Vince Okada Ph.D., MPPM

College of Liberal Arts - School of Social Work

BSW Program Chair

Associate Professor of Social Work

Education

Bachelors of Science in Education/Recreation, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey 

Masters of Public Policy and Management, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 

Certificate in Asia Pacific Leadership, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 

Certificate in Social Change, Brown University Institute of Humane Studies, Providence, Rhode Island 

Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Welfare, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 

Biography

Dr. Vince Okada is deeply committed to community development with a focus on diversity, well-being, and social justice for Japan, Hawaiʻi, and the Asia-Pacific region. He shares these principle missions along with the goal of expanding youth leadership, international education, and the field of indigenous knowledge including identity formation and resurgence and sustainable community development.

Dr. Okadahas been involved with the Polynesian Voyaging Society since Hōkūleʻa visited Japan in 2007. He also serves as a council leader of the U.S.–Japan Council and is an editorial advisor of the Journal of Indigenous Social Development (https://ucalgary.ca/journals/indigenous-social-development). His interdisciplinary research focuses on Japan’s indigenous people, the Ainu, their welfare, and related policy issues. His article, “The Plight of Ainu, Indigenous People of Japan” was published in the Journal of Indigenous Social Development. (https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/21976/v1i1_02okada.pdf).

Expertise/Interests

Education and Policy related to Indigenous Peoples and Diversity, Youth Empowerment, Social Work Education and Professional Development in Japan, Community Engagement and Development, Program Management & Evaluation, International Social Work, Inter-Cultural Training