Alumni Profiles
Kurtis Nakamura
MPIA '12
Career Track: Public Policy
Regional Focus: Japan
Languages: Japanese, Spanish
Dean's Fellow, 2011-2012
Sylff Fellow, 2009-2012
Kurtis Nakamura is from the San Francisco Bay Area and first came to southern California to attend college, studying physics and astronomy. He developed his strong interest in international affairs over four years in Japan on the JET Programme, where he had the opportunity to teach English and astronomy, and work as a writer at the ministerial-level STS Forum in Kyoto. After returning to the United States, he worked for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, experiencing the amazing potential of children from many states and countries. He also worked at the Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles, and has served as a co-president and director of the JET Alumni Association of Southern California. He has past professional experience as a web services and database developer, and spent several years as a student publications editor and helping people with computing technologies.
Kurtis was actively involved in student issues with the Dean's Fellows and the Career Services team, and served on the Pacific International Affairs Student Organization (PIASO) board and represented IR/PS at the campus level as a Graduate Student Association representative.
Kurtis spent his summer internship with the Satoyama Initiative at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University, in Yokohama, Japan. He has an interest in space and science policy and hopes to serve his country at home and abroad promoting sound policy and strong international ties.
Regional Focus: Japan
Languages: Japanese, Spanish
Dean's Fellow, 2011-2012
Sylff Fellow, 2009-2012
Kurtis Nakamura is from the San Francisco Bay Area and first came to southern California to attend college, studying physics and astronomy. He developed his strong interest in international affairs over four years in Japan on the JET Programme, where he had the opportunity to teach English and astronomy, and work as a writer at the ministerial-level STS Forum in Kyoto. After returning to the United States, he worked for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, experiencing the amazing potential of children from many states and countries. He also worked at the Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles, and has served as a co-president and director of the JET Alumni Association of Southern California. He has past professional experience as a web services and database developer, and spent several years as a student publications editor and helping people with computing technologies.
Kurtis was actively involved in student issues with the Dean's Fellows and the Career Services team, and served on the Pacific International Affairs Student Organization (PIASO) board and represented IR/PS at the campus level as a Graduate Student Association representative.
Kurtis spent his summer internship with the Satoyama Initiative at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University, in Yokohama, Japan. He has an interest in space and science policy and hopes to serve his country at home and abroad promoting sound policy and strong international ties.
