Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D.

Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Japanese, Director of Modern Language, and the University International Relations Representative and Liaison
Year started at UF: 1998
Contact Information
Office Location: Language and TESOL Faculty Office Room F
Telephone: 419-434-4619
Credentials
B.A., General Studies, Social Sciences, Lewis-Clark State College, 1993
M.A., Anthropology, University of Idaho, 1995
Ph.D., Anthropology Major, The Ohio State University, 2002
  • Academic Credentials:

    Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University
    Master of Arts in Anthropology, University of Idaho

    Bachlor of Arts in Social Sciences, Lewis-Clark State College


    Dr. Kawamura is the Chair for the Department of Language and Culture in addition to teaching Japanese and advising students. He has been with The University of Findlay since 1998.

    "Hiro" has been playing leadership roles to promote cultural diversity and inclusion in the community. The “Different but The Same” video captures some of the activities he has been leading.​

    Click here to see more about his personal mission.

  • Dr. Kawamura is active in the community as a liaison between the Japanese and local community and State. He has also been doing intercultural activities in the community.

    • David L. Allen Award for Teaching Excellence (2014)
    • * 2016 Research Fellowship (Rakuno Gakuen University Guest Researcher Program)
    • * * The Community Foundation Grant, 2016-2018 [$1,1218]
    • Development of a video/handbook and international studies training for K-12 teachers in Hancock County * The Community Foundation Grant, 2014-2015 [$1,939]
    • Intercultural service learning with Hancock County high school students
    • * US Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad/Martha Holding Jennings Foundation, 2014-15 [$79,550]
    • Teacher training program for Hancock County educators in Japan * Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) with UF Mazza Museum, The Japan Foundation, Center for Global Partnership & The Laurasian Institution, 2015-2017
    • A full-time special staff for Japan cultural outreach activities for two years
    • * The Japan Foundation, Japan-America Collegiate Exchange Program, 2013 [$56,000]
    • Dr. Kawamura and his students (a total of 20) worked on a research project on human-animal relationship in Japan. This included a short fieldwork in Japan in March 2013. * The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, Education Grant, 2011 [$5,000]
    • Rakugo (Japanese oral tradition) * The Community Foundation Grant, 2011-2014 [$36,200]
    • Dr. Kawamura started the Community Internationalization project in Hancock County, Ohio.
    • * ASIANetwork Freeman Student/Faculty Fellowship Grant, 2011 [$24,000]
    • Three students and Dr. Kawamura did a month-long ethnographic research in Japan
    • * The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, Education Grant, 2010 [$5,000]
    • Rakugo (Japanese oral tradition) and Katsuben (Japanese art of silent movie narration) * Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI), The Japan Foundation, Center for Global Partnership & The Laurasian Institution, 2009-2011
    • A full-time special staff for Japan cultural outreach activities for​ two years

  • “International Education as Intercultural Communication: Using Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as a Framework of Reference.” (In press) A chapter in Impact of Internationalization on Japanese Higher Education. Mock, J., H. Kawamura, N. Naganuma (Eds.). Sense Publishers: New York. (2016)

    “ホームステイ:言語文化学習者にとってのパフォーマンストレーング [Home Stay: Performance Training for Learners of Language and Culture].” (2012) A chapter in 対話とプロフィシェンシー:コミュニケーション能力の広がりと高まりをめざして [Dialogue and Proficiency: Developing Communication Skills]. Kamata, O. and K. Shimada (Eds.) Bonjin-sha, Japan.​

  • Different but the Same: K-16 Intercultural Competence Development Project. Paper presented at Annual Meeting of ACTFL (American Council Teachers of Foreign Languages), San Antonio, Texas, November 22, 2014.

    Short Study Abroad: How to Begin, How to Sustain and How to Make it Work. Paper presented at Annual Meeting of ASIANetwork, Chicago, April 11-13, 2014.

    Japanese Language Education in Central States. Paper presented at Central States Conference on Teaching of Foreign Languages, Columbus, OH, March 14-17, 2013.​