Officers
Our officers keep JETAA running. They take care of the behind-the-scenes work and plan the various special events that JETAA holds year round. To learn more about our officers, click on their name below:
Vice President
[open position]
Committee Chairs
Our Committee Chairs are responsible for various tasks around JETAA, such as hosting our monthly events and managing our website.
J-Kaiwa Chair
Phylicia Bishop
Book Club Chair
Rianna Robertson-LeVay
Tabemashou Chairs
Lindsay Amor & Chikako Houser
Web Master
Meet Our Officers
President
Although it has been years since I returned from JET Program, I’ve always felt that I could provide more mentorship to my fellow Alumni and kohais, and to those who are starting their journey into the next chapter of their lives. And a chance to find my Sempais again. I thank everyone who has opened their arms to making me feel like a member of this association again.
My first goal is to help provide more opportunities to reconnect with more of our alumni members and bring more back to fold to help grow our association. Also, would like to help grow our satellite chapters and connect those alumni in different areas.
Having been both an ALT and a CIR, those experiences can shed more light into the mysteries that our new participants may ask. Then my professional career since JET would also provide some leadership/management skills to help keep our association running smoothly and find other opportunities/activities to grow and hope solicit more participation.
Fun Facts about Rob
What konbini snack do you miss most?
Onigiri and any konbini bento.
What's the best thing about being back?
Able to drive a stick shift with my right hand and drive on the "right-side" of the road.
What's your favorite Ramen?
Hakata Tonkatsu Ramen & Sapporo Miso Ramen
What's the hardest thing about being back?
Reverse culture shock and missing my Japanese family.
Treasurer
Since returning from Tohoku, I've served as Culture Chair (former), Tabemashou Co-Chair (pre-pandemic), and for the past year, Treasurer. With the pandemic hopefully in our taillights, I'm ready to return to dinner club duties and bring back some of our best JETAA Portland traditions. We've suffered greatly in recent years from lack of community participation and member engagement, and I accept the challenge to help JETAA plan, budget, and host events that will improve our value to members and the general public. My goal is to expand our repertoire of services, balancing personal and professional opportunities through in-person connections, but also continue to utilize virtual opportunities where appropriate.
Lindsay likes to spend her days playing with her dog, Petra, and her evenings embroidering temari, a craft she picked up in Japan.
Fun Facts about Lindsay
What konbini snack do you miss most?
Heated drinks in winter.
What's the best thing about being back?
Remembering my mother tongue. 🙂
What's your favorite Ramen?
After studying abroad in Sapporo, miso.
What's the hardest thing about being back?
Not being able to return frequently.
Secretary
I am based in Boise, Idaho which is part of the JETAA-Portland planning area since the Consular Office of Portland covers Southern Idaho. I am here to stay involved in the JET community. JET was a pivotal time in my life and I am grateful for the experiences I had and look forward to finding ways to support and give back to the community.
Fun Facts about Lila
What konbini snack do you miss most?
Onigiri.
What's the best thing about being back?
Being able to read documents and fill them out properly.
What's your favorite Ramen?
In Nagasaki City you can find lemon ramen and tomato ramen (with fried eggplant on top). My life is incomplete without these.
What's the hardest thing about being back?
The lack of public transportation to easily travel around and being far from my friends and family in Japan!