something Different.

After humble beginnings with four students in the inaugural class at the original Boulder location, ITEA later relocated to downtown Louisville. 

Thirty years and nearly 200 graduates later,
our legacy is enduring and strong.

Gifts to ITEA illuminate our future

Students from across the country come to Louisville, Colorado to learn an ancient system of transformative medicine. 

They become leaders in healthcare. 

In the last three years, ITEA has enrolled and retained two of the largest classes in nearly ten years! 

This growth is the result of our expanded student support services, individualized student advising and mentorship and refined admissions processes. 

Your contribution to the 30th Anniversary Luminosity campaign supports ITEA by:

• Nurturing the development seeds for a future doctoral program in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture
• Enhancing student experiences with upgrades to school and Clinic learning environments
• Creating engaging, fun and educational events for students, staff and faculty 
• Providing excellent training and resources for staff and faculty
• Increasing options for the Client Access Fund with reduced-rate transformational healthcare in our Clinic
• Extending free AcuWellness (NADA) Clinics on Wednesdays for all people 

About ITEA

At the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (ITEA), students participate in a full-time, three-year graduate program to earn the degree of Master of Acupuncture in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture. 

Our Clinic, supervised by licensed senior acupuncture practitioners, is open to the community for treatment at affordable rates. Clinical students provide treatments under supervision while earning hours towards their internship requirements. Working in partnership with an intern cultivates trusting relationships with clients, supports positive health outcomes, and increases client self-empowerment with integrative medical approaches. 

In 2022, we launched a fundraising campaign to expand our current campus. Construction included renovating our student kitchen, adding a student lounge, building a new classroom and updating our existing teaching and study areas! 

This was all possible because of you, our generous donors. 

Our expanded campus allows us to reach more students, which results in more incredible Classical Five Element graduates, teachers and practitioners sharing this elegant system of medicine with the world. 

Change the World — One Person at a Time!

The Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture is a 501(c)(3) non-profit school committed to the support of individuals in fulfilling their unique way of being, one which is aligned with nature and spirit, and one in which life can be best lived.

Founded in Colorado in 1996, the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2003, ITEA was granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (ACAHM). By 2006, ITEA was authorized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) to issue graduates the degree of Master of Acupuncture in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture. Reaccredited nationally in 2021, ITEA continues to serve as a leader in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture education.