Erin Weed is a professional speaker, author, and Executive Director of Girls Fight Back! She specializes in educating people about their personal safety and motivating them to become their own best protectors. Her calling to the field of violence prevention and self-defense began in 2001 as a direct response to the murder of her friend and sorority sister, Shannon McNamara. After Shannon's death, Erin abandoned her career in TV production to study with some of the best anti-violence activists, personal safety specialists, and self-defense experts in the world. In January 2002, she began traveling the nation giving keynotes and seminars in schools and businesses across the nation on a full-time basis. To date, she has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people with her uplifting, humorous, and empowering message of staying safe from violence and finding peace in the process.

Erin is a certified instructor by the American Women's Self Defense Association as well as a certified R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Instructor. She is a graduate of Street Smart Self Defense for Women (Model Mugging), Prepare Inc. (IMPACT) of New York City, a Confined Area Survival Tactics instructor by the Modern Warrior Academy, and a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Just a few types of intensive training she has received include: car jacking situations, multiple assailant attacks, knives and edged weapons defense, and firearms training. Erin is a graduate of the Gavin de Becker & Associates Advanced Threat Assessment Academy. Her academy training includes: Advanced Concepts of Violence Prediction and Assessment, Intuition Studies, Terrorism, School Shootings, Criminal Profiles, Creative Case Management, Bomb Threat Assessment, Risk Management Development, Managing Victim Fear, and Violence in the Workplace. Erin's ongoing physical self-defense study is in the Israeli defense system, Krav Maga, at an internationally recognized facility in Colorado.

Erin began the writing aspect of her career as a personal safety columnist during 2004-2005 at CosmoGirl magazine. Her first book, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl's Guide to Protecting Herself (Boulder Press), was released in bookstores nationwide in September 2006. Penguin has recently acquired the rights to that book and will re-release it through their imprint, DK, in 2009. She is currently working on her second book, "Teens Fight Back!" Erin's writing is regularly featured in e-zines, online journals, blogs, and national media.

Erin has been featured in media including: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Marie Claire, Glamour Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, and was named "CosmoGirl of the Year 2002" by CosmoGirl magazine. She was the safety expert in a CNN feature about safe spring break, and has appeared twice as a violence prevention expert on the Fox Newschannel crime show "The Lineup."

Erin is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, with a bachelors degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Public Relations. She was awarded the Eastern Illinois University Young Alumnus of the Year Award in 2003 and was honored with the "Hometown Hero" award by John Walsh (founder of America's Most Wanted) on NBC's The John Walsh Show. Also in 2006 Erin was named "30 Under 30" by New Jersey Monthly magazine and was the recipient of the Joel Goldman Award for professional speaking excellence. In 2007 she was a top 5 finalist for both "Speaker of the Year" and "Best Female Performer" by Campus Activities Magazine. Erin is a member of the National Speakers Association, Rotary Club International, and Alpha Phi Fraternity. In her free time, Erin enjoys traveling, running, yoga, and outdoor sports in Colorado.