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, Vice President; and Erika Baern, Director.
Ready to take the next step towards your new career in massage therapy?
Staff
STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
Haley Bacon, Student Services Administrative Manager
Haley is a massage therapist who graduated from East West in 2021. Whether doing bodywork or administrative work, Haley aims to find a balance between lighthearted humor and grounded support for her clients and staff. Connecting and laughing with coworkers, students and clients fills her cup. When Haley is not in the office, she can be found taking her little one on adventures, sharing meals with loved ones or thinking of creative excuses to head to the coast.
DIRECTOR
Erika Baern, LMT #18535, Director
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.
FRONT DESK ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Rachel Beall
Rachel graduated from the University of Oregon with a Multidisciplinary Science degree in 2023 and afterwards worked a couple different jobs at Providence hospitals. She is currently enrolled as a student at East West College. With a passion for human anatomy and healing, she aims to be a clinical massage therapist. She hopes to someday bring relief to people living with chronic pain conditions and offer a safe space for them to unwind. On her days off, Rachel can be found doing an assortment of activities around home and the Portland area, like painting, going to the zoo, experimenting with recipes, dominating at pinochle, and whatever else sounds exciting that day!
CONTINUING EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Sandee Coggins, LMT #25637, Continuing Education/Education Department Coordinator
Sandee originally hails from Texas. She followed her daughter and grandkids from Texas to Oregon in 2010. Sandee has been an LMT since 1997 in Texas. After moving to Oregon (and not having enough hours to get licensed in Oregon), she started a fermented foods business and took care of her aged mom. In 2018, she went back to school at East West College and graduated again in 2019, finally receiving her Oregon license in 2020. Sandee maintains a private practice and works at East West College as the Continuing Education Coordinator and part of the Education Department Coordinator team.
She loves assisting people and enjoys cooking, spending time with family, horses, gardening, hiking, motorcycles, archery, shooting pistols & rifles and hiking – anything outdoors!
FRONT DESK ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Amy Craig, Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Amy has a long time interest in the holistic healing arts. Her prior professional experience includes providing office support for a naturopathic physician and a therapeutic massage clinic. In her free time, she enjoys admiring her neighbors’ flowering and fruiting gardens.
DEAN OF ADMISSIONS
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.
ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Selah Johnson, Admissions Representative
Selah Johnson, LMT, is a Portland native and East West College graduate. She has been practicing massage since 2024 and is deeply passionate about the benefits of bodywork. She stepped into the Admissions Representative role to help prospective students find the right path for them and guide them through the admissions process. Her favorite part of this work is connecting with people and making sure everybody’s individual needs are met. When she’s not in the office or doing massage, you can find her curled up with her cats or swimming in a local lake or river in the summertime.
DEAN OF STUDENTS
Christina King, DSOM, MLS, Dean of Students
Christina King, DSOM, MLS, has spent significant time working in the overlap between natural medicine and education. Christina worked in a library while she studied Chinese medicine and ended up becoming a librarian, working for over a decade in the library at the National University of Natural Medicine. For her, the best part of being a librarian was helping to support students. She loves helping students succeed in the classroom and in life and is excited to support students at East West as they grow and learn.
When she’s not at work, Christina enjoys walking her dog, working on art projects, reading (mostly nonfiction), and watching UK crime dramas while doing a puzzle and drinking tea.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID
Liesha McElroy, Director of Financial Aid
Liesha McElroy comes to East West College with decades of financial aid experience in higher education. She has a commitment to helping students unlock the resources they need to pursue their academic dreams. Liesha was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest in Tacoma, Washington. She has since relocated to Arizona, currently residing in sunny Gilbert. Outside of work, Liesha enjoys spending time with her four children and her family. She enjoys crafting, cooking (a lot of pasta), singing and anything Disney.
ALUMNI SERVICES COORDINATOR
Anne Nutwell, LMT #22093, Alumni Services Coordinator
Alumni Services Coordinator, Anne Nutwell, is an East West alumna and has been a massage therapist since 2016. She loves to blend the technical with the intuitive professionally and personally and has a B.A. in Psychology as well as nearly a decade of experience in office administration and data processing. A Pacific Northwest native, she enjoys the opportunity to experience our magnificent natural world and create her garden filled with native plants. When it’s too muddy to enjoy the outdoors, she enjoys quieter activities like reading and dabbling in crafts – closely supervised by her cats.
ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Kaya Rawa
Kaya is passionate about helping people navigate new beginnings, big transitions, and the exciting possibilities that come with change. Having immigrated to the U.S. herself, she understands what it feels like to step into an unfamiliar environment and build a new path. Her background in higher education has given her the opportunity to work with diverse students and professionals both in the U.S. and internationally, supporting people as they take important steps toward their goals.
With a background in psychology, Kaya has a genuine interest in people and what motivates them to grow and pursue something meaningful. As an Admissions Representative, she loves getting to know future students, helping them discover the possibilities within the healing arts, and cheering them on as they turn a passion for helping others into a fulfilling career.
Outside of work, Kaya enjoys hiking, swimming, spending time in nature, and making the most of life with her family.
REGISTRAR
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.”
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR
Debbie Anne Taylor, BS, LMT #07767, Education Department Coordinator
Debbie Anne is a graduate of East West College and the California College of Holistic Health and has been in practice since 1988. She studied Ayurvedic massage while working as a Holistic Health Practitioner at Deepak Chopra’s Center for Well Being. In her private practice, Debbie Anne specializes in Ayurvedic massage and dry room spa treatments. She enjoys using her background in medical anthropology to help clients and students become aware of the cultural aspects of their healing journey. Her extensive teaching, practice and spa management experience as well as her compassion for her students make her an ideal teacher.
FRONT DESK ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Jackie Warren, Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Jackie is a longtime enthusiast of the healing arts and comes to East West College with nearly a decade of administrative experience in higher education, wellness centers and massage schools. An eternal student, she enjoys being in spaces that nurture growth and is excited to support the EWC students and community at the front desk. Jackie has called Portland home for the last five years and loves exploring the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Outside of work, she enjoys tending her budding indoor jungle, gardening, laughing, curling up with a good book, and spending time with dear ones.
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Ariel Zimmer, Director of Education
Ariel Zimmer, MA Ed., LMT has been a dual career professional in massage therapy and education for many years.
While an undergraduate at the University of Oregon, Ariel began taking massage therapy classes out of personal interest. She quickly realized the positive impact could have as an LMT. She completed her massage education at Lane Community College and Oregon School of Massage. Ariel has been an LMT in Oregon since 2009 with significant clinical, private practice, and spa experience. Her continuing education and training include the Arvigo techniques of abdominal therapy, Yamuna Body Rolling, Gua Sha, chiropractic assisting, Reiki, and pregnancy massage.
Since 2012, Ariel has also been an educator holding positions in teaching, student advising, program administration, and instructional design. She takes a humanistic, learner-centered approach to adult education and is committed to active and experiential learning and supporting students in their own exploration and inquiry. She holds a Master’s degree in Postsecondary, Adult, and Continuing Education from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Planning, Public, and Management from the University of Oregon.
Outside of work, you’ll find Ariel cooking, spending time with family, gardening, playing with her two dogs, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Faculty
Amy Bennett, LMT #11023, BCSI™
Amy is a 2003 graduate of East West College and joined the EWC faculty in 2006. She completed her Anatomy Trains Structural Integration training and became a Board Certified Structural Integrator (BCSI) in 2013. Amy maintains a private practice in NE Portland where her focus is primarily Structural Integration, Movement Education and teaching a series of advanced continuing education classes for bodywork practitioners. She has taught many core programs and is currently teaching the Structural Bodywork elective. Amy’s focus over the course of her career has been to more comprehensively understand the human body through the study of anatomy and movement and to explore the relational nature of bodywork. When not in her office or the classroom, Amy can be found hiking in both the woods and the city, working in her garden, or simply spending time at home with her husband and two cats reading a book.
Mariana Orantes Blackstone, BA, LMT
Mariana Orantes Blackstone BA, LMT is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College and EWC. Mariana holds a BA in Studio Art – Ceramics and has been an LMT since 2015. Working for chiropractors, spas, and private practitioners, she practices mixing modalities to encourage functional changes toward easy movement and pain relief while the nervous system decompresses. Mariana is passionate about learning through experience as well as with mentors and fellow practitioners. Her approach to bodywork education is to build a strong foundation of technical skills so that every student builds their unique voice and gifts on a base of safe and effective techniques.
Michele Cates, LMT
Michele Cates, LMT knew she wanted to be a massage therapist from a young age. She worked as support staff in a high-end Ayurvedic spa while attending East West College and has been licensed and practicing massage in Portland since 2005. Michele’s professional experience has primarily been in the spa environment, with a focus on Ayurvedic techniques, prenatal massage, and spa management. In the treatment room, she strives to create a safe space for the nervous system and to meet every client where they are. She is looking forward to the opportunity to learn while teaching, and contributing more deeply to the massage therapy community she loves. Michele also enjoys baking treats, playing with her cats, and hiking Powell Butte.
Roseanna Colabella, LMT
Roseanna Colabella, LMT has dedicated her career to empowering others through bodywork, fitness, and holistic health. She began her journey at the Nevada School of Massage Therapy in 2005, where she built the foundation of her massage practice. Over the years, she has expanded her expertise to include herbalism, health coaching, and certification as a fitness trainer. As founder of Calm Mind Strong Body, Roseanna helps individuals restore balance and resilience by combining hands-on bodywork, movement, and practical self-care. Her teaching philosophy centers on giving students the confidence and skills they need to enter the industry prepared for success—both as practitioners and as compassionate guides in their clients’ healing journeys. Beyond her professional life, Roseanna enjoys reading, biking around Portland, cooking nutritious meals, and unwinding with a good sci-fi story.
Nicole Craigmiles, LMT #23164
Nicole is a graduate of University of Maryland, College Park and East West College. She holds a degree in English literature and has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2017. She practices many modalities including deep tissue, myofascial release, craniosacral, and cupping. In addition to teaching and massage, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family hiking, biking, camping, and at lakes and rivers.
CURRICULUM COORDINATOR
Sarah Davis, BA, LMT
Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts from Bard College and received her massage therapy education from Lane Community College. Her professional bodywork studies include geriatric massage, Thai massage, and spa therapies such as aromatherapy and stone massage. Sarah 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. 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.
Andrew DelGreco, MBA, LMT
Andrew DelGreco MBA, LMT received a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Portland. He spent a decade as an educator for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and non-profits in Portland before attending East West College to change careers to massage therapy. Andrew opened his private practice in 2022 and focuses on myofascial release, deep tissue techniques, aromatherapy, and cupping therapy. Outside of bodywork, Andrew spends as much time outside as possible, working in his vegetable garden or enjoying the Oregon coast.
Alexandra Diamond LMT, CST-T
Alexandra Diamond LMT, CST-T received her degree in massage therapy from Delgado Community College in New Orleans, LA and her techniques certification in CranioSacral Therapy from the Upledger Institute. Through her private practice, Honored Body, Alexandra aims to empower her clients with a strong focus on women’s health and prenatal care, mental health and grief, the queer community, and youth. She sees clients regularly for restorative bodywork, CranioSacral Therapy, and Somatoemotional Release; teaches workshops on therapeutic relations; and also provides guidance to folks with Human Design Readings, counseling, and workshops for using Human Design. She also writes a twice-monthly newsletter for Honored Body subscribers. Outside of her practice and teaching at East West, Alexandra is an avid explorer, equestrian, and burgeoning basket weaver.
Eve Eggleston MA, LMT
Eve Eggleston MA, LMT is a graduate of University of Indianapolis and the Indiana Wellness College. They hold a degree in social practice art and have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2016. Their practice encompasses many modalities including ashiatsu, pregnancy massage, hot stones, and influences of Thai massage. Eve teaches Therapeutic Relationships. Beyond massage and teaching, their favorite activities are training with Parkour Visions, bouldering, figure drawing, wood burning, and taking their cat for walks in parks and around the city.
Monica Fong MS, LMT
Monica Fong MS, LMT received a Master of Science in Human Anatomy from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in 2022 and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Oregon State University. She graduated from EWC in 2018 and practiced prenatal massage, myofascial massage, and sports massage. She is also a yoga instructor and loves to incorporate movement into her Kinesiology and Anatomy & Physiology classes. Outside of teaching, Monica loves to be outdoors, either hiking, being close to the water, or traveling around the world. She also spends her time rock climbing and doing yoga as she believes a healthy lifestyle is the most important thing that brings happiness.
Noreen Greenblatt, BA, LMT, CST, CHP
Noreen Greenblatt, BA, LMT, CST, CHP loves the classroom! After graduating from UC Berkeley and spending ten years in the worlds of finance and technology, she embarked on a healing journey that would transform her first into a student then eventually a teacher of anatomy and physiology. Her studies progressed from massage to craniosacral therapy, working with clients with conditions that often result in dysregulated nervous systems, such as concussions and TMJ disorder. Curious about the relationship of trauma and the body, she decided to then focus her studies on somatic experiential psychotherapy and pursued Certification as a Hakomi Practitioner. When not teaching kinesiology at East West College, she is in private practice at The Hope Connection in Southwest Portland. In her free time, she enjoys music, friends, and discovering wild places with her rescue dog Bodhi.
Mary Gunter, AS, LMT #07532
Mary is a graduate of East West College and has been practicing since 2001. Her approach to massage integrates both subtle therapies like craniosacral and lymphatic drainage and more physical Swedish and deep tissue techniques. Mary became a massage educator in 2004 and has been part of East West College’s faculty since 2007, teaching Kinesiology and massage technique courses. She feels that teaching at East West College is a unique and wonderful opportunity to share with students both the science and the art of this amazing field.
Kirstin Hoops, LMT
Kirstin Hoops, LMT is a graduate of East West College and has been practicing massage since 2020. As a therapist, her focus is creating an atmosphere of safety, curiosity, experimentation and collaboration with the intention of facilitating deeper embodiment for her clients. After graduating from EWC, she studied Traditional Thai Bodywork at the Loi Kroh School in Chiang Mai. Her technique is a blend of many modalities, especially myofascial release, craniosacral, and Swedish. She is excited to share her passion with future EWC graduates. When not doing bodywork, Kirstin can be found hiking, playing music, practicing yoga, or snuggling her cat, Cardamom.
Jeanell Innerarity, MA, BCHN®, NBC-HWC, LMT, QMHP-C
Jeanell Innerarity, MA, BCHN®, NBC-HWC, LMT, QMHP-C is a graduate of Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy and has been practicing bodywork and somatics for over 25 years. She specializes in abdominal massage with extensive training in The Arvigo Technique of Maya Abdominal Therapy® and Chi Nei Tsang. She is also a certified foot reflexologist. Her additional bodywork training includes Biodynamic Touch, The Feldenkrais Method®, Psoas somatic work, Swedish, Thai, Shiatsu, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Body-Mind Centering®, and multiple Yoga Teacher trainings including Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans Coping with PTSD. Jeanell holds a Master of Arts in Process Oriented Facilitation and Conflict Studies, a certificate in Jungian psychotherapy, and a HeartMath® Clinical Certification for Stress, Anxiety, and Self- Regulation. She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® and is a Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach. She is currently working towards her credential as a Registered Herbalist. Jeanell is a Permaculture gardener and loves to cook and preserve local food. She has a goldendoodle named Tahini who pretty much runs her life.
Jace Knox, AA, LMT #20606
Jace began his study of manual medicine in 2007 when he became a student of Chinese martial and healing arts under the North American Tang Shou Tao Association. Initially, Jace’s interest was in the fighting arts, but over time the therapeutic aspect of the deeply influenced the path of his life. After having worked as a carpenter, Jace decided that he wanted to be of service in other ways and enrolled at East West College. His experience at EWC broadened his understanding and approach to the work and helped him hone the tools that have made his practice successful. In 2013, he established his practice and his own school of martial arts and manual medicine in North Portland. Jace has deep respect for the potency of the work we can do with our hands, especially when combined with an intentional physical practice to keep us physically and energetically balanced, grounded, and strong. He looks forward to assisting students in forging their own paths into the healing arts.
Tabitha MacDonald, LMT
Tabitha MacDonald, LMT began her education at the Cotswold Academy of Health in England, earning an ITEC Diploma in Complementary Therapy in 2004. She graduated from the Massage Therapy program at Everest Institute in 2013 and started her private practice, Soma Massage, later that year. She works with clients experiencing chronic pain and injuries using her blended modality, Soma Precision Therapy, to return her clients to a state of health and wholeness as quickly as possible. As a dedicated professional, she is currently working on certification in Cranial Sacral, Visceral Manipulation and Neural Manipulation. As an instructor, Tabitha is passionate about helping students discover what excites them within massage, bodywork, and manual therapy. She believes the world needs highly skilled, curious, and compassionate massage therapists now more than ever, and she is committed to helping students build careers they can love—and sustain—for many years. She also hosts the Armed and Ready to Heal podcast.
Marta Lange, BA, LMT #14177
Marta is a graduate of the Evergreen State College and East West College and joined our faculty in 2009. Marta’s approach to bodywork is rooted in her study and practice of hatha yoga, qi gong, mindfulness meditation, and ecstatic dance. She was employed for many years at a chiropractic clinic where she refined her client-centered approach to therapeutic massage and bodywork. Currently Marta has a private practice in NE Portland where she focuses on a variety of Western massage techniques including myofascial, deep tissue and neuromuscular therapy. She has supplemental training in craniosacral therapy, lymphatic massage, and Zen Shiatsu. As an educator, Marta enjoys bringing her experience into the classroom to support each student’s unique learning style and goals. She is passionate about the art and science of massage therapy and its evolving role in complementary healthcare.
Maco Monthervil, MS, LMT #27066
Maco is a graduate of East West College and opened his private practice in 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Communications and Media Studies & Practice. Maco’s work is informed by Myofascial Release Therapy, Tui Na, Craniosacral Therapy, and other modalities. He employs these tools while integrating his background in trauma-informed mental health work to support those navigating both physical and emotional pain and discomfort, primarily masculine-identifying folks navigating men’s health issues. Maco is of Haitian-American heritage and was raised in Florida. His interests include music, writing, laughter, history, culture, traveling, emotional health, somatics, the human condition, and working through – or defying – restrictive or harmful cultural standards around “masculinity” and what is means to be a man. He spends time engaging in these as much as possible.
ALUMNI SERVICES COORDINATOR
Anne Nutwell, LMT #22093, Alumni Services Coordinator
Anne Nutwell, BA, LMT had no idea she would eventually become a massage therapist when she attended Gonzaga University to study Psychology. For nearly a decade, she worked in data processing and office administration. In 2015, she realized that she could be a massage therapist instead and attended East West College to achieve that goal. She believes that the skills she developed in her prior career are a gift she can share with other massage therapists to navigate the world of business with less frustration and uncertainty. Her love of learning has inspired her to seek out information about how people learn and she enjoys the reciprocity of working with neurodiverse learners (wo always end up teaching her in return).
Stephanie O’Donnell-Peters, LMT, RYT
Stephanie O’Donnell-Peters, LMT, RYT, is a graduate of East West College and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2011. She is the owner of Massage & Yoga Portland, where her practice focuses on therapeutic massage, myofascial techniques, lymphatic drainage, mobility, recovery, whole-body wellness, and retreats. In addition to massage, Stephanie is a yoga teacher, certified personal trainer, strength instructor, wellness educator, and continuing education provider. Her interests include functional movement, strength training, yoga, nutrition, self-care, and creating approachable ways for people to feel stronger and more connected to their bodies.
Helen Philpot, LMT
Helen Philpot, LMT is a graduate of East West College and has been practicing massage since 2022. She spent ten years in the accounting field before pursuing massage for a more active, healing environment. She works in a chiropractic setting and maintains a small private practice in Portland. She specializes in deep tissue, myofascial, injury care, and sports massage. In her spare time, she enjoys playing soccer, climbing, cycling, or attempting whatever sport has caught her interest that week.
Kira Rodenbush, LMT #10268
Kira Rodenbush, LMT, graduated from East West in 2002 and has been practicing steadily since. Trained in a variety of modalities, Kira has provided massage in many different environments: from mountaintop retreat centers to urban oases and chiropractic clinics; from postpartum to palliative bedsides and outcall sessions to high-end medical spas. She has spent the last two decades meeting clients exactly where they are. With a background in Theatre Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a career as an organizing consultant in NYC, Kira moved to Portland to pursue a path as a healer and bodyworker and found her direction and purpose at EWC. She is thrilled to bring her passion for learning about whole person wellness home to East West. In addition to her massage and organizing practice, Kira is also pursuing certifications in Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher Training. She loves chasing the myth of domestic bliss, and when she’s not wrangling her rambunctious household, she loves to let off steam by exercising, dancing, belting karaoke, and doing laundry. Sometimes simultaneously.
Warren Ross, LMT, BCMT
Warren Ross, LMT, BCMT graduated from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona. After practicing in the Phoenix area for six years, they moved to Oregon. In addition to state licensure, they are certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. They believe that safe and appropriate touch can be a powerful motivator in unlocking the body’s natural healing abilities and that touch is an important part of our survival. Being able to teach is a way to honor the work they have been doing as a practitioner as well as the passion and dedication of those that came before. Warren enjoys crafting, gardening, and raising three cats with their partner.
Marijean Rue, LMT
Marijean Rue, LMT has been a licensed massage therapist since 2010 and began studying Thai massage in 2013, traveling to Thailand to study semi-annually. She started teaching Thai Massage as Continuing Education in 2017, and leading study abroad trips for CE in 2023.
Before pursuing a career in the healing arts, Marijean received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Francisco and a Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. A native of Nevada, Marijean and her family moved to Portland in 2022 after living for 21 years in Nashville, TN.
Alex Susbauer, LMT, BCSI™, CPT
Alex Susbauer, LMT, BCSI™, CPT received his Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College where he studied history, education and physical education. Repetitive stress injuries sustained while competitive swimming led Alex to begin studying the human body and yoga. Discovering the value of massage and bodywork in healing from his injuries, he attended East West College and began teaching there shortly after graduating in 2001. Having studied Thai Massage in Thailand, Alex moved to Structural Integration as his focus, becoming a Board Certified Structural Integrator after completing the KMI program (now Anatomy Trains Structural Integration). Recently he became a Certified Personal Trainer to add functional movement education and coaching for his clients.
Alex and Jonathan Primack founded Integration Nation Bodywork and have been teaching CE classes for the massage and bodywork community since 2011. Alex values listening, presence and patience to support his clients in understanding how their body works and how they can take care of it. This focus also guides his teaching. His personal quest is to End Mindless Bodywork. Alex enjoys building and playing guitar, hiking, photography, and relaxing with his family, friends and his three dogs.
Robin Tibbals, BS, LMT, CA #16526
Robin graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton with a degree in Environmental Studies. After ten years of working in the field and teaching environmental science to school-age children, she moved to Portland in 2007 and graduated from EWC in 2009. After a year working in a spa, she joined a chiropractic office where she employs a wide variety of modalities including myofascial release, deep tissue, injury recovery, sports and event massage, cupping, and gua sha. Robin has always enjoyed sharing her passions with her students. Whether the topic is macroinvertebrate insects, horseback riding or massage, she strives to share real life experience with her students to help them achieve their goals. On her off-time, she can be found in her garden, hiking, canoeing, or snuggling one of her many animals.
Danika Tkacik, LMT
Danika Tkacik, LMT is a graduate of East West College and has been a massage therapist 2022. Her practice is located in Gresham where she and her team offer a broad spectrum of modalities geared toward treating chronic conditions and acute injury recovery. She teaches Foundations of Massage at EWC and, when not immersed in massage, enjoys knitting and reading.
Jay Williams, BS, LMT, BCSI™
Jay Williams BS, LMT, BCSI received his Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in 2014 with studies in zoology, chemistry, and business. He graduated from EWC in 2021 and continued his bodywork education by attending the training program at the Soma Institute for Structural Integration in 2023. He is passionate about the holistic approach SI offers and is working to bring more training opportunities for this approach to a variety of communities, including Portland. He maintains his private practice in Oregon City and loves teaching as it provides a deeper understanding of his own knowledge and exploration of the body and movement.
Jeanine Yutani, MA, NCPT®, OMT, LMT
Jeanine Yutani, MA, NCPT®, OMT, LMT is a graduate of East West College and has been practicing bodywork for nearly 20 years. Through her Portland studio, Yutani Movement, she specializes in working with individuals living with scoliosis, hypermobility, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and other chronic conditions. She builds individually tailored programming around each body’s unique needs, blending modalities like craniosacral therapy, osteopathic manual therapy and myofascial release with Pilates and other movement methods.
She earned a Master’s in East Asian Studies and a graduate certificate in Gender Studies at the University of Southern California. She also completed doctoral coursework at USC in Politics and International Relations, a path which took her to Taipei, Taiwan for an apprenticeship in anmo and Taiwanese massage. Her teaching roots go back to the mid 1990’s, ranging from martial arts to classrooms at USC and Nankai University in Tianjin, China. Over the past 15 years she's built on that foundation as a Balanced Body® Pilates and CoreAlign® Educator, an Anatomy in 3-Dimensions® Educator, Franklin Method® Educator, and Principal Educator for Scolio-Pilates®. Jeanine is forever a student, so she is always deep in study working on something. She lives in Portland with her husband, a local dentist, where they enjoy making sourdough bread and hanging out with their parrot, Mika.
Cyr Zeeberg-Foote, BA, LMT #09230
Cyr is a graduate of Eckerd College and the Suncoast School of Massage. They hold a degree in social work and have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1991. Their practice encompasses many modalities including craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, and reflexology. Cyr has been teaching since 2003 and feels the opportunity to teach is a gift. Through teaching, they strive to give back and share their endless sense of awe and fascination with the human body. Cyr enjoys spending their free time with their wife and cats. They love exploring the Pacific Northwest by kayak and hiking trails.