Hanae Furugaki (she/her) is a sophomore Economics major at Reed College. Born in New Jersey but raised Las Vegas, Nevada, Hanae is a first-generation Japanese American with both parents being immigrants from Japan. She navigated the intersection of two cultures throughout her life. Growing up in a bilingual household has not only allowed her to speak two languages but has also fostered her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Hanae is driven to support underrepresented communities through mentorship and networking. Moving from Las Vegas to Portland was a significant cultural shift for her, particularly in terms of diversity and the elitist nature of academia. This transition has strengthened her resolve to connect with other AAPI individuals and organizations, fostering inclusivity and contributing to a more accepting campus environment and career spaces.

Isabelle Commichau (she/her) is a freshman at Reed College. She was born and raised in Vermont and just recently moved to Portland for school. She is a mix of German, Chinese, and Filipino. Isabelle was a part of as many clubs and events surrounding BIPOC communities throughout high school and believe. She is excited to have the opportunity to connect with more students of color through this program, and look forward to making a difference through this project!

Keʻala Ching (they/them) is Native Hawaiian and Chinese, born and raised in Maui, Hawaiʻi. They are currently a senior at Portland State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double concentration in Accounting and Finance. In addition to being a full time student, Keʻala works at Patagonia and the Student Services office in the Engineering Building at PSU. Since their freshman year, Keʻala has been involved in the Multicultural Retention Program, EMPOWER, and served as a peer mentor last year.

This year, they co-lead the new Pacific Islander Program, INSPIRE. Keʻala enjoys film photography, being outdoors, thrifting, and spending time with family and friends. In the future, Keʻala aims to give back to their Hawaiʻi community by applying the knowledge gained through their education and experiences. Keʻala is motivated by their ʻohana (family) to try their best so they can provide for them and take care of their loved ones.

Mahalia Huynh (she/her) is an undergraduate student at Portland State University, majoring in Human Resources. She is a first-generation Vietnamese-American born and raised in Portland, OR. 

Mahalia is in 3 student clubs at PSU, hoping to strengthen the student community on campus by hosting events that celebrate diversity and further students’ careers. Aside from clubs on campus, she is peer mentoring 2 amazing mentees for the PSU student retention program, EMPOWER. She hopes her academic and professional career will focus on inclusivity and establishing more self-confidence in leadership roles.

Yuki Nagura (she/her) is a first-year Physics major at Reed College. She was born and raised in Japan, but she had lived in China for three years and Italy for the last two years of high school. She graduated from UWC Adriatic with an IB Diploma, and is passionate about learning the world’s arts. In the future, she would like to contribute to traditional Japanese artworks through civil engineering. As a hobby, she enjoys playing sports, especially basketball. Basketball requires numerous repetitions of basic training that remind her of the importance of continuous effort and humility.

Lisa is originally from Chicago, Illinois and moved to Portland in January of 2024 after a ten year stint in the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently, she is a manager at Portland Community College overseeing a grant-funded project focused on connecting traditionally marginalized communities with opportunities to pursue living wage careers in healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.

Lisa has been working on social justice issues for over a decade, focusing on both international and domestic issues which have included youth workforce development, gender-based violence, and economic and political reform. She graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a Masters in Public Administration and received her B.A. in Spanish and International Relations from Washington University in St. Louis. In her free time, she likes to go on food adventures and be out in nature, whether that’s hiking or camping or going on a group bike ride.