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Christopher Ames
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Dr. Ames earned his B.A. in philosophy from Allegheny College and his M.A. in East Asian studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He received his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Ames has completed graduate work and certificates in Japanese studies, public administration, managerial economics, and communication, and has completed professional training in a U.S. Government Public Affairs Officer's Course and a Simultaneous Interpretation Course in Okinawa. He has served for several years as Chief of Media Relations with the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa. His publications include articles on Japanese film and on Okinawan history, culture, and education. He has received various fellowships to support his research, including a Fulbright Fellowship for research in Okinawa and has served as a researcher at the Institute for Research in Humanities at Kyoto University. He joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 1999 and has taught courses in Asian studies, history, and sociology all over Okinawa, and more recently primarily in the distance education program. Dr. Ames assumed his current position as the Japan area director in July 2007.
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Alan Beckham
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Mr. Beckham received his B.A. in philosophy from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and his M.A. in mathematics from St. Louis University. He took additional graduate work in philosophy at Memphis State University and in mathematics and education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has taught at Nashville State Technical Institute, St. Louis University, and the Forest Park Campus of St. Louis Community College. Mr. Beckham also holds a Tennessee Teacher License, and has taught middle school and high school mathematics at several public schools in the greater Nashville area. He has several years of professional employment experience as a graphic designer. He has taught in the Tokyo area since joining the UMUC faculty in 2001.
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Timothy Cooper
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Mr. Cooper received a B.A. in economics from Albion College, an M.B.A. from the University of Detroit, with emphasis in accounting and finance, and a J.D. from Emory University, with emphasis in corporate, taxation and business law. He has taught at Commonwealth College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hampton University, Saint Leo College, and Averett College. Mr. Cooper has many years of professional experience in both the accounting and legal fields with various firms, and in private legal practice, in California, Michigan, Washington, D.C., and other areas of the United States. During 1992/93 he spent several months as a Peace Corps volunteer in Russia. He joined the UNUC faculty in 1999 and has taught at numerous different locations in Korea, Okinawa, and mainland Japan.
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Michael DeJong
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Mr. DeJong holds a B.A. and M.A. from York University in Toronto, Canada. His graduate degree in communication and culture focused primarily on issues involving media framing, political economy, and the construction of objectivity. Mr. DeJong has more than two decades experience as a broadcast journalist. He has worked as TV anchor, reporter, writer, and producer at NHK, Tokyo and at CBC, CTV, and Global Television in Canada. Mr. DeJong has also taught at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario and conducts private media training workshops for corporate clients.
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Asuka Dow
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Ms. Hojo-Vanderhyde received her B.A. in French Studies from Seinan Gakuin University and her M.A. in East Asian Studies, with specialization in Japanese Language Pedagogy, from the University of Toronto. She also studied linguistics at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Ms. Hojo-Vanderhyde taught Seinan Gakuin University, the University of Toronto, McMaster University and North York Heritage School. She also has professional experience as an instructor of English working with both adults and children, and as a translator and interpreter. She joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 2005 and has taught in the Tokyo area and in Sasebo.
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Hiromi Edwards
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Mrs. Edwards earned her B.A. in Asian Studies from University of Maryland University College and her M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park, in the program offered in Okinawa and administered by UMUC. She has taught Japanese for UMUC at Iwakuni since 1999. Ms. Edwards is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Council on Family Relations, and the Okinawa Psychology Association.
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Tom Ewing
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Dr. Tom Ewing earned his first BS in Philosophy and second BS in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds a MS in astronomy from University of California, and a PhD in physics from Michigan State University. Dr. Ewing has taught at several different institutions, including: Michigan State University, Alma College, Central Michigan University, Lansing Community College, and Olympic College. He has experience in private business as the owner of a computer software company. He joined UMUC Asia in 1993 and has taught in Korea, Japan, and Singapore. He has also taught for UMUC Europe. He received the Drazek Teaching Excellence Award in 2012.
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Joy Felix
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Ms. Joy Felix too her BS in psychology from Southwestern University and her MA in TESOL from Azusa Pacific University. She has taught English at the primary, secondary, and university levels in several different countries, including Cambodia, China, and now Japan. Ms. Felix joined UMUC Asia in August 2009.
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Frances Fister-Stoga
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Ms. Fister-Stoga received her B.A. in English and German from the University of Massachusetts with a scholarship for study at the University of Freiburg (Germany). She completed graduate work (M.A) in comparative and English Literature at McGill University, Montreal; in education (M.Ed.) at the Université de Montreal; and in applied linguistics (M.A.)at Concordia University. Ms. Fister-Stoga also holds a degree in English and Composition (M.A.) from Morehead State University and a post-graduate diploma in Education and Research from the prestigious University of Bristol (U.K.). She earned a certificate in Peace Education from Columbia University Teachers College and is on the board of a UNESCO project (Linguapax). Ms. Fister-Stoga has taught at numerous institutions in Canada, Poland, Austria, and Slovenia. She held the position of sole American foreign lecturer at the University of Tokyo. She joined the UMUC faculty in 2001 and has taught in the Tokyo area and the distance education program. She is currently visiting lecturer at the University of Warsaw, Poland.
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Asao Fukuyama
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Mr. Fukuyama received his B.A. in English and education from the University of the Ryukyus and took graduate work in business administration at Michigan State University. He holds a California community college teaching credential as well as a Government of the Ryukyus teaching certification for secondary-level English, and taught in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. Mr. Fukuyama has several years of experience in the business world as a hotel manager, training coordinator, sales manager, and English teacher, and served as a personnel specialist for U.S. Air Force and Army civilian personnel offices. Before joining UMUC he taught for Los Angeles Metropolitan College in Okinawa. He joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 1984 and has taught courses in Japanese language and culture regularly since then at locations throughout Okinawa.
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Brian Grimm
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No biography is available for this instructor
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Daniel Hart
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Dr. Hart received his B.S, in General Business, and a J.D., and a M.B.A. in Finance from De Paul University. He was an options trader on the floor of the CBOE before going into teaching. He taught for eight years at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he also got a CPA. He also taught for six years at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky where he was associate professor and coordinator of the accounting program. Dr. Hart has been with UMUC-Europe in Germany, Iceland, and Italy, and joined UMUC Asia in 2006.
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David Jenkins
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Mr. Jenkins earned a B.A. in literature from The American University, an M.A. in English from San Francisco State University, and an M.F.A. from the University of Arizona. He has taught at several different institutions including San Francisco State University, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College. Overseas he taught at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman; Palacky University in the Czech Republic; and most recently at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Mr. Jenkins received a Playwrights Fellowship for study at the University of Arizona. His own plays have been produced in Arizona and California and at Southwest Missouri State University. He has taught in the Tokyo area and Misawa since joining the UMUC faculty in 2003.
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Elden Johnson
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Mr. Johnson earned a B.S. in transportation from the University of Baltimore, a B.A. in history from Sophia University, and an M.A. in international affairs, also from Sophia University. The title of his master's thesis is ¿Katsu Kaishu and Saigo Takamori in the Meiji Restoration.¿ Mr. Johnson served as a traffic manager for the U.S. Navy for a number of years. He is an active member of the educational community and has presented lectures in Japanese. His principal area of interest is modern Japanese history. Mr. Johnson has taught at Sophia University, and has taught with UMUC since 1970, primarily in the Tokyo area, and also in the UMUC distance education program. Since 1990 he has served as a UMUC academic advisor, working closely with students and planning and coordinating with Education Center Staff.
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James Johnson
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Mr. Johnson earned a B.A. in psychology and philosophy from the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama, an M.S. in international business from the University of South Carolina, and has studied toward a Ph.D. in management information systems at Auburn University. He has taught at Durham Technical Community College, Central Texas College, the University of South Carolina, Concordia International University in Brazil, Auburn University, and at Upper Iowa University. Mr. Johnson has had a range of other employment including experience in financial fields. He has several publications in the area of Global Information Systems. Since joining the Asian Division faculty in 1996 he has taught in Guam, Misawa, Korea, Iwakuni, and the Tokyo area, and in the distance education program.
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Yasushi Kakuta
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Mr. Kakuta began teaching with UMUC Asia in 1987, after a successful career as an officer in the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. He earned his bachelor's degree at the National University of Utsunomiya and holds several certificates in meteorology and languages from Japanese service schools. One of his primary responsibilities in the military was to conduct classes for both Japanese and American officers and he was often called upon to play a key part in assisting the latter in learning the language and culture of Japan. Mr. Kakuta has taught at Misawa since joining the UMUC faculty.
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Akiko Kanai
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Ms. Kanai earned her bachelor's degree in English literature from Kyoritsu Women's University in Tokyo, Japan, and received a certificate in the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language from the International Education Training School in Tokyo. She completed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test, authorized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture, and administered by the Association of International Education. Ms. Kanai is a member of The Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language in Tokyo, Japan. She has been teaching for UMUC Asia in the Tokyo area since 1989.
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Moriaki Kanai
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Mr. Kanai has a M.A. in Japanese bilingual education and international cooperation studies from Kyorin University in Tokyo and a B.A. in English from Dokkyo University in Saitama, Japan. He has extensive experience teaching English at a number of Japanese high schools. He also has experience teaching at the secondary and college levels in New Zealand. Since 1995 Mr. Kanai has taught Japanese at the Yokota Middle School and Yokota High School. He joined the UMUC Asia faculty in January 2004 and has taught in the Tokyo area.
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Yoko Kmetz
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Ms. Kmetz has been teaching Japanese language for UMUC at Misawa since 1980. In addition to her experience with UMUC, Ms. Kmetz has taught at Misawa American High School and at the Sollars Elementary School on Misawa Air Base, and has carried out a number of language programs for various military commands. She collaborated on a book entitled Exploring Tohoku and has translated several works into Japanese and English for the city of Misawa. She holds her bachelor's degree from Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo.
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Michiko Kumada
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Ms. Kumada earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Tokyo Kasei University and a M.S. in Education from the University of New England, Maine. She holds middle-and secondary-level teaching certificates in fine arts and in Japanese language from Tokyo Kasei and Nihon University. She also holds professional-level cultural certificates in the Japanese Koto (traditional musical instrument) and in Japanese Ikebana (flower arranging). Ms. Kumada has taught at Tokyo Kasei University and the Texas Military Institute, and in the DoDD schools. She joined UMUC Asia in 2004 and has been teaching at Yokosuka.
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Laurie Kuntz
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Ms. Kuntz earned her B.A. in English and education from Baruch College of the City University of New York and her M.F.A. in writing, poetry, and literature from Vermont College. During several years of overseas residence before joining UMUC she worked with refugees from Southeast Asia, primarily in the Philippines and Thailand. Her experience included teaching English and writing in different contexts up to the college level. Ms. Kuntz has published extensively; her book of poetry, Somewhere in the Telling, was published by Edwin Mellen Press. Her chapbook of poems, Simple Gestures, was published by Texas Review Press in 2000 and won the 1999 Texas Review Poetry Chapbook competition. Many of her poems have been published in literary journals online as well as in book format. In 2002 her poetry was adapted into a one-act play and performed by UMUC students during National Women's month. She joined the UMUC faculty in 1992 and has taught in Misawa and in the distance education program.
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David Layfield
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Dr. David Layfield took his BA in political science from Nottingham Trent University, his MA in political philosophy from University of York, and his PhD in political science from University of Nottingham. He has taught political science at the university level since 2003. Dr. Layfield joined UMUC Asia in March, 2009.
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John McMillan
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Mr. McMillan holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in computer systems management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. A retired officer in the U.S. Navy, he gained much technical, computer-related and management experience during his career, along with extensive training experience; his most recent Navy assignment was as Commander Fleet Training Group Western Pacific at Yokosuka, Japan. In the business world Mr. McMillan has been a self-employed technology and management consultant; Vice President of Universal Distributing of Nevada, a high-tech manufacturer and distributor; and Vice President for Operations and later President of Regency International Trading Company, a Tokyo-based systems firm. He joined the Asian Division faculty in 1998 and has taught throughout the Tokyo area and in the UMUC distance education program.
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Ralph Mora
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Dr. Ralph Mora took his BA in psychology from City College of New York. He took his MA and PhD in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. Dr. Mora has taught psychology for UMUC's European and Asian divisions. In addition to teaching for UMUC Asia, Dr. Mora is active in his field: he has served as a clinical director at the Keller Army Community Hospital Counseling Center, as the department head of the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services at US Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Sicily, and as program coordinator of Exceptional Family Member Sercices in Vicenza, Italy. Dr. Mora rejoined UMUC Asia in June 2009.
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James Mraz
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Mr. Mraz is a graduate of University of Maryland University College, having earned his B.S. in business and management and accounting. He went on to earn an M.S. in business administration from Boston University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner. A veteran of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Mraz retired in 1989 as a gunnery sergeant. He also had several years of experience as a civilian financial officer at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Mr. Mraz has taught for Craven Community College in Cherry Point, North Carolina; Central Texas College; and Park College in Arlington, Virginia. He taught in the Statewide programs of University of Maryland University College from 1987 to 1991, and began teaching for the Asian Division at Iwakuni in 1991.
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Hiroyuki Nishikawa
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Mr. Nishikawa received his bachelor's degree in language and literature education from Waseda University in Tokyo. He has worked in special language programs for the city of Hachinohe, Japan, and is currently teaching in Hachinohe Technical High School in the same city. He has been teaching for UMUC at Misawa Air Base since 1986. Mr. Nishikawa has been recognized by the city of Hachinohe for his major contributions to cultural understanding and by Misawa Air Base commanders for building cultural bridges between the military and the local community. He has completed several seminars and workshops in language teaching.
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Douglas Ostrom
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Dr. Ostrom earned his B.A. in economics from the University of Washington in Seattle and his Ph.D., also in economics, from the University of Michigan. He also studied at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Tokyo. Dr. Ostrom has taught at Dartmouth College, Williams College, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University, Syracuse University, and The George Washington University. His experience includes service with organizations including the Japan Economic Institute and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. He has a number of professional publications and joined the UMUC faculty in 2006.
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John Philips
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Dr. Philips earned his Ph.D. in history and his M.A. in African Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. His B.A. in history is from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Philips has research interests in African and Islamic studies, and in Middle Eastern history and politics. He has published in the Journal of American Studies, the Journal of African History, African Studies Review, the Middle Eastern Studies Bulletin, the Journal of Asian and African Studies, and others. Dr. Philips has been a Fulbright scholar (University of Sokoto), and has received research grants from the National Geographic Society, the Japanese Ministry of Education, and other agencies. He has taught in Misawa since joining the UMUC Asia faculty in 2004.
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David Ramsey
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Dr. Ramsey holds a B.A. in English literature and an M.A. in English composition, both from California State University at San Bernardino. He took his Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a research emphasis in assessment of student writing and portfolios. Dr. Ramsey has taught at Cal State San Bernardino, Miami University, Mt. San Jacinto Community College and Crafton Hills Community College, and in the PACE program aboard U.S. Navy vessels. He has carried out linguistic research as part of a Miami University program aimed at assisting the Miami Indian Tribe of Oklahoma in considering ways to revive the extinct language of the Tribe. He has taught at Misawa, the Kanto Plain, and in the distance education program, since joining the UMUC faculty in August 2003.
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Edwyn Saiki
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Mr. Saiki earned his B.Ed. in secondary education from the University of Hawaii, and subsequently earned an M.A. in management and supervision from Central Michigan University. During 22 years in the U.S. Air Force he gained broad experience teaching military-related subjects. Mr. Saiki has taught at Central Texas College, and more recently at Kyorin University in Tokyo. During his military career he had extensive experience in morale, welfare and recreation, military food services, and club management. He also served as a Guidance Counselor and Acting Education Services Officer at Yokota Air Base. Mr. Saiki joined the Asian Division faculty in 1989 and has taught at Yokota Air Base and Sasebo Naval Base.
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Cardale Smith
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Mr. Smith received his B.S. and M.A., both in political science, from Eastern New Mexico University at Portales, New Mexico, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Clark Atlanta University, working on a dissertation entitled 'Public Policy of Euthanasia in America.' He has taught at Clovis Community College in New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University, and Central Texas College in Korea. Mr. Smith has been a probation and parole officer in Hobbs, New Mexico, and has also been active in politics in New Mexico. Since joining the Asian Division faculty in 1998 he has taught in Sasebo, the Tokyo area, Okinawa and Korea, and in the distance education program.
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Shirley Tamura
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Dr. Tamura earned her doctorate in nutrition-epidemiology (DrPH)
from the Harvard School of Public Health, and both her master's (MPH) and bachelor's (BS) degrees in public health nutrition and food science & dietetics from the University of California, Berkeley. She has published in the Journal
of Nutrition Education, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and the Annals of
Epidemiology, as well as other journals, and has contributed to collections of essays on nutrition and epidemiological topics. Dr. Tamura has been a consultant in the areas of nutrition and epidemiology, and is a registered dietitian. She joined the UMUC faculty in 2003 and has taught in the Tokyo area and in the UMUC distance education program.
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Noriko Tanabe
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Ms. Tanabe earned her bachelor's degree in language and literature from the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, Japan, and received a certificate in the teaching of Japanese from Kokusai Kaiwa Gakuin, also in Tokyo. She began teaching with the Asian Division in 1989 after conducting Japanese language classes at the Tokyo Culture Center and for officers and enlisted personnel at Yokosuka Naval Base. Ms. Tanabe also has experience in teaching Japanese life and culture to members of the Yokosuka military community through base-sponsored programs.
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Thomas Thompson
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Mr. Thompson received his B.A. in political science and economics from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and his M.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Washington at Seattle, where his master's thesis dealt with the Soviet Union and Japanese foreign policy. Subsequently he took additional graduate work in political science at the University of Washington. While a graduate student he was able to spend considerable time in Japan conducting research, and also gained teaching experience at the University of Washington. Mr. Thompson joined the Asian Division faculty in 1981 and has taught in Midway Island, Misawa, Iwakuni, Korea, and Okinawa, and for an extended period in the Tokyo area.
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Michael Tisher
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Mr. Tisher received his B. S. in computer science and earned two M.S. degrees in mathematics, one from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana and another from Louisiana State University. Mr. Tisher has taught mathematics at Louisiana State University and at McNeese State University. In the latter university, he taught not only to college students but also to children in a developmental math program, and has also worked as a counselor and administrator in a program for gifted children. He has had experience in the scheduling and executing of computer tape and print jobs at the Exxon Computing Services Center in Houston and has experience in the editing and revising of math textbooks. Since joining UMUC Asia in 1999, Mr. Tisher has taught in various locations in Japan and in the distance education program, and received the Drazek Teaching Excellence Award in 2005.
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Duane Vorhees
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Dr. Vorhees holds three degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio: a B.S. and M.A. in American studies, and a Ph.D. in American culture. He taught at Bowling Green State, and also at numerous institutions in Korea, including King Sejong University, Korea University, Hanguk University of Foreign Studies, and Seoul National University. He has published extensively on a wide range of topics. Dr. Vorhees joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 1987, and has been teaching in Korea and Japan since then.
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Christine Wilson
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Dr. Wilson holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc., both in biology, from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She took additional graduate work at the University of Guelph, in Canada, as well as graduate work toward the doctorate in biology at Johannes Gutenberg Universatät in Mainz, Germany, where she was awarded her Ph.D. Dr. Wilson has taught at several institutions including three in Pennsylvania: Thiel College, the Shenango Valley Campus of Pennsylvania State University, and the Community College of Allegheny County. She also taught with UMUC in Europe, and at West Virgina State University. She has been a lab technician at Johannes Gutenberg Universatät in Germany. Ms. Wilson joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 2004 and has taught in Singapore, Misawa, and the UMUC distance education program.
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James Wyatt
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Dr. Wyatt earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Northeast Louisiana University. His Ph.D., also in English, is from the University of Kentucky, where his research was concentrated in Middle English Literature; his dissertation involves an analysis of Malory's 'Tale of Gareth.' He has taught at Northeast Louisiana University and the University of Kentucky, and also at Lexington Community College, Lindsey Wilson College, and Prestonsburg Community College. Dr. Wyatt joined the Asian Division in 1993 and has taught in Korea, Guam, Okinawa, and the Tokyo area, and in the UMUC distance education program.
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