Meet the Instructors

 

Jocelyn Hollander has been teaching self-defense since 1987. She is a professor in the UO sociology department, where she teaches classes on research methods, pedagogy, gender-based violence, and the sociology of happiness. Her research focuses on the effectiveness of empowerment self-defense for preventing violence against women. At the UO, she has been active in efforts to improve sexual assault prevention and response, including serving on the University Senate Task Force to End Sexual Violence and Support Survivors and the President’s Sexual Assault Advisory Council. Outside of work, she can often be found gardening, playing music, or enjoying the beautiful Oregon outdoors with her two children.

 

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Ryan Kelly began studying martial arts when he was in elementary school. He has over thirty years of martial arts training with a focus on effective self defense, and over twenty years of teaching experience. He owned his own Academy, Northwest Martial Arts, for over 20 years, and has taught in the University Of Oregon PE department for over 16 years. Ryan holds many titles and certifications including a 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a Black Belt/ Instructorship rank in Jeet Kune Do,  Filipino Martial Arts, Judo, and Sambo. When Ryan isn’t teaching, he and his wife are busy raising their three kids and giving back to the community by volunteering for a variety of local non-profits and offering free self defense training to women’s groups and those in need.

 


Justine Halliwill 
began her teaching career at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She has been teaching at UO in the PE & Rec department and at Peace Health’s cardiac rehab program since 2003. In addition to teaching empowerment classes, she is a master teacher in the discipline of yoga. Justine is passionate about holistic practices that address women’s health and safety. “I feel fortunate to be teaching this empowerment self-defense curriculum, which is so strongly supported by research, in conjunction with the martial arts training. This course is a holistic approach to women’s health and safety.” Justine loves outdoor adventures with her family – camping, skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, biking and hiking.

 

JessicaHollowell_headshotJessica Stainbrook has been a certified Empowerment Self-Defense instructor since 2007. Jessica’s first self-defense class as a college first-year was a profoundly empowering and transformative experience, and it inspired her to train further and become a teacher over the following years. Her passion now is passing empowerment skills on to her students here at UO – guiding them in how to recognize danger cues in others’ behavior, set and defend their own boundaries, claim their voice, and take up their space in the world – to help them walk through the world with less fear and more confidence! When she is not on campus, you can often find Jessica in the woods with her family and her best friend/sidekick, one small but mighty dachshund.