It’s a new year! As we say our sad farewells to our departing officers – including our president, Rachel Reed – we are excited to welcome both new and returning JET alumni and friends to our JETAADC leadership. Meet our 2022-2023 Board Officers!
Neave Denny
President
Okinawa Prefecture, 2010-2013
Neave joins the board this year to serve as President of JETAADC. She was an ALT in Okinawa Prefecture from 2010-2013. Post-JET she served on the international language team of Peace Boat and as a guide for Japanese Kakehashi students to the United States. In 2014, she studied Japanese at the Inter-University Center (IUC) in Yokohama and conducted research as an American Chamber of Commerce of Japan (ACCJ) Research Fellow. She is currently the Research and Program Coordinator at the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS supporting student trips to Japan. She can regularly be found biking around DC, seeking out live music, and working at cultural festivals like the Washington DC Sakura Matsuri.
Alexandra “Alex” Melillo
Vice President
Toyama Prefecture 2012-2015Alex joins the board as Vice President. She was an ALT in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture from 2012-2015. Post JET she studied Japanese at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC). Prior to moving to DC, Alex spent the last five years in Tokyo working at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). Alex continues her passion for U.S.-Japan relations now working on the Japan Team of The Asia Group (TAG), providing clients with detailed research and analysis on market and regulatory trends in key industries in Japan. When not at work she can most like be found outside running with Bishop Events or training for her next Spartan Race or half marathon.
Joshua Beatty
Treasurer
treasurer@jetaadc.org
Saga Prefecture, 1999-2001
Joshua Beatty serves as the Treasurer of JETAA DC. He was a CIR in Saga Prefecture from 1999-2001. He previously served on the board as social and volunteer chairs. Joshua has been a JET application reviewer for 15+ years and an interviewer for 10+ years, as well as helping to manage logistics for the Washington DC Sakura Matsuri since 2002. As a trained ramen chef, Joshua enjoys teaching about the history, culture, and culinary techniques of ramen.
Lauren Mosely
Secretary
Hyogo Prefecture, 2017-2019
Lauren Mosely was a 2017-2019 ALT in a beautiful town in Hyogo called Yabu City. Since returning from JET, she’s been active in JETAADC events both virtually and more recently, in person. She’s looking forward to serving as JETAADC secretary and helping to further support the organization. In her free time, Lauren is oftentimes listening to music, dancing, and/or working on her bullet journal.
Jodi Dobinsky
Communications Chair
communications@jetaadc.org
Miyazaki, 2013-2017
Jodi Dobinsky is returning to the board this year as the Communications Chair. She was an ALT for a commercial high school in Hyuga-shi, Miyazaki, from 2013-2017. She currently works at United Educators.
Natasia James
Events Coordinator
Saitama, 2016-2020
Natasia “Tasi” James was an ALT in Saitama prefecture from 2016-2020. She had previously lived in Japan as a military dependent from 2007-2010, and then again as an ALT. Currently, she works as a Multi-Systemic Therapist in Northern Virginia
Vivian Chen
Professional Development Co-Chair
Shimane, 2016-2018
Vivian Chen was a JET Program ALT in Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture, from 2016 to 2018. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a dual B.A. in International Studies and Japanese Studies and is currently a second-year M.A. student at Johns Hopkins University SAIS graduating this spring with concentrations in International Economy and Japan Studies. She currently interns in communications at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA and served as an interviewer for the JET Program for the first time this year.
Karen Lee
Professional Development Co-Chair
Tokushima, 2017-2018
Karen Lee is a new Professional Development co-chair this year. She served as an ALT at five elementary schools in Tokushima-ken from 2017-2018. A DMV native, she completed her master’s degree in international development at Johns Hopkins SAIS in 2021 and currently works in Southeast Asia policy consulting in DC. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, biking, and learning languages.
Alison Aadland
Technology Chair
technology@jetaadc.org
Friend of JET
Ali Aadland is a Friend of JET with a shared experience: she taught English in Tokyo between 2011-2013 and studied abroad at Kanda University of International Studies from 2009-2010. Originally from Minnesota, she earned her master’s in medieval history at King’s College, London, before coming to Washington, DC to pursue international nonprofit work. She currently serves as the Senior Communications Manager at the U.S.-Japan Council, and spends her free time fostering as many cats as possible.
Amanda Rollins
Japanese Language Chair
jetambassador@jetaadc.org
Friend of JETAmanda taught English in Osaka with ECC for four years, and worked at the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles for four years after that. She loves being an active member of the Japan-America community in DC!
Roseanne Brown
Ambassadors Chair
Ishikawa, 2017-2019
Roseanne Brown was a 2017-2019 JET ALT in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. She currently works as a children’s book author, and her debut novel A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was an instant New York Times Bestseller. When not writing or practicing Japanese on Duolingo, she can usually be found doing yoga or wandering around a national park.