Patsy Y. Iwasaki, Ph.D. is an associate professor of English at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. She received her Ph.D. in Learning Design and Technology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and also has an M.Ed. in education. Her research interests and teaching practices include documentary film, instructional design and development, digital humanities, English studies, media studies, migration narratives and storytelling in graphic novels, place and community-based, community engagement, culturally relevant resources in education, and cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.

Dr. Iwasaki received a research grant from the Goto of Hiroshima Foundation which inspired her to collaborate with artist Berido to create the graphic novel Hāmākua Hero: A True Plantation Story about Katsu Goto, a 19th century labor advocate and key figure in the Japan-Hawai‘i immigration, labor and social evolution narrative. In addition to conducting research and developing educational projects about Goto, she is currently creating and producing a documentary film about him.

Read the full interview here.