East West College’s faculty and staff are hired for their professional training and expertise. Bodywork instructors have a minimum of two years education and practice in the subject they teach. Science instructors have a university degree in science or a health-related field or appropriate undergraduate coursework.
All East West College instructors continually strive to inspire excellence and provide an environment that encourages student success. Students find the instructors are warm, caring, compassionate, well trained and experienced.
East West College is managed by a President and an Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee is responsible for running and reviewing day-to-day East West operations, as well as strategic and long term planning approved by the President. The Oversight Committee consists of David Slawson, President; Edie Moll, Director of Operations; and Erika Baern, Director of Education.
Ana Dugan
Director of Financial Aid. Ana Dugan, an adopted native Oregonian, has been in the financial aid industry for 8-1/2 years. She studied Business Administration at Western Oregon University and locally at Portland Community College. She joined East West College in Fall 2017 as the Director of Financial Aid. While she strives to provide a high level of customer service, it is also her goal to deliver financial information efficiently and in an easy to understand format to promote EWC’s graduates’ success for the future. In her free time, she stays busy chasing her two children and a Pomeranian named Pixel around, typically in local hiking areas.
Ashley Nelson
Admissions Representative. Ashley has enjoyed working in career colleges since 2014, and has been with East West College in the role of Admissions Representative since 2015. She is passionate about guiding students through the initial steps in pursuing their college and career goals, and values each unique opportunity to connect genuinely with aspiring healers and heart-led individuals. As an outspoken advocate for massage and all its intrinsic, altruistic, health, and professional benefits, she happily began her own studies at East West College in the Spring of 2018. Born and raised just outside of Portland, Ashley enjoys hiking, camping, adventuring with her Australian Cattle dog, seeing live music with her friends, and traveling when her free time allows.
Becky Hibbett
Education Department Coordinator. Becky joined the East West College team in 2001, filling two positions – Dean of Students Services and Assistant to the Director of Education. She had found herself looking for something different from the banking career she had left behind. “I loved that this new job had an educational flavor to it.”
Becky’s current position gives her the opportunity to support EWC in many ways. She is there when faculty members need anything from assistance with administrative responsibilities to everything needed in the classrooms. It has been said of her, “She has a tremendous ability to find ‘win-win’ situations.” She is a lifesaver to everyone behind the scenes at EWC. “My position at East West College captures my desire to come alongside others and facilitate their success. My cup is being constantly filled by the give and take, the mutual appreciation we have for each other. We have the freedom to engage in deep and wonderful conversations with each other.” Becky enjoys nurturing her flower pots, and engaging in meditative reading and healthy eating.
Brett Falkenberg
Administrative Assistant. Brett has been with EWC for many, many years. We have come to conclusion that it is not our dynamic personalities that keep him here, but rather those of each of the thousands of students he has met through his interactions at the front desk. That and he needs his paycheck to fund all the barbeques he has for his friends on the weekends. He must be a good cook, because they all keep coming back. We wouldn’t really know… since we’ve never been invited.
Claudia Curt
Finance Manager/HR Manager. Claudia graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. She has enjoyed many years experience in the accounting field in various capacities, and welcomes the new and exciting challenges that come her way. She has been with East West College since 2015 as their Finance Manager and Human Resource Coordinator and finds that that the calm, supportive atmosphere suits her perfectly. A lover of travel and history, she frequently travels to visit far-flung family in Texas, Alaska, and Minnesota, as well as national parks, Oregon’s beaches and enjoys anything related to the history of the United States and the Pacific Northwest. For the occasional adrenaline rush she goes whitewater rafting. Her seven grandchildren and family are her joy. She loves spending time with them, cheering them on at their ball games and other events. In her spare time she takes a break from working with numbers and fills in as a tour guide for her friend’s tour company, taking groups out to the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and the Oregon Coast.
Cyr Zeeberg-Foote
LMT, Faculty Member. Cyr’s early interest in activism and social altruism first led to a degree in social work from Eckerd College, a liberal arts school in St. Petersburg, Florida. While working as director of a shelter for homeless families, Cyr attended the Suncoast School of Massage in Tampa. Licensed as a massage therapist since 1991, their practice has evolved and changed over the years. “I’ve enjoyed working with a variety of populations, including athletes, pregnant women, spa clients, trauma survivors and children. Throughout my career I’ve studied Craniosacral Therapy with several different teachers. Today, Craniosacral Therapy comprises about seventy five percent of my practice. I love that my practice has an element of sacredness to it. I consider it an honor to be with clients and hold space for their healing.” A committed bike commuter, they fell in love with Portland and moved here in 2002.
The opportunity to teach felt like a natural fit. In 2007 Cyr joined the faculty at EWC and is currently teaching a wide range of classes, from Kinesiology to Craniosacral Therapy. Cyr feels the opportunity to teach is a gift, and through it strives to give back and share an endless sense of awe and fascination with the human body. “Teaching is a source of joy for me. I enjoy the spontaneity that arises in class both from students and me.” Outside of school, their interests include gardening, dancing, hiking and kayaking. “I still care deeply about social issues, especially those concerning the environment and LGBT equality. My social activism has changed over the years to working at more of an individual level. Each person’s life we impact affects the whole of our society.”
Erika Baern
LMT, Director of Education. Erika earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts. While pursuing a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, she realized that what she enjoyed most about graduate school was teaching, something she had been doing ever since middle school when she gave violin lessons to a younger student.
After leaving graduate school, Erika moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, started receiving regular massage, took an Intro to Massage class and discovered that she loved doing massage as much as she loved teaching. She completed a 1200 hour program at the Muscular Therapy Institute, and in 1991 began her private practice, focusing on clients with trauma history. She began teaching massage at MTI, and in 2000 became the school’s Director of Education.
Erika moved to Portland and joined the East West College family in 2007. She had always been interested in living in the Pacific Northwest and wanted to enjoy the outdoors year round. Since coming to East West, Erika has enjoyed working with teachers and staff to provide a supportive learning environment and strong educational program. She often meets with students, helping them develop learning, study skills, and test taking strategies.
Passionate about the incredible healing powers of massage, Erika says, “I realized I couldn’t reach as many people as I wanted to – there just weren’t enough hours in the day to give all the massages I wished I could give. So by teaching students and working with teachers, I could expand the number of people I could ‘touch’ with massage. I believe we can bring peace to the world, one massage at a time. Through the gift of massage, we provide space for our clients to let go of stress and pain, making a difference in their body and spirit. That effect ripples out into every one in their lives.”
When not at East West, Erika enjoys being outdoors, gardening, knitting, and baking.
Jan Stott
Registrar. Jan lived in an assortment of rectangular states before abandoning right angles and heading for the irregularly shaped New York University School of the Arts. Between film editing jobs, she slipped into a registrar position at a vocational school and found that it fit her perfectly. The ability to sort things out served her well as an editor and even better as a registrar. Jan’s first foray into the world of holistic health began when she moved to Massachusetts and became the Registrar at the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge. Ten years later, she was drawn to Oregon by the vaguely rectangular shape of the state, the discovery that most of her family had migrated here, and the position of Registrar at East West College. Jan attempts to balance the needs of students, faculty, and the building itself with humor and wit. Failing that, she may be able to distract you with her array of small, colorful toys. When she isn’t arranging things at school, she enjoys arranging pieces of wood into attractive and useful objects. “They don’t object to my plans for them, so I find it very satisfying.”
Lisa Ann VanAlstine
LMT, Faculty Member. Lisa Ann graduated from East West College in 1998, and earned a B.A. in Spanish from Portland State University in 2003. In addition to being a practicing Licensed Massage Therapist, Lisa Ann is also a Certified Stott Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer. Lisa Ann does bodywork at Parkside Clinic where she has had great success helping clients regain pain free movement. Lisa Ann was welcomed as an instructor at East West College in 2006. She has taught Kinesiology as well as numerous massage and bodywork courses. Her passion for healing and helping others translates into a creative, hands-on classroom environment. She has been described by her colleagues as “articulate” and in possession of “amazing, grounded energy.” Lisa Ann also teaches continuing education courses for Licensed Massage Therapists.
Lori Johnson
Dean of Admissions. Lori has spent over a decade in college admissions; working with students to help connect them to the right educational paths to meet their career goals. She knows that education has the power to make dreams a reality, which is why she takes great pride in working for East West, a heart led vocational school that offers a diverse student body the opportunity to learn a skilled and highly in demand trade. Raised by the ocean, Lori has a life time love of sailing, kayaking and the occasional river rafting adventure and in her spare time has been known to play a little Roller Derby with Portland’s own Rose City Rollers.
Marc Sardo
Student Services Administrative Coordinator. Hailing from the land of lake effect snow, chicken wings, and Super Bowl losses (aka Buffalo, NY), Marc received his BS from SUNY New Paltz and briefly lived in the beautiful Hudson Valley before answering the call of the West. He has called Portland home since 2006. Working in the Student Services office since 2015, he enjoys helping students to achieve their goals and is continually inspired by the hard work and dedication of the students, faculty, and staff at East West.
Marta Lange
LMT, Faculty Member. Marta grew up on a rural island in Washington State’s Puget Sound. She studied Spanish, Political Science, and Organic Farming at Evergreen State College, then lived and worked in Mexico, Central and South America. “I worked on public health and organic farming projects and taught English to make ends meet. In all my experiences there, I was the student and the beneficiary.” Marta made a shift from bilingual social work when she began living and working in Holistic Learning Centers on the East Coast. She completed a yoga teacher training at the Himalayan Institute in India and did her first massage training at Kripalu in Massachusetts. “This training was yoga based, focusing on breath, presence, and spirit. I wanted to balance my yoga-based foundation with solid science. I choose East West College based on its national reputation.” Marta graduated from EWC in 2007 and built her skills in the school’s Alumni Clinic. She now works in her thriving private practice. Her approach to bodywork is rooted in her study and practice of hatha yoga, meditation and ecstatic dance. Marta currently teaches a varieity of massage and bodywork courses at East West. Her yoga background makes her uniquely able to help students with body mechanics, breath, and the synergistic exchange between client and therapist. “I love being a part of the discovery process. In my classroom there is playfulness, room to experiment and grow. I seek to help students recognize their unique gifts as bodyworkers.” In her free time Marta enjoys kayaking, gardening and improving her Italian language skills. “I like to recharge my batteries through connecting with all of Nature’s elements.”
Mary Gunter
LMT, Faculty Member. Mary was raised in Pennsylvania and moved to Portland in 1996, drawn to the year round skiing, big trees and Cascade Mountains. Her journey towards a career as a massage therapist began when massage helped her rehabilitate a shoulder injury. She chose East West College and graduated in 1999. Mary’s first years as an LMT were spent practicing at health and wellness centers. She now has a private practice out of her Mt. Tabor home. Her approach to massage integrates both subtle, more sensitive therapies like craniosacral and lymphatic drainage with Swedish-style and deep tissue techniques. “It feels rewarding to help people become more aware of their bodies and their needs.” Mary became a massage educator in 2004, and has been a part of East West College’s faculty since 2007. She has taught a whole range of courses, from the sciences to advanced massage and bodywork modalities. “I feel that teaching at East West College is a unique and wonderful opportunity to share with students both the science and the art that go into this amazing field.” Mary is known to be a teacher that really allows students to explore in a way that is safe and fun. “It is wonderful to observe the transformation that students make over the course of their program here at EWC.”
Maryanne Gilbert
Alumni Services Coordinator. Maryanne is from Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with her BA. After working for many years in the legal field including as Student Services Coordinator at the Denver Paralegal Institute, she decided to change careers. She went to the Colorado School for Healing Arts and for over 15 years had a private practice helping her clients manage stress and chronic illness. Early in 2019, she and her husband moved to Portland to be closer to family and friends. Besides her passion for massage, she loves aromatherapy and in her spare time is blending essential oils and handcrafting soap. She is excited to be part of such a great community at East West College.
Samantha Paquette
LMT, Faculty Member. A massage therapist based in Portland and a graduate of East West. In her clinical practice, she has a passion for working with repetitive motion injuries and women’s health issues. Samantha blends multiple modalities including deep tissue, Tui Na, Thai, cupping, gua sha, and essential oils. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys taking trips to the coast or the mountain, kitting, or cooking.
Sarah Davis
LMT, Faculty Member. Sarah grew up in New York and Colorado, but has been an Oregonian since 1992. She graduated. with honors from Bard College with a B.A. in Sociology. She also studied literature, painting, Spanish and biology. Sarah received her massage therapy education at Lane Community College. She has worked in a variety of massage settings, including her own practice focusing on injury recovery, chronic illness management, on-site and outcall massage, spa therapies and geriatric massage. “I’m honored and privileged to serve and support a client’s healing journey.” She is inspired by the dynamic power of massage to facilitate healing of the body, mind, heart and spirit. A perpetual student of the human body and of human relationships, Sarah hopes to inspire in her students the same passion for learning, discovery and service. “I am passionate about the subject matter and I have a lot of energy. That combination seems to help students become engaged and excited too.” Sarah’s students are inspired by her enthusiasm. Her intensity challenges them to do their best. They appreciate being supported and encouraged and also being able to have fun and connect with others in the midst of the work. Sarah loves to hear from graduates about their career successes and challenges. “It’s wonderful to witness their journey from student to professional peer.” “Creativity is important in my life. I love to cook, garden, knit and write. I am an AVID reader. Every room in my house has an overflowing bookshelf.”
Tina Smith
BS, LMT, Dean of Students. After 15 years in the social services field, Tina undertook a period of reflection in order to shift her life direction to be able to be helping others while also feeling positive and energized at the end of a day. She completed the program at East West College in 2016 and became a massage therapist. “I am honored to practice massage therapy and have the opportunity to connect with clients to focus together on their pain relief and healing.” She joined the East West College team in 2017 and feels excited to be able to support students as they journey through the program to become massage therapists. Tina enjoys cooking, photography, reading, and being out in nature.