Sharon Minichiello is the director of the Center for Japanese Studies and an associate professor of history. She is also a proud UH alum—she received her master’s and doctorate degrees in history from the university. Minichiello returned to UH in 1985, and just three years later was honored with the Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

In her capacity as center director, Minichiello has developed strong relationships with donors, and found creative ways to raise and distribute funds to go toward program building. She worked to set up several funding opportunities for students, including the Hanayo Sasaki Scholarship and John Fee Embree Scholarship. These awards have given graduate students the opportunity to represent UH outside of Hawai‘i, which increases the visibility of the university nationally and internationally.

Students remain Minichiello’s highest priority and she works with outside programs that support students. One group is the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Board of Trustees, which awards scholarships to two UH graduate students doing research on Japan. Minichiello also serves as advisor to Asian studies and history graduate students and chairs or is a member of many thesis/dissertation committees.