I am from Tokyo, Japan (pictured left), and moved to Massachusetts when I was seven. I call both home.

I attended The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, for undergrad. I majored in Sociology with a minor in French. While I was there, I had the opportunity to participate in a few different high impact learning experiences…

Aside from participating in a first year living-learning community, I also studied abroad in Paris (pictured left). There, I had the opportunity to travel to Belgium, southern France (pictured below), Switzerland, England, and Spain.

I also completed a service-learning undergraduate honors thesis, for which I completed service-learning hours through assistant teaching English classes at a local nonprofit organization, The Center for New Americans.

In summer 2010, I moved to Athens, GA to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at The University of Georgia.

After completing my degree, I started working at UGA’s Office of Multicultural Services and Programs.

These pictures are from my last program with the office, our multicultural graduation ceremony (I got a stole too ).

While in Georgia, I also adopted this little fur ball, Nova. He fit in my hand when I first met him, but now he weighs 15 lbs .

All grown up!

In August 2014, I moved to Chicago to pursue my goal of conducting meaningful research to influence higher education policy.

And so the journey continues…!