Professor of Psychology
Office Location:
HSS 220E
ABOUT
Yoshito Kawabata is an associate professor with a background in developmental psychology. He received a B.A. and a M.A. in psychology from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in child psychology from the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota.
Yoshi’s research interest focuses on interpersonal relationships and psychopathology and the roles of contextual factors such as schools, neighborhoods, and cultures on these domains.
He is particularly interested in examining risk and protective factors that may influence developmental processes involving parenting, peer relationships, and forms of psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, depression, and aggression) with a cross-cultural and ethnically diverse sample. In another line of research, Yoshi uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative data and analyzes how and why children and adolescents accept or reject intergroup contact or cross-ethnic friendships.
He has supervised undergraduate and graduate students with their thesis and provided considerable support for research and writing. He has enjoyed these mentoring experiences and is excited to work with students at University of Guam.
eDUCATION/CREDENTIALS
- B.A., Psychology, University of Oregon
- M.S., Psychology, University of Oregon
- Ph.D., Child Psychology, University of Minnesota
Associate Professor of Art
Office Location:
EC 117E
ABOUT
Irena Keckes is an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Guam. She received her Ph.D. in Fine Arts from The University of Auckland, New Zealand (2015), MFA in printmaking from Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan (2005) and B.A. in art education from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb, Croatia (2000). Integrating theory and practice has been a key element to her research through which she has been exploring connections between eco-Buddhism and printmaking, extended forms of print and art/craft relationship.
Her practice involves large-scale monochrome woodcuts and print installations. Irena’s artwork has been exhibited internationally in many group and independent exhibitions. She presented at the SGCI Print Conference 2016 in Portland, IMPACT 9 International Printmaking Conference in China (2015), 4th International Printmaking Symposium at The University of Auckland, New Zealand (2015), IMPACT 8 in Scotland (2013) and the 2nd International Mokuhanga Conference at Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan (2014).
She exhibited at the Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam Museum and Isla Center for the Arts (2016). Irena curated the International Exhibition of Contemporary Print UOG 2016 at Isla Center for the Arts (2016). Her work is exhibited the International Print Biennial, Northern Print, UK (2016), and SGCI Print Conference 2017 in Atlanta.
Education/CREDENTIALS
- B.A., Art Education – Printmaking, University of Zagreb (Croatia)
- MFA, Printmaking, Tokyo University of the Arts (Japan)
- Ph.D., Fine Arts, The University of Auckland (New Zealand)
Associate Professor of Water Engineering
Office Location:
WERI 112
ABOUT
Prior to coming to UOG, Kim served as director of the Samsung Institute of Safety & Environment at Samsung Economic Research Institute and as principal consultant of the Environmental Consulting Team at Samsung SDS. Kim has conducted numerous environmental research and engineering consulting projects in the United States, China, Vietnam, and South Korea.
CREDENTIALS
- B.S., Chemistry, Kyung Hee University (South Korea)
- M.S., Environmental System Engineering, Korea University
- Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Purdue University (Ind.)
INTERESTS
Water pollution, water quality monitoring, environmental remediation, surface water-groundwater interaction, hydrogeological risk assessment
Associate Professor of Geography / Lead of the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center
Office Location:
Dean’s Circle, House #34/MARC GIS Centre
CREDENTIALS
- B.S., Economics, Boston College
- M.A., Micronesian Studies, University of Guam
- M.S., Geographic Information Systems/Science, University Southampton (England)
- Ph.D., Geography, University College Cork (Ireland)
Assistant Professor of Political Science, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies
Office Location:
MARC, 2nd Floor, Room 216
Credentials
- B.A., Psychology, University of Guam
- M.A., Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Ph.D., Political Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Dean/Director
Office Location:
ALS 206D
CREDENTIALS
- Ph.D., R.D., Human Nutrition, Colorado State University
- M.S., Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Hawaii
- B.A., Biology, University of Guam
Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences
Office Location:
ALS 105F
CREDENTIALS
- Ph.D., Animal Sciences (Meat Science and Muscle Biology), North Dakota State University
- M.S., Meat Science and Muscle Biology, National Chaiyi University (Taiwan)
- B.S., Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University (Taiwan)
With more than 10 years of experience in both teaching and practicing red meat processing, Dr. Liu is deeply knowledgeable in livestock production, nutrition, animal welfare, and red meat processing techniques. As an animal scientist with UOG's Land Grant extension service, he provides crucial technical support to livestock producers and red meat processors in Guam.
He is working on a comparative study of feral swine meat quality versus domestic pork, contributing valuable insights into wild game utilization and meat quality standards. He also manages a grant focusing on the development of workforce in meat and poultry processing, underscoring his commitment to advancing industry practices and workforce training in Guam.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Pork quality assessment
- Development of value-added products
- Microbial and shelf-life assessment in red meat
Director / Associate Professor of Spanish Pacific History
Office Location:
MARC 215
CREDENTIALS
- B.A., History of the Americas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
- M.A., Contemporary History, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
- Ph.D., Contemporary History, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
Dr. Carlos Madrid Álvarez-Piñer is an associate professor of Spanish Pacific history within the Micronesian Area Research Center. He came to UOG in 2019 from the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, where he served as director from 2014–2018. He has conducted research projects on Micronesia, Spain, and the Philippines since 1996 and has previously worked in the International Cultural Cooperation at the Ministry of Culture of Spain and curated exhibits on permanent display in the Museo de Baler in the Philippines and the Belau National Museum in Palau.
His master's thesis was on "Political Deportation to the Mariana Islands," and his doctoral thesis was on "The Siege of Baler and the Transmission of Perceptions About the Philippines in Spain. His areas of research include CHamoru cultural expressions in the 19th and 20th centuries, human exchanges in Micronesia (16th–20th centuries), cartography, the Manila Galleon Trade, heritage preservation and rehabilitation, and cultural tourism.
Professor of Horticulture
Office Location:
ALS 318
CREDENTIALS
- B.S., Horticulture, University of Hawaii
- M.S., Horticulture, University of Hawaii
- Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Hawaii
Professor of Ornamental Horticulture
Office Location:
ALS 317
Research interests
- Horticulture with an emphasis on Guam native plants
- Propagating and outplanting native plants
- Establishment of a rare plant nursery
CREDENTIALS
- B.S., Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University
- M.S., Horticulture, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Selected publications
- Anderson Air Force Base. 2018. Serianthes nelsonii management plan. Prepared under contract N40192-16-R-8000, Anderson Air Force Base. 17pp.
- Anderson Air Force Base. 2017. Report on horticultural practices for in situ Cycas micronesica management plots. Final Report. Prepared under contract N40192-13-2-8003. 131pp.
- Reddy, G., J. McConnell, A. E. Badilles. 2012. Estimation of the population density of the sweetpotato weevils on the Mariana Islands. Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research. 44: 18-21.
- McConnell, J. 2006. The flat bed scanner as a close-up digital camera. HortScience 41: 1044.
