Yung-Hwa Anna Chow
Born and raised in Taiwan, I began learning the English language at the age of 12 when I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. Having personally experienced the struggles as a second language learner, I wanted to reach out and help students who struggle in schools and society due to language barriers and racism. I graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and a minor in Education. In 2002, I moved with my partner to Pullman, Washington, where I completed my Master’s degree in Education from Washington State University. After receiving my M.A. in 2004, I started advising for the Humanities and Social Sciences Programs in the College of Liberal Arts at WSU. As an academic advisor, I’ve conducted research with Chinese international students, presented at advising conferences, webinars, symposiums, published articles, and received academic advising awards from WSU and NACADA. I enjoy working with students and helping them achieve their goals in life. In 2016, I was promoted to Interim Director of Advising, and now serve as Director of Advising for the College of Arts and Sciences at Washington State University.
Megumi Makino-Kanehiro
Megumi Makino-Kanehiro, PhD, is the Director of the Mānoa Advising Center for Exploratory Students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM). She currently serves on the NACADA Board of Directors and is a regular presenter at NACADA conferences. She has served as Chair for the Peer Advising and Mentoring Advising Community and served as an Advising Community Steering Committee Representative. She has also served as a moderator for the e-Tutorial on Creating a Peer Advising Program. She is completing her terms on both the Annual Conference Advisory Board and the Awards Committee this fall. Dr. Makino-Kanehiro is invested in encouraging diversity in leadership and currently serves as Chair on the Subcommittee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Excellence in Academic Advising Initiative at UHM.
Leah Panganiban
Leah Panganiban is the Academic Services Program Manager for the University of Washington Global Innovation Exchange (GIX). She has been an active NACADA member since 2008. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Washington. Her research interests include college student development, access and retention, theory and practice in student affairs, equity and diversity issues in higher education, and Asian Pacific Americans in higher education.
Kiana Shiroma
Dr. Kiana Shiroma is the Director of the Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center and interim Director of the Student Success Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is the Region 9 Representative of the NACADA Research Committee and serves on the Editorial Board of NACADA Journal and as a reviewer for Academic Advising Today. Dr. Shiroma's research focuses on the motivational factors of underserved student populations.