State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2007 - Present Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology Areas of Concentration: Linguistic Anthropology, Popular Culture, Disability Studies Dissertation: (tentative title) Fan Conventions and the Rise of Fan Culture State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2005 - 2007 M.A. in Cultural Anthropology Areas of Concentration: Anthropology of Religion Masters Project: Witchcraft in America: The Magic of Salem State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2001 - 2005 B.A., Honors, Summa Cum Laude in Japanese Cultural Studies Areas of Concentration: Japanese Language and Culture Outstanding Senior for Special Studies Department Senior Project: Translation of Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's Rashomon International Christian University, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan 2003 - 2004 Japanese Cultural Studies Program
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia 2008 Lecturer Requested Presentation - "Anime and Japanese Pop Culture" Anthropology Department, University at Buffalo 2006 - 2007 Teaching Assistant Assisted in classroom, collaborated on curriculum and grading, edited student papers, met with students during office hours and by request, taught classes APY 106 Intro to Cultural Anthropology with Barbara Tedlock (Fall 2006) APY 275 Intro to Ethnomedicine with Deborah Hutchinson (Spring 2007) Early Childhood Research Center, University at Buffalo, NY 2005 Volunteer Assistant - with Soc-Yann Ho, Preschool Assisted in classroom, served as interpreter for Japanese student and family New Student Programs, University at Buffalo, NY 2004 Teaching Assistant - UB 101 with Chalea Forgues Collaborated on curriculum and grading, met with students upon request, taught classes on subjects including study abroad, student activities, and library use Maple English Conversation School, Kichijoji, Japan 2004 Teaching Assistant - Private English Classes Assisted teaching English classes for children aged 12-16 at different proficiency levels, assisted in planning of classes Asia-Africa Linguistic Institute 2003 - 2004 Teaching Assistant - English Conversation Classes Assisted teaching English calsses for adults at both beginning and intermediate levles
International Admissions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2009 Graduate Assistant Scheduling and maintaining rosters for IA Ambassadors and Ambassadors-at-Large, maintaining Ambassablog and UBelong Club blog/website, processing freshman applications, website design and maintenance, and other office duties. Asian Studies Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2007 - 2008 Graduate Assistant General office work, editing department newsletter (Asian Studies Notes), grant research, advertising, and department website Graduate Student Association, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2007 - 2008 Editorial Assistant Editing graduate student papers and dissertations Mark Diamond Research Fund Council, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2007 - Present Grant Reviewer Reviewing submitted grants, meeting with Council to determine approval of grants Anime North, Toronto, ON 2005 - 2008 Panelist Panel Moderator and panelist for panels includng 'World History of Homosexuality', 'Fanthropology', 'Gender in Anime', 'The Rise of NEET: Not in Education, Employment or Training', 'Western Mythology in Anime', 'Living in Japan', and 'Japanese Culture' BENT Magazine, Buffalo, NY 2006 - Present Editor Editing fiction submission, contacting and working with authors, some advertisign and promotion Romance Languages Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2001 - 2008 Work Study/Student Assistant Assisted in office as receptionist and assistant, some assistance with department website Anthropology Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2006 - 2007 Webmaster Maintained Department website, assisted Faculty with Faculty websites Research Foundation, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2005 - 2006 Researcher Translated and annotated Japanese documents, scanned and used OCR for Arabic documents Pagan Student Association, Buffalo, NY 2003 - 2008 Speaker Presented anthropological information about various religions and practices International Institute, Buffalo, NY 2004 - 2005 Volunteer Intern Translated documents from Japanese to English, processed invoices and payment requests, some reception experience Study Abroad Programs, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2004 - 2005 Speaker Presented information on Study Abroad programs to Japanese and UB 101 classes Residence Halls Association, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 2004 Panelist Panelist for Religious Diversity Panel organized by Chalea Forgues
2010 "Towards a Taxonomy of Fandom: Fan Culture and Modern Media Consumers", presented at the Northeast Anthropological Association Meeting in Buffalo, NY
2008 "Women's Gay Men: Representations of Homosexuality in Yaoi Manga", presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southwest Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Associations in Albuquerque, NM 2007 "Healing Mind, Body and Spirit: Wiccan Healing Rituals", presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Washington, DC 2007 "Witchcraft in America: The Magic of Salem", presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Anthropology of Religion in Phoenix, AZ 2005 Annotation and Summary of Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's "Rashomon", LitGloss website
English - native language Japanese - speak fluently and read/write with high proficiency Spanish - speak, read and write with high proficiency French - speak, read and write with intermediate proficiency Arabic - beginner's reading and speaking skills Tibetan - beginner's competence Japanese Sign Language - beginner's competence