Graduate Students

Over the years UH American Studies graduate students have come from an extraordinarily wide range of backgrounds, with an equally diverse body of interests. At any given time a seminar in the department might find students from three continents--with specializations in film, politics, literature, art, popular culture, historic preservation, or more--engaged in animated cross-cultural discussion. Our current graduate students continue that tradition. Here are some of them:

 

Johanna Almiron received her MA in Performance Studies from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and BA with Honors in African American Studies (Fine Arts/Dance Concentration) from Oberlin College. Her work has always addressed culture as a vital form of resistance, particularly blues aesthetics. She hopes to contribute to Filipino American scholarship, progressive American Studies, and critical race theory through analysis and practice of performance. She sees magical realism as the best kind of methodology and that is why she is here in Hawai'i. Still performing and writing, she is also currently a dj and the Jazz and Blues program director of KTUH-FM radio.

Magnus Andersson is working toward a PhD in the department, with particular emphases on technology and culture, criminal and social justice, and post-1945 domestic and international politics. He presently is doing research in the United States and Sweden on a dissertation dealing with U.S. military deserters and so-called draft dodgers who took refuge in Sweden between 1967 and 1973. Magnus was born in the small town of Halmstad in the south of Sweden and earned an MA in economics and an MBA (though he now says he can’t remember why) before joining the American Studies department. During his time in the department he has been a teaching assistant and lecturer and served as membership coordinator of the Hawai`i American Studies Association. Although he plans to return to Europe for a teaching career, he says "politically vibrant Hawai`i will always be my crossroad."

Constancio R. Arnaldo Jr. is interested in issues involving Filipino American youth and identity. Originally from California, Constancio earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Asian American history. He enjoys surfing, basketball, football and baseball. He is currently working with Dean Alegado in the Ethnic Studies department in planning the upcoming 2006 Philippine Centennial.

Keola Awong was born and raised on the Big Island. She received her BA in Anthropology with a minor in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She is currently in the Master’s program and is interested in Museum Studies and Historic Preservation. Keola works at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Cultural Resources Management. She commutes from the Big Island every week to attend classes at Manoa.

Corinne Bolle is interested in mass media, children’s literature, Asian American and Native American/Native Hawaiian studies. Corinne was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland before moving to the United States. She received her BA in American Studies from Eckerd College in Florida, with minors in Anthropology and Asian Studies. She is currently working on her dissertation on the age and gender bias in Hollywood in which she will also address the racial and gender stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood. She intends to return to Switzerland to finish her dissertation, where she hopes to work in publishing or television and eventually teaching.

Bich Ngoc Do is currently in the department’s PhD program. She was born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, where she also did her undergraduate work. Bich has a BA in Foreign Language Studies, with a major in English and a minor in French, and another degree in Sociology. For several years before coming to Hawai`i she taught English for Specific Purposes in the Departments of Sociology and International Studies at Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University. She also served as a part-time project assistant for an Australian NGO in Hanoi that was working on women's reproductive health (1997) and as a director assistant to the International Relations Office - Asia Pacific Committee, at her university (1999). At UH she is focusing her studies on cultural studies, diplomatic history, and popular culture. She fulfilled a Certificate of International Cultural Studies at the East West Center in May 2002 with a project on the politics of nostalgia and visual representations in Vietnamese American music productions. In November 2002, she defended her MA thesis on Volunteers in Asia - Vietnam Program (1990-2002) and Vietnam - U.S. relations, and entered the PhD program. At the moment, she is completing her coursework and preparing for her qualifying as well as the comprehensive exams. The dissertation topic she is contemplating is "The cultures of Vietnam-U.S. normalization," with an emphasis on tourism, mass media, army museums, and politics. Upon the completion of her ABD, Bich plans to return to Hanoi to teach and do fieldwork research before coming back for the doctoral defense.

Paulette Feeney received her BA in Religion, Carleton College, Northfield, MN; MA in Religious Studies/Family Counseling, Chicago Theological Seminary; MBA from the UH College of Business Administration; and MA in American Studies, University of Hawaii. She is currently a PhD candidate in American Studies, with research interests in American colonialism and visual culture, particularly as reflected in the shaping of Hawaii as tourist destination. From 1981 to 1993, Paulette worked as general manager of Dolphin Galleries, Inc and director of the Foundation Gallery in Lahaina, Maui. She has been a program specialist for the University of Hawaii Outreach College since 1993, responsible for planning and development of noncredit professional development, business, management, personal finance, language, visual arts, dance, cultural enrichment, and other special evening and weekend programs.

Rochelle Fonoti refers to herself as "a diasporic Samoan." She was born in Auckland, New Zealand and raised in both American Samoa and Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). Rochelle attended college in Samoa and Hawai`i, graduating from Brigham Young University-Hawai`i in 1995. After working as a policy consultant to the Samoan government’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance Programme (as well as lecturing in English at the National University of Samoa) she decided to pursue graduate work in American Studies because it allows her to combine her interests in literature and social science. Presently an MA student in the department interested in transnationalism, cultural studies, ethnic studies, diaspora studies, and postcolonial literatures, Rochelle recently has begun work on an MA thesis. In it she plans to address issues related to diasporic Samoan communities, with specific reference questions of gender and agency.

Malin Glimang was born in Sweden and educated in both Sweden and the United States. She returned to Sweden for a time, teaching Swedish and world literature, then moved to Hawai`i and entered the graduate program in American Studies at UH. After receiving her MA degree in 1999, Malin continued into the PhD program. The focus of her work is American literature (with an emphasis on radical/protest fiction) and American women’s history and feminist studies. She is doing research in both Sweden and the United States on a dissertation examining Scandinavian women’s immigration and work experiences in the U.S. between 1880 and 1930. Specifically, she is analyzing the ways in which young, single immigrant women, situated in urban ethnic communities, expressed their experiences through fiction and poetry. She has been a teaching assistant and lecturer in the department and served as events coordinator for the Hawai`i American Studies Association. In time, Malin plans to return to Europe and "become an active member in the flourishing European American Studies community," but says she will bring with her "the knowledge and experiences gained from living in this unique and dynamic place and listening to the people of this culture."

Alison Hartle earned a BA in English and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley and an MA from the department. Born in upstate New York, she lived in California, Massachusetts, and England before coming to Hawai‘i. Her scholarly interests include race and ethnic studies, Asian American literature, and mixed race studies. Her dissertation work examines literary fiction by mixed race authors in the 20th century and how the dynamics of race and society in America shaped these writings. She has been a lecturer in the department and served as President and Vice-President of the Hawai‘i American Studies Association. She is a student of Kumu Hula Victoria Holt Takamine and a member of the hula halau Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima. She currently teaches Hula & Chant and Oral History of the Pacific at the University’s Education Laboratory School.

Joan Harper is a native of Northern California in the truest possible sense: she is a member of the Pomo and Coast Miwok tribes. She has a BS in Natural Resource Planning from Humboldt State University and a Master of City Planning degree from San Diego State University. Joan was a lecturer at Humboldt State for five years and has worked as a legislative analyst for the Honolulu City Council and as a land use, tribal, and city planner. She has a Certificate in Historic Preservation and an MA in American Studies from UH. She works as a private consultant providing research for properties nominated to the State historic register and has scholarly interests in historic preservation, Native American women’s literature, and nature and landscape studies. Her dissertation will focus on the relationship between landscape and culture.

Eric Kain Humphreys was born in Ohio, raised in Hawaii, and graduated from UH Manoa with a B.A. in History in 2002. His interests primarily involve extreme right wing movements such as skinhead organizations, Aryan Nations and the National Alliance. Specifically he is interested in how such organizations use music, print, and (recently) the internet to propagandize. Furthermore, he is interested in how American white, nationalist movements relate to, differ from, and (perhaps) influence similar organizations abroad.

Juri Ishikawa is interested in immigration history, multiracial identity formation and gender issues among Asian Americans, especially Japanese Americans. She is from Akita, Japan. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Tsuru University in Yamanashi, Japan. She is currently working on her Master’s thesis focusing on Yonsei(fourth generation) Japanese American women in Hawaii.

Chihiro Komine was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She graduated from the University of the Ryukyus with a B.A. in American literature and culture in 2000. At California State University, Fullerton, she studied American Studies and got an M.A. degree in 2003. Her areas of interest include: cross-cultural contact between post-WWII Okinawa and America; especially in terms of race and gender; cultural imperialism; and comparative studies of ethnic communities in Southern California and Hawaii.

Amy Sachiko Kuntz was born in Hokkaido Japan, raised in California, and went to high school at an international school in Tokyo, American School in Japan. She got her BA in Asian American Studies and a minor in Japanese from UC Santa Barbara in 2002. In college, she went on the Semester at Sea program and visited 10 countries around the world by ship. After graduating she took a year off and participated in the AmeriCorps program in Seattle. She worked at an elementary school, creating after school tutoring and language programs. She is working on her Master’s thesis on interracial relationships, multiethnic Asian American issues, and Asian/Asian American images in film.

Michele Konishi has an MA in American Studies from UH and is currently in the department's PhD program where she is focusing on Asian American Studies, Native American Studies and film. Michele grew up in Hawaii, received a BA in Japanese and International Relations from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, then returned to Honolulu for a MA in Japanese Business Studies from Chaminade University. In the late 1990s, she worked in Washington as Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye--writing press releases, coordinating press conferences and media interviews, and much more.

Erika Miyazaki is interested in American history, ethnic literature and Japanese American studies. She was born and brought up in Nagoya, Japan. She attended Nagoya University, where she earned a BA in English and an MA in Multicultural Studies with an emphasis on ethnography on Japanese Americans in Hawaii.

Darlene Marie Mortel is working towards a PhD in the American Studies Department. She also hopes to earn a graduate certificate in Philippines Studies. Her research interests center around the Filipino community in the United States, specifically the youth, and their relationship to identity and social movements connected to the Philippines. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Darlene Marie earned a BA from the University of Washington in American Ethnic Studies and Political Science. She is an organizer with the National Democratic youth/student organization Anakbayan and a spoken word poet with Isangmahal Arts Kollective, both based in Seattle. Darlene has spent a lot of time in the Philippines and hopes one day to teach both in her ancestral homeland as well as the United States.

Liz Labby is in the MA program and is concurrently pursuing a graduate certificate in Historic Preservation. She grew up in St. Louis, enlisted in the United States Navy, and came to Hawaii for her first and only tour of duty. Upon completion of her military commitment, she and her family decided to stay in Hawaii. After many stops and starts, Liz finally completed her BA in Humanities from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu. Her interests include documentary and art photography. As the time approaches for her thesis, she will focus her attention on women photographers working in the United States from 1900 to 1950.

Minh-Hang Le grew up and went to school in Hanoi, Vietnam and Canberra, Australia. A doctoral candidate in this department, she is a former member of the English Department faculty of Hanoi National University. Hang’s scholarly interests focus on Asian-American relations and women’s lives–which also is the general topic of her doctoral dissertation.

Moana Rumi (Marty) Nikou is an Iranian-American lecturer who teaches art appreciation courses at Honolulu and Windward Community Colleges. In 1992, Marty earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from University of Hawaii at Manoa and in 1996, he completed his Master of Fine Arts program at San Francisco State University. He then returned to Hawaii to begin his teaching career. Marty is now happily married to his Iranian high school friend, Azadeh, who is also an artist and a painter. Currently, Marty is on an academic leave of absence to further perform his duties as a new parent. Marty is primarily interested in the amalgam of cultural issues in the United States and the practical or imaginative solutions pertaining to such issues. He is intrigued by the possible and new functions of museums in an ever-evolving global culture. Marty, through his graduate education, hopes to contribute in furthering cultural understanding by devising new and transparent venues of culture, education, preservation and exchange.

Kristy Hisako Ringor, originally from Lihue, Kauai. Kristy received her BA from Oregon State University in June of 2000. Two weeks after graduation she packed up her car and four days later arrived in Washington, D.C. to serve a two year term as Communications Director for the U.S. Student Association. During her term with USSA Kristy worked on issues affecting access to higher education, such as financial aid, electoral reform, racial profiling, hate crimes and served as a founding committee member for the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition. She also worked closely with the USSA Foundation on the National Student Labor Day of Action and National Take Affirmative Action Day. Kristy's academic interests lie in sport and popular culture; and race and racism. Currently Kristy is working for the University of Hawai`i Sports Media Relations Office.

Scott Sidner has spent the majority of his life in Southwestern Colorado. After making his living as a mountaineering guide and competitive cyclist, he decided to return to college to earn his teaching license in Secondary Social Studies with an endorsement in E.S.L. Afterwards, Scott taught for six years in an alternative high school for at-risk youth in the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation border town of Cortez, Colorado. During the summers he instructed Japanese students in intensive English in order to prepare them for their freshmen year attending various American colleges and universities. Scott would like to continue teaching after his graduate studies are finished. He is interested in expanding his knowledge of American History by looking through the lens of its multicultural past. Scott also intends to research the history of American psychological beliefs towards the idea of wilderness.

Melodie Stembridge is a Nurse Practitioner (MSN, Miss University for Women), and PhD student in AmStu, who moved to UHH from the University of Alaska Anchorage to teach nursing for one year, and stayed for 13. On returning to graduate school and pursuing an American Studies degree, she says, I always wanted an answer for my Japanese students in Tokyo who asked why we Americans do some of the things we do. I realized that I didn't understand my own cultural roots. Looking at American history and popular culture, then at historic preservation, she answered some of those questions, but kept returning to her interest in the history of medicine and nursing. At the MA level she researched the history of American philanthropy and social work, civil religion, and institutionalized racism. Her dissertation research carried her to Georgia, where she currently teaches nursing at Columbus State University outside of Atlanta. Specifically, she says, "I am exploring how institutionalized racism hampered non-white women from achieving parity in positions of power and authority in nursing, how this influences the current nursing shortage in the United States, and how these events contribute to the unequal distribution of health resources to minority populations today."

Thomas Keali'iahonui Stone III (Pohaku) is a student who returned to further his education after years as a professional surfer and fifteen years in Ocean Rescue for the City and County of Honolulu. He completed a BA in Hawaiian Studies 1995 and went on to finish his MA in Pacific Island Studies and his Historic Preservation Certificate program in American Studies at UH -Manoa. He is currently enrolled in the American Studies MA program here at UHM and is looking forward to the completion of thesis during the summer session of 2005. The focus of his thesis is on the significance of traditional native sports, surfing in particular, as an American icon and how western concepts of such practices have impacted the traditional culture of the Hawaiian. As Tom puts it, the American Studies program has provided an opportunity for me, as a native, to contribute to our knowledge of native sports as a cultural phenomena that has had an astonishing effect on America and the world. As Tom pursues his MA he is also a Hawaiian Studies instructor at UH - Kapi'olani Community College. He has recently developed two new courses now offered at KCC as part of the Hawaiian Studies program there. The courses are the "History of Surfing - A Native Perspective" and "Traditional Ritualized Sports of Hawai'i". His goal is to complete the American Studies doctoral program here at UHM

Stephanie Nohelani Teves was born and raised on Oahu, and she received her BA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Sociology and Women’s Studies. She has worked with various local non-profit organizations such as Food Not Bombs Hawaii, Native Hawaiian Mental Health Initiative, Native Hawaiian Research Center, and most recently Ladyfest Hawaii. Her scholarly interests include youth culture, identity, and post-colonialism. She is particularly interested in the use of music as a form of protest in non-Western contexts. Her band, My Ex is Dead has been widely acclaimed and will tour North America in the summer of 2005. Currently, she is writing her master’s thesis on the local punk scene, tentatively titled, “Kill All the White Man: the Intersection of Agency, Youth, and Local Identity in the Hawaii Punk Scene.”

Jeffrey Tripp was raised in a number of locations from Maui to Germany. He received his BS in History and Social Science from Southern Connecticut State University in 1994 and planned to spend one year teaching abroad followed by a career in secondary education. He accepted a yearlong appointment in South Korea and traveled extensively throughout Asia. The planned one year abroad turned into six years, during which time he furthered his interest in Asian culture and American presence in East Asia, particularly Korea. In 2000 he came to UH for an MA in Asian Studies focusing on Korean-American political and historical relationships and completed the degree in 2002. He applied to the doctoral program in the American Studies department in order to further his research on American interests in Korea, particularly issues of material culture and the American presence on the peninsula. He is also currently studying for the Certificate in Historic Preservation.

Rob Vaughan is a PhD candidate who grew up in Washington, D.C. and lived for several years in San Francisco and the Bay Area before moving to Hawai`i in 1992. He studied at Diablo Valley College and the University of California at Berkeley. After a 15-year hiatus, which he spent working as a trucking dispatcher, furniture mover, and Teamster, he returned to academia, receiving his B.A. in American history from Hawai`i Pacific University. He has taught numerous courses as a lecturer in the department, as well as at Hawai`i Pacific University. In terms of research, his specializations are social history, American politics, documentary photography, racism, labor history, and the general subject of his dissertation, utopian movements in the U.S. In his dissertation, Rob is examining works by Edward Bellamy, Mark Twain, William Dean Howells, Jack London, Ignatius Donnelly, Upton Sinclair, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and others in analyzing the ways in which late 19th and early 20th century "socialists, anarchists, religious leaders, businessmen, and a smattering of cranks & fools" proposed ways of re-ordering America as "the perfect place" especially in the world of work. He has won the department's Brown-Denney Award for academic excellence and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (Hawai`i) Award in history. This past year he was presented with the Graduate Division's Award for teaching excellence.

Trisha Kehaulani Watson was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai'i. She earned a BA in Sociology and American Studies from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1999. Her MA is from Washington State University in American Studies where she wrote her thesis on environmental racism on O'ahu's Leeward Coast. She earned a JD from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i in 2003 where she focused on non-profit organizations, civil rights and environmental law. In addition to teaching in the American Studies department, she currently owns her own consulting company that specializes in human resources issues and mediation. Her dissertation research focuses on indigenous politics, American imperialism and Native Hawaiian land uses.

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updated July 11, 2005