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    Joel as a child wearing roller states and helmet in EnglandJoel Sakakihara

    Joel Sakakihara is a communication studies educator, entrepreneur, and advocate for student-centered learning 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. 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 his graduate research examined intercultural communication, Extra Class Communication (ECC), cultural constructs, and the role of student-professor interactions in student success, engagement, and mentorship. His research reinforced the importance of creating inclusive learning environments that recognize the diverse experiences students bring to the classroom while emphasizing practical application over memorization.

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

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    Russell Hong

    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.

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    David Hamilton

     

    David A. Hamilton

    Just some guy who showed up one day. 

     

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