Board of Directors
Jim Borders - Vice President
Jim Borders first began training in Aikido in the late 1970s in the Tomiki style at a University of Chicago club. After a long hiatus, he joined our dojo in 1997 and has trained continuously since then. He holds the rank of 5th Dan and a Shidoin (Instructor) teaching license with Birankai North America. Jim is a Professor of Musicology at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
Corentin Cras-Méneur - Treasurer
Corentin Cras-Méneur started Aikido at age 14 in the ASAKJN Dojo (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) with Gérard Dumont Sensei (FFAAA - Aikikai). He took a prolonged hiatus from Aikido to study genetics and developmental biology at university, with his work focused on diabetes. After his PhD he moved to the US in 2002 for a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University in St Louis (St Louis, MO). He moved to Ann Arbor in 2009, with a faculty position at the University of Michigan.
Rodger Park - President
Rodger Park began his study of Aikido in 1989 at the University of Rochester Aikido Club, Rochester, New York. He moved to Ann Arbor for graduate studies at the University of Michigan in 1991, where he began daily training. Rodger currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th level "black belt") and a Shihan (senior instructor) teaching license. He has served as Chair of the Birankai NA Teachers' Council and on its national Examination Committee, and presently is a member of its Senior Council. Rodger is the Director of Customer Analytics at the Ann Arbor-based consultancy CFI Group USA.
Terri Park - Secretary
Terri Park began her training in the Fall of 1998 at Aikido of Manhattan in New York City with Juba Nour Shihan. She then continued her training with Ryugan R.D. Savoca Shihan as the first official member of the Brooklyn Aikikai before relocating to Ann Arbor in 2012. She holds the rank of 5th Dan and a Shidoin (Instructor) teaching license with Birankai North America. Terri works as the Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement for the University Musical Society.