About the Authors

Joel Sakakihara is a communication studies educator and entrepreneur who believes that the true value of education is measured not by what students can recall on an exam, but by what they can apply throughout their lives. He teaches at De Anza College and his teaching philosophy centers on bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world practice, helping students develop communication skills that foster confidence, build meaningful relationships, strengthen leadership, and create opportunities long after the course has ended.

Joel earned a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach where he was a debate coach for the nationally ranked forensics team. In addition, his graduate research study examined intercultural communication, Extra Class Communication (ECC), cultural constructs, and the role of student-professor interactions in student success, engagement, and mentorship. His research highlights the need for inclusive classrooms that value student diversity and provide practical tools for future achievement.

Beyond academia, Joel founded multiple companies and led a successful start up as CEO, providing firsthand experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, public speaking, negotiation, team development, and strategic communication. These real-world experiences reinforce his belief that effective communication is one of the most important skills students can develop, regardless of their career goals. 

Russell Hong teaches Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication at De Anza College in Silicon Valley. A product of the California community college system, he believes people learn communication less from textbooks and more from everyday life: customer service jobs, group chats, workplace conflict, public mistakes, and the challenge of connecting with other human beings.

Before becoming a college instructor, Russell taught ESL in a correctional facility, was an oral communication teacher in Japan, substituted in K–12 classrooms, and worked a variety of jobs, from cashier and customer service representative to aspiring screenwriter and Boy Scout dropout. Along the way, he learned that communication is often messy, human, and best learned through experience.

Russell earned Communication Studies degrees from UCLA and San José State University and discovered his passion for teaching at West Valley College under the mentorship of Randy Fujishin. He also credits his mother, Gladys Hong, who taught fifth grade for nearly forty years, for passing along the teaching DNA that eventually led him into the classroom.

He still believes some of the best communication lessons happen outside the classroom, is a huge advocate of international travel, and loves to communicate most with dogs.

David A. Hamilton holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from San José State University and a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary. He has taught communication courses at Oxford Teachers College at Reach University, within the Foothill–De Anza Community College District, and as an adjunct instructor at several colleges throughout Silicon Valley.

His academic interests center on critical thinking, argumentation, debate, and public speaking. He was a former co-captain of a nationally competitive speech and debate team that finished second and fourth-place nationally. He also served as a speech and debate tournament judge, giving him extensive experience in evaluating effective communication and reasoning.

Before entering higher education, he worked in the private business sector, providing him with practical experience that shapes his teaching. He emphasizes real-world applications of communication and critical thinking, demonstrating how these skills strengthen relationships, improve workplace effectiveness, and support better decision-making in everyday life.

Outside the classroom, he is an avid outdoorsman. Nicknamed "Daniel Boone" by his family, he spends time each year exploring wilderness areas such as Alaska, British Columbia, the Colorado Rockies, the Trinity Alps, and, most notably, California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, where he often embarks on one- to two-week horseback expeditions into the backcountry.