About Your Executive Board Members

Susan Baldwin, Chair

Susan is a retired US Army Special Agent. She has been teaching women's self defense courses since 1975. Susan is a certified Instructor and Master Instructor in various modalities of "personal protection," such as: firearms, defensive tactics, Taser, baton, as well as SCUBA, parachuting, etc. Susan has attained a 4th and 3rd degree black belt in Ninjutsu and Shotokan, respectfully. During her career as a special agent, she served as a supervisor of the Sec. Defenses security detail, two combat tours in Desert Storm (where she earned a Bronze Star), and helped start the first full-time Federal Air Marshal Div. in 1998. Susan has worked as a criminal investigator for a State Office of the Public Defender, was reserve police Lieutenant, is currently an Inspector with the DHS, and owner of the Personal Protection Institute, LLC. Susan is also a Master Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, NLP Practitioner, and certified Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) Examiner. You can email Susan at: sbaldwin@awsda.org

Cathy Lewis, Vice Chair / Treasurer

I am Cathy Lewis, probably one of the newest members, joining AWSDA this past year. I live in Irvine, California where I teach martial arts, Bujinkan Budo, and self-protection courses. I am certified as a Reiki III master and Hatha Yoga instructor although I earn a living in the finance world – imagine how fun that is now!

I saw an organization with a great capacity of empowerment for women during a time of such chaos. I only can imagine what it will be like without this “disarray”. My vision is to help get it back on track, have the membership increase exponentially due to the synergy that once existed and will be created (I hope) again. I believe self-protection/self-defense comes from awareness and knowledge, influencing freedom and the power to make choices to live life fully.

You can email Cathy at clewis@awsda.org.

Darla Bolon, Secretary

I am Darla Bolon and have been a member of AWSDA since 1994, when I attended my first seminar in Lexington, KY. I've been passionate about the organization ever since and am committed to helping advance the mission of empowering women through education, information, and skills training.

I am from Columbus, Ohio, and been teaching self-defense for over 20 years. I regularly teach classes at Ohio State University and for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (teaching personal safety classes to child protective workers around the state of Ohio). I also offer classes in the community (for businesses, organizations, social service agencies, schools). And that's my part-time job! My full-time work is as a clinical social worker and mental health therapist. I have my own counseling practice where I specialize in women's issues and trauma-recovery. I work with both men and women in the areas of depression, anxiety, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault/rape.

I have 15, or so, years of training in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do and Aikido) though am not currently training in martial arts.

As a long-time member of AWSDA, I have presented at the annual seminar several times and have been a state and regional representative for the organization. I was inspired to step-up my involvement because of my commitment to the vision of reaching and teaching women to empower themselves through self-defense. I also want to see that the tremendous efforts of all the dedicated people who have contributed so much to the history and energy of this organization continue.

I look forward to working with all of you!

You can email Darla at dbolon@awsda.org.

Ruth Covey, Board Member

I'm Ruth Covey - born in England, reared in South Africa and currently living in Fountain Hills, Arizona. My involvement in women's self defense started in 2001 when I volunteered as Director of the Police Combative Training Academy. It has been my privilege to see how empowering self-defense training is, especially for women. My fulltime job is overseeing Quality and Security for Armor Designs, Inc. - a company focused R & D and manufacturing of leading-edge materials used in body armor and other ballistic mitigation products. My goal as an AWSDA Board member is to help expand the global interest and participation in women's self defense initiatives.

You can email Ruth at rcovey@awsda.org.

April Hornberger, Board Member

April has been studying martial arts and self defense for a number of years. Her experience ranges from Tae Kwon Do, where she has received her 1st degree black belt, to teaching women’s self defense. April is an AWSDA certified Rape Prevention Instructor, and as assisted in teaching at the martial arts academies which she also attended. April has experience in Fighting Metal Bladed Fans, Escrima – Stick Fighting, Tonfas, as well as other exciting weapons.