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Master's of Journalism, U.C. Berkeley
Thesis: "Growing Up on the Edge: Children of Gay & Lesbian Parents"
Master's of Education, UCLA
Secondary Teaching Credential, English, UCLA
Bachelor's of English, U.C. Berkeley
Senior thesis: "The Japanese Influence on William Butler Yeats"

Academic Experience

English Dept., Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa/Petaluma, CA
Head Start Program, Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA
English Dept., El Camino College, Torrance, CA
College Writing (nee Subject A), U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
English Dept., Saugus High School, Santa Clarita, CA
International Education Services, Tokyo, Japan

I'm a native Californian, originally from the suburbs east of East Los Angeles. A sansei, I come from Sacramento farmers on one side of my family and small business entrepreneurs on the other (Tacoma, WA) -- originally immigrating from Hiroshima, Japan.

At age 18, I ventured north, first to UC Santa Barbara for college and then further up the coast to the wonderful Bay Area and UC Berkeley. (Go Bears!) Around this time I began exploring the world, first to western Europe, then Asia. I've also been to Central America, all over the U.S., South Africa, Cuba, and the Caribbean. To date, I've been to 27 countries and 17 U.S. states.

Ever since I can remember, I aspired to be an educator and writer. My teaching experience ranges from English as a Second Language (both here and abroad) to high school to community college to university, mostly teaching writing. Since 1994 I've had the honor and pleasure of teaching in the English department at SRJC, with a particular focus on ethnic American literature, cultural studies, equity & justice, and collaborative learning. I'm interested in emotional intelligence, non-violent communication, and happiness as well. Most recently I jumped on the bandwagon of accelerated pedagogy at the developmental level. I continually strive to teach my subject matter in creative, original, non-traditional ways.

Over my many years at SRJC, I've been blessed by my brilliant colleagues and amazing students who have never, ever ceased to inspire me.

Some personal interests: Bikram yoga, Pilates, animals, gardening, concerts, sports (I'm a longtime NBA junkie -- Go Dubs!), Asian food, historical fiction/movies, the 1920's, spiritual health, mi familia.

Namaste. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.



 

Professional Areas of Interest

U.S. ethnic literature
Interdisciplinary Learning Communities
Collaborative learning and teaching
Cultural Studies: ethnic studies, women's studies, American Cultures, visual studies
Asian America

G r e e t i n g s ! Happy new year! Spring classes start Tuesday, JANUARY 19 . . .

After many, many wonderful years, I am no longer an English instructor in the Puente Program. (I will continue to be there in spirit of course!) My colleague Jessica Green is now serving in that coveted position in Petaluma. The Puente counselor is Roberto Alvarado. For further information about this award-winning, statewide transfer program, please contact Roberto (ralvarado@santarosa.edu) -- or better yet, go see him in the Counseling office.

Below is my schedule for SPRING 2016 -- all classes are at the Petaluma Campus (PC). Office hours subject to change. Sadly, English 22 was cancelled.

Please note: English 5 is a Transfer Track class and starts on February 1.

Presentations and Publications

PRESENTATIONS:
"Women's Roles in Oscar Wao." Work of Literary Merit faculty and staff panel presentation on The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA. April 7, 2014.

"The Horses in Reservation Blues." Work of Literary Merit English Department panel presentation on Reservation Blues, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA. November 14, 2011.

"Why 'Give a Rat' About Huck Finn?" Work of Literary Merit lecture on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA. October 27, 2008.

"Literature Through a White Privilege Lens," White Privilege Conference 9, Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Springfield, MA. April 2-5, 2008.

"Seeing Literature Through a White Privilege Lens," White Privilege Conference 8, Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Colorado Springs, CO. April 19-21, 2007.

"Inter-racial Relationships," White Privilege Conference 6, Central College, Pella, Iowa. April 27-30, 2005.

_Фё─__Moving Toward Racial Literacy,_Фё─ё¤ part of colloquium titled _Фё─__Something_Фё─т╚s Got to Give: Transforming the Role of Whiteness in Learning Contexts,_Фё─ё¤ The Eleventh International Literacy and Education Research Network Conference on Learning, Havana, Cuba. June 27, 2004. (Published version online in International Journal of Learning, 2005.)

Readings: Women_Фё─т╚s History Month 2000 and 2001, Jasmine Nights & Monkey Pluck readings 2003.

_Фё─__Historical Memory: Camp Notes and Barbed Wire,_Фё─ё¤ Work of Literary Merit lecture on Snow Falling on Cedars, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA. March 22, 1999.

"Journeying Beyond Gold Mountain: The Unbound Feat of The Woman Warrior," Work of Literary Merit lecture on The Woman Warrior, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA. April 29, 1998.

"SRJC's College Success Program: a Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Alternative for Under-Prepared First-Year College Students," panel presentation, 1998 Conference on College Composition and Communication, Chicago, IL. April 2, 1998.

PUBLICATIONS:

_Фё─__A Journey Toward Cultural Literacy,_Фё─ё¤ The International Journal of Learning, online, Common Ground Publishing, 2005.

Contributing editor, The International Journal of Learning, Common Ground Publishing, 2005.

_Фё─__Tea Divinity,_Фё─ё¤ Jasmine Nights & Monkey Pluck: Love, Discovery and Tea, Floreant Press, 2002.

"Issei Choices," short fiction, Women's Words, Winter 1998.

"Taking Liberties: Theaters Struggle to Adapt Shakespeare to a Multicultural California," East Bay Guardian, June 1991. (Nominated for Arts Article of the Year, Association of Independent Newspapers 1991.)

"Matrons of a Movement: Portraits of African American Women Who Have Fought for Change in America," The Daily Californian, April 24, 1991.

"Collisions and Contrasts: Alternative Visions of Japanese Society from a New Generation of Filmmakers," East Bay Guardian, April 1991.

"Steven Okazaki's 'Days of Waiting': Estelle Ishigo Stood by Her Man," Datebook, San Francisco Chronicle-Examiner, August 26, 1990.

"So, You Want to Get into Cal!" Diablo Magazine, August 1990.

"In Search of the Japanese Woman," Transpacific Magazine, September-October 1989.

Other work available on request

Honors and Awards

Instructor in the SRJC Puente Project, at Santa Rosa 2002-2011 and at Petaluma 2012-2015.

SRJC Alumni and Friends Association Outstanding Faculty of the Year, 2008.

Regina Stanback-Stroud Diversity Award nominee, 2008.

Hayward Award for Excellence in Education nominee, 2005.

International Who's Who of Professional & Business Women, 7th edition, 2003, American Biographical Institute, North Carolina.

Marquis Who's Who in the West, 2000-2001.

Excellence in Education Award winner, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, 1998.

Who's Who in American Education, 1996-2007.