We envision a future where every woman thrives through wellness, meaningful connections, and the restorative power of the ocena.
How it Started…
Back in 2019, Erin Jones and Kristen Litchfield co-founded Waves 4 Women to create a space of support for women of all ages, not just in the lineup, but back on the sand in their everyday lives. The surf therapy clinics built community, connection, and confidence, empowering women wherever they are. Waves 4 Women celebrates our lineage and continues to grow and thrive.
Meet the Team
Sarah Butler
Executive Director (ex officio)
Bio coming soon :).
Kathie Watson
Wellness Director (ex officio)
Bio coming soon :).
Jennifer Hamrock, PhD
Surf Program Director (ex officio)
Jennifer is an educator, artist, academic, and freelance professional with a lifelong passion for the ocean and surfing. After discovering Waves 4 Women through a volunteer meeting, she was excited to find a surf therapy organization in her own community that aligned with her passion for sharing the healing power of the sea. Jennifer finds great joy in introducing others to surfing, building meaningful connections with women, and fostering a welcoming environment where participants can experience the confidence, community, and restoration that the ocean provides. Jennifer serves as the Surf Director for Waves 4 Women, is a certified Surf Therapy Provider through the Groundswell Community Project, and serves as the lead point of instruction for surf clinics.
Emmie Coler
Intern 2025-2027
Meet Our Board of Directors
Ashley is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, researcher, therapist, and faculty member in Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics at MUSC. With more than a decade of experience supporting children and families, Ashley is passionate about expanding access to mental health, wellness, and community. As a Folly Beach native, she understands the healing and restorative power of the ocean, and is dedicated to sharing this experience with other women. Ashley believes that every woman “deserves a place where they feel seen, supported, and confident,” a philosophy that inspires her work with Waves 4 Women.
Ashley Early, DSW, LISW-CP-S
MaryBeth is a professional animal keeper, former small business owner, and mother of two. She first connected with Waves 4 Women as a participant while seeking community and wellness during her own recovery period. Inspired by the impact Waves 4 Women had on her own life, MaryBeth became a volunteer, encouraging other women to gain confidence and connections through the organization. She is passionate about creating a supportive experience for others and loves to “watch the magic happen,” as participants leave each surf clinic “stronger, more confident, and feeling loved.”
MaryBeth O’Brien
Erin Jones, LISW-CP, Waves 4 Women Co-Founder
Erin is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and school-based counselor with MUSC's School-Based Behavioral Health Team. She co-founded Waves 4 Women in 2019, drawing on her background in experiential learning, adventure therapy, and trauma-focused therapy, along with her own experience of learning to surf. Erin believes that stepping outside of comfort zones through activities like surfing helps women recognize their strengths, build confidence, and develop trust in themselves and others. Through Waves 4 Women, she is passionate about creating opportunities for women to discover resilience, meaningful connection, and a supportive community where they can continue to heal and thrive. She is inspired to see how much Waves 4 Women has grown over the years, and is thankful for the individuals who have provided their time, energy, and talents to this community.
Sarah is a chiropractor in Charleston, South Carolina, dedicated to helping people improve their health, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Originally from Redondo Beach, California, Sarah has always found strength and joy in the ocean. She earned her degree in Kinesiology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she competed as a Division I water polo athlete, and later played professional water polo in Australia. Sarah is passionate about fostering both mental and physical wellness, which drew her to the mission of Waves 4 Women. She particularly appreciates that Waves 4 Women provides a safe, supportive space in which vulnerability and honesty among participants creates strong bonds that develop into a lifelong community.
Sarah Logan, D.C.
Kathryn works in real estate development and is passionate about the peace and healing the ocean provides. After participating in a Waves 4 Women surf clinic, Kathryn rediscovered her love of surfing and found a passion for helping other women gain skills of courage and resilience in the water. She believes that surfing fosters confidence, and that communities of strong women transform lives. Through her work with Waves 4 Women, Kathryn is committed to creating an environment where every woman feels welcomed, encouraged, and empowered, noting her own experience with Waves 4 Women as a community she can “always count on to be kind and genuine and generous.”
Kathryn Matrangola
Aimee is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at MUSC whose career has been dedicated to advancing mental health and substance use treatment for women. After volunteering with several nonprofit organizations over the years, Aimee was excited to support Waves 4 Women's mission as a natural extension of her professional passion for women's well-being. She values the welcoming, encouraging community that Waves 4 Women has cultivated, where women celebrate one another's successes and form lasting connections. Through her work at MUSC and Waves 4 Women, Aimee is committed to creating inclusive spaces where every woman has the opportunity to grow in confidence, find support, and thrive.
Aimee McRae, Pharm.D., BCPP
Kelly is a professional photographer and the owner of Salt Washed Photography, based in the Charleston area. She joined Waves 4 Women upon learning about its mission to create a welcoming space for women looking to gain community and wellness. Kelly values the genuine friendships, encouragement, and sense of belonging that define the Waves 4 Women community, especially the “glowy, warm feeling” she walks away with after every gathering of Waves 4 Women, aka “the stoke!” Kelly can often be found at surf clinics, expertly capturing the joy of participants and volunteers through her camera lens.
Kelly Franklin
Nicole is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a passion for serving others. She was introduced to Waves 4 Women through co-founder Erin Jones and quickly found a community of welcoming, inspiring women who shared her values. Nicole is especially grateful for the friendships, opportunities, and support that Waves 4 Women has provided. As an individual who felt the organization’s impact firsthand, she is passionate about helping Waves 4 Women continue its mission of creating an empowering community where women can develop both mental and physical well-being. As she says, Waves 4 Women contains “positive people” who create and reflect a “positive mission.”
Nicole Cook, LISW-CP
Hannah is a nonprofit and disaster relief consultant with a passion for building strong communities through service and connection. She was inspired to join Waves 4 Women because of its unique combination of nonprofit work, surfing, and wellness. As a surfer herself, Hannah understands both the challenges and the triumphs that come with learning to surf, and is passionate about helping other women experience that same sense of joy, freedom, and empowerment. She is proud to support Waves 4 Women's mission of creating meaningful connections and loves watching participants catch their first wave and discover what they're capable of.
Hannah Zitner
Elle is a speech-language pathologist and U.S. Air Force Chief who has been part of Waves 4 Women since its earliest days. After reconnecting with co-founder Erin Jones following a military deployment, Elle joined the organization at its inception, inspired by its vision of empowering women through surfing, community, and connection. Having served multiple combat deployments and worked extensively with veterans experiencing anxiety and PTSD, Elle is passionate about helping others build resilience, confidence, and discover strengths they never knew they had. She believes in the transformative power of a supportive community and is dedicated to creating opportunities for women to feel empowered both in and out of the water.