Candidates

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My time as an undergraduate and graduate student has provided a well-rounded experience working with wonderful people from all backgrounds, moving from countryside of Japan to a small town outside of Dallas, TX then now living in Merced, CA. Although a university I attended for my undergraduate education was at the mostly white southern town, I had opportunities to meet fair share of students from different countries and participated in some cultural events. I was also involved in a Third Cultural Kids (TCK) circle that consisted of people experienced living in a multiple countries or different locations in the States. Thankfully to that experience, the transition from undergraduate to graduate school where many students come from all over the world became smooth. I thrive living and working in such a diverse community. Through all the experiences I encountered, I not only found who I am but also made me open to listen, curious to understand, and willing to help out others. Furthermore, I learned how to interact with everyone who has different backgrounds genuinely.

At UC Merced, I will actively seek opportunities in research, the classroom, and across campus to enhance diversity and opportunity for individuals from under-represented backgrounds. Specifically, I will promote opportunities for any individuals’ concerns and experiences to be heard and raise awareness of climate, diversity, and equity issues pertaining to graduate and professional students of every demographic to the university community.

I believe scientific communication is key as well as connections with people and institutions beyond our borders are just as important for a sustainable and prosperous research program, and diversity inclusion in the classroom and research laboratory is critical for academic and research success. At UC Merced, I will work with students and faculty regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or country of origin. As long as students and faculty are committed to and engaged in the learning environment and promote the ideals for a diverse workplace, my philosophy is that all students should be given equal opportunity. At UC Merced, I will uphold these ideals and lead by example through outreach, promoting international scientific communication, and leading and participating in programs that advance women and minority representation in the chemical sciences.

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There is a historical distinction between feeling pain and making visible suffering. As a mixed race woman I had hate and fear that I lived in society based on my positionality where my pain was a racial consequence meant to be felt, but never heard or seen. For the racial violence against myself, friends, and family members posed historical patterns that made me feel bitter and desolate. Drowned by media images of blacks and other marginalized groups being shot and beaten in the streets fueled my academic inspiration, leading to a fascination with social media and visual culture. Initially unaware of the systemic notions that created my positionality. My introduction into researching imagery and graphic design did not begin until 2013 as a graduate student at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). The help and support of mentors who understood my background prior to attending CSUF paved the way to my emphasis in research and visual culture. For I took independent studies courses, attended classes on African American History and Visual Studies, and did an internship restoring photographs expanding my knowledge on graphic design and photography. Furthermore, I presented at conferences developing my research interest in African American History, social media, and photography.

During this period, I learned the power photography holds in influencing social media and subjecting black lives to violence. My ongoing curiosity with how cultural images of violent practices evolve to balance ideas of black freedom and enslavement inspires my research and has led me to complete a master thesis examining the defects of the American legal system during the 1930s Scottsboro case as it relates to photography and media. During this time I took to social media using and researching the power of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (and now Tiktok) in framing my understanding of racial struggles within contemporary America.

In addition, I did an internship at Paragon Publishers in Orange, California where I used the program Corel Graphics to restore old jazz and WW2 photographs to further my understanding of how visual culture influences the general public. My position required that I digitally remaster historic photographs that had the ability to capture the attention of a diverse set of audiences in order to help my supervisor sell more books. I enjoyed the position because not only did it offer me an opportunity to learn more about photography but also allowed me the opportunity to learn more about social media and visual culture. The ability to produce photographs that not only were artistically appealing but was also marketable to hundreds of people is an experience that I will never forget.

Currently I plan to continue my interest in photography and social media to my current position as a Henry Luce Fellow and my field of interest. As a Luce Summer fellow for the 2022 school year I plan to hone and learn more skills in graphic design as it relates to film before requiring the Social Media and Graphic Design Specialist for the Graduate Student Association (GSA). In this context, I plan as a Social Media and Graphic Design Specialist to give a voice to underrepresented groups through the visible representation of photography and social media. I hope with my background and support I have received from mentors as a graduate student that I can offer the U.C Merced community the importance of visual culture and promote on campus activities through social media.

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