Alumni Profiles

Casey Asato (Asian Studies M.A., 2000)

Casey earned his B.S.C. from Santa Clara University, M.A. in Asian Studies from UH Manoa, and M.A. in the Teaching of Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also a graduate of the Japanese Language Institute at Sophia University in Tokyo. He has worked in state, federal, and private business organizations, and participated in the JET Program in Wakayama, Japan. He now teaches high school social studies courses at Punahou School and Seabury Hall and is interested in global studies, cross-cultural exchange, curriculum design, and museum studies.

Andrew Davis (Asian Studies B.A., 1994)

After working for a New York City based Japanese trading company for several years, Andrew graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey with an M.B.A. in 2000. From 2000-2002, he worked for Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd. in San Diego as a regional sales manager. He currently oversees the business development function for the Pacific Asia Region for Patheon, Inc., a large, global, contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing company.

Eric Hanson (Asian Studies M.A., 2005)

Since his M.A. in Asian Studies, Eric has worked in South Africa, China, and the United States and founded EQi, Inc, a trade and strategy consulting company focused on developing business in Asia Pacific. While managing day-to-day operation of his company, he is pursing an M.A. in philosophy at UH. At the East-West Center, Eric has earned a post-graduate leadership certificate; he currently serves on the EWC Association Executive Board, EWCA Hawaii Chapter Board, and the EWCA Asia Pacific Leadership Program Chapter as director.

Gayle Hirohata-Goto (Asian Studies B.A., 1999)

Gayle is currently employed by Hawaii State Public Library System as a Young Adult Librarian.  Her work history includes working at the Hawaii State Legislature as a committee clerk and for a Japanese food wholesaler.  In 2004 she earned her Master's degree in Library and Information Science from UH and soon after found employment as a public librarian.  She enjoys helping people continue learning throughout their life.  As an undergraduate, Gayle served as president of the Asian Studies Undergraduate Student Organization and also spent a year at Sophia University in Tokyo as an exchange student.  She feels that her undergraduate degree afforded her with various career options.

Miyuki Kajiyama (Asian Studies B.A., 2002)

After working for Hawaii airlines for a few years, Miyuki is employed in the Airports Division, the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation. A former student volunteer in the judiciary system, she spends some hours as a court interpreter and Bar Exam Proctor on the side. Originally from Japan, Miyuki is a hard worker and former UH Presidential Scholar. She is planning on starting an international business.

Akiko Mori (Asian Studies B.A., 2003; M.A., 2007)

Akiko enjoys working as a writer/editor/journalist for two Honolulu companies, PacRim Marketing Group and Hawaii Pacific Press. She hopes to pursue a doctorate degree in the future so she can expand on her M.A. thesis, the "images of Japanese men in post-colonial Philippine literature."

Zi Hong (Polly) Nakamura (Asian Studies B.A., 2004; Theatre M.F.A., 2007)

Polly will obtain her M.F.A. in Theatre in December 2007. She has been part of the Kennedy Theatre productions and currently serves as assistant director for the production of "Man of La Mancha." After graduation, she will move her stage to the Manoa Valley Theatre as assistant director.

Cesare Polenghi (Asian Studies B.A., 2003; History M.A., 2006)

Cesare now works toward his Ph.D. in history at Manoa. He spent a year in Kyoto for research and has been a history T.A. since 2004. He publishes articles and often works as a translator and lecturer. Although busy with his studies and work, Cesare never neglects his hobby of coaching succor to children.

Alyes Wong (Asian Studies B.A., 2003)

At UH, Alyes took Asian languages, particularly Mandarin and Japanese, and became interested in translation and interpreting. While studying Mandarin in Beijing after graduation, she had a chance to teach English to Olympic gymnasts. This led to an opportunity to work with a professional 9-Ball pool player in Shanghai as an interpreter and personal assistant. Traveling constantly from Shanghai to the U.S. mainland, she learned much about China and the U.S. mainland. Alyes feels that the Asian Studies program gave her a good foundation to build on for her pursuit as a Chinese interpreter. Her next project is to interpret for a group of Chinese students visiting California from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. She is preparing to move to San Francisco to pursue a certificate in Healthcare interpreting

Masahiro Yoshinaga (Asian Studies B.A., 2001; M.A., 2003)

Masahiro is an English teacher at Kyushu Tokai University and a high school in his hometown of Kumamoto, Japan. He enjoys teaching, but he contemplates on pursuing a higher degree.