Board of Directors |
Serving on the AWMAI Board of Directors is a rewarding and fulfilling job.
- Meet and collaborate with your peers.
- Gain organizational skills at the national and even international level.
- Learn to think and plan nationally and globally.
- Provide a service not found anywhere else in the world.
Read the Board Position Descriptions and apply today!
Executive Director
Jennie Trower began training in Krav Maga in 2002, becoming an instructor 10 years later. She soon realized that the methods, marketing and environment of most schools in that system were missing the mark for a wide audience who wanted practical, effective self-defense training taught in a supportive and welcoming environment. Jennie was motivated to start her own self-defense business, then co-founded another a few years later.
The worldwide events of 2020, which directly affected her onsite business model, and personal challenges led to the closing of both businesses in 2022. While Jennie took a step back from teaching, she stepped forward into the world of emergency management, finding many parallels between it and self-defense.
Today, Jennie lives with her teenage son in Austin, Texas, where she has spent most of her life. She works at a digital marketing agency, serves as both a disaster action team and government operations liaison with the American Red Cross, and still teaches private lessons and customized events. Jennie is proud to serve as the new executive director of AWMAI and is looking forward to this next chapter, both personally and professionally.
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Certification Director
Doctor, Sensei Amelia Jones is a scholar warrior healer.
She has actively practiced the martial arts for 35+ years starting in 1983 as a student of Shorin Ryu. Under the instruction of Katsuo Watanabe Sensei, 8th dan, she has earned the rank of yondan in Tomiki Aikido. Sensei Jones has taught self-defense for schools and community groups.
She is a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and board certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She continues to study and practice Chinese medicine, Tomiki Aikido, meditation and painting.
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Administrative Director
Parnee Poet is Tagalog and Kapampangan, born in the arkipelago referred to as the Philippines and raised in the suburbs of Peoria, Anishinabewaki, Odawa, Mississauga and Sauk Territories (East Lansing, Michigan), where I had friends from all over the world. My dad, Anacleto Sawal Paras, Jr., is Kampampangan and graduated from Michigan State University with a PhD in Agricultural Engineering and my mom, Florita Enrile Paras, is Tagalog and worked as a nurse and celebrated mine and my siblings’ birthdays with memorable birthdays every year. I lived in the diverse MSU community at Spartan Village. Our food and languages were celebrated annually with “International Night” at Spartan Village Elementary School. I spent most of my adult years in the Anishinaabe Territory, where I studied English literature, photography, biology, conservation, nursing, massage therapy and martial arts, my love of nature was deeply cultivated by Gitche Gumee’s crashing waves, northern climate with trees and slopes. After building a structure modeled from traditional wiigwams, of the Anishinaabe of the Gitche Gumee region, I lived in the hybrid “wiigy” and off the grid for two years, further deepening my appreciation of sustainability and living with the earth’s rhythms. At the urging of a new friend, Meisha Lamb, I spent over two years living in the rainforest of the Tlingit, Métis and Dënéndeh Territories (Haines, Alaska), surrounded by over 3000 feet tall mountains and going for long walks with my dear friend, Sissy, a Husky mix.
I started studying Cuong Nhu Martial Arts in January 2003 in Ishpeming, Michigan at Northern Lights Dojo with Sensei Richard "Bud" Place, Sensei Shane Robertson, Sensei Tim DeMarte, Sensei Jeffrey Scott and Sensei Michael Holman. After passing my Cuong Nhu Black Belt test in May 2010, I opened the first Cuong Nhu Wisconsin school, Tara Dojo, in Oceti Sakowin, Myaami and Menominee Territories (Appleton, Wisconsin) in January 2011. I teach self defense and Cuong Nhu Martial Arts classes online and in person.
Besides studying martial arts/self defense, I offer massage therapy, breathing awareness and I create art in Miami, Menominee and Oceti Sakowin Territories (Northeastern Wisconsin). I can be found on instagram: instagram.com/TaraBreathe.
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Events Director
Sijeh Sarah Sponzo began training in martial arts in 1998, studying Tai Chi and Kung Fu. She is now a Senior Instructor at the Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy in Middletown, Connecticut, under the leadership of Sifu Daniel Ostrow. She also trained with Grandmaster Tat Mau Wong and holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Choy Lay Fut.
In addition to her regular teaching schedule, she especially enjoys judging and coordinating tournaments, both in her own school, and with various organizations, including the International Chinese Martial Arts Championship (ICMAC), New England International Chinese Martial Arts Championships, Disney Martial Arts Festival, and AFACT Karate.
Sarah has an academic background in English and Education, and works as an Account Director for a medical communications company. In her free time, she loves to cook, read, spend time with her cats and dogs, and dream up her next travel adventure.
"I am always honored by the trust that my teachers have put in me and particularly humbled by the faith that parents and students put in me to guide and teach them and their children. I am especially privileged to follow so many great elder sisters and to help lead many wonderful younger sisters on the path of martial arts."
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Financial Director
Professor Katie Murphy Stevens (she/they) began her study of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in 1990. Her perspective in the martial arts has grown and changed over the years - student, practitioner, teacher, work horse, mentor, artist - from one perspective, to another perspective, and sometimes all at once and mixed together. She credits many individuals as inspirations, especially her sensei: Sensei Cynthia Frueh who started her on her path, Professor Jane Carr who guided her transformation for 20 years, and Professor Sheryl Hager who is her current sensei and has been a steady source of support for many years.
Professor Stevens earned black belt rank in 1995. She served as a school head of Makoto Kai in Woodland, CA from 2002 to 2024. She received the rank of Rokudan in 2020 and the title of Professor in 2024.
Professor Stevens has studied the healing arts of Danzan Ryu. In addition to ongoing classes in Danzan Ryu healing arts, she is a 1995 graduate of the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute intensive massage course.
Professor Stevens devotes time teaching at regional and national seminars. She hosts clinics, tournaments and conferences. She has served in administrative roles in the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation since 2003 and was elected to the AJJF Board of Professors in 2024. She has been the Financial Director of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors since 2016. Professor Stevens believes in working to sustain organizations that teach and preserve the martial arts.
Professor Stevens began her martial arts practice for some self-defense training and fitness, but she stays for the deep friendships and her love of the art.
"AWMAI is a grass roots organization. Our annual conference is a meeting place where we can teach, talk and enjoy martial arts. Our members truly want to contribute and to see each other succeed."
Click here to email Financial Director [photo by Sheila Haddad]
