Dr. Curtiss Takada Rooks serves as Special Assistant to the Dean of Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and Assistant Professor of Asian Pacific American Studies whose research activities include ethnicity and culture in community health, along with his work on multiracial/multiethnic identity and family. Shown here presenting at the Discover Nikkei program, "Revelations & Resilience: Exploring the Realities of Hapa-ness" held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 in the Democracy Forum at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Los Angeles, California.

An active member in the Japanese American community, Dr. Rooks sits on the board of the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council and was advisor to the Hapa Issues Forum board of directors. Born in Camp Zama, Japan, Dr. Rooks shares his Japanese and African American ancestry at home in Culver City with his Sansei wife and daughter.

Photo by Richard Murakami.