Jennifer Matayoshi, M.A., Communicology (2009), BA Communication (2007), is the Lead Deputy Title IX Coordinator & Senior Investigator at UH Mānoa. Jenn Matayoshi has taken a leadership role in nurturing a community of learners committed to advancing scholarship, building relationships, and contributing to a more peaceful, just, and informed society, the mission of the SCI.
Jenn has been with the Mānoa Title IX Office since 2017. The scope and reach of the office and position are vast. All matters of sex discrimination and gender-based violence are directed to the Title IX Office, whether in reference to students or employees. The Title IX Office is responsible for overseeing and responding to all Title IX-related complaints and providing Title IX training and outreach to all members of the campus community to ensure that everyone understands their rights, resources, and responsibilities.
Jenn is currently conducting research at the intersection of Title IX policies and disclosure decision-making processes from a communication and information regulation perspective. This research will help illuminate how federal and state laws and policies affect the decision-making process of faculty who receive Title IX disclosures.
Jenn’s impact and service to the community are further illustrated through her experience as the 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival Queen. From organizing school cleanups to sharing cultural practices with elementary students to giving speeches at different events, Jenn applied the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained through teaching and her master’s thesis work on impression management of instructional faculty to help perpetuate the Japanese culture and give back to the community with professionalism and integrity. She noted that the collaborative and collegial culture of the Communicology program was invaluable in reinforcing the importance of working as a group to achieve common goals, which was integral to succeeding as a member of the Cherry Blossom Festival Court.
Jenn’s interest in the communication discipline began when she enrolled in the introductory COMG 151 course, designed for non-majors, upon returning from a summer study abroad experience in Italy. The substance, breadth, and versatility of the course content in interpersonal and intercultural settings ultimately led her to pursue degrees in the communication discipline. Jenn excelled in the Communicology M.A. program, earning 2008 Graduate Teaching Assistant and 2009 Outstanding Graduate Student awards. After completing her master’s degree and a stint teaching courses at Leeward Community College, Jenn was hired as an instructor and course director in Communicology. Jenn cumulatively mentored dozens of graduate teaching assistants and taught over 5000 undergraduate students, enhancing their understanding of, and skills in, communication processes across multiple contexts.
When asked about how the Communicology program impacted her professional and personal development, Jenn said “I would not be where I am without the Communicology department – the faculty, students, graduate students, the content of the courses I took and taught – have shaped me and allowed me to succeed in my career.” Jenn emphasized that the demands of her professional role, requiring care and safety, thoughtfulness, balance, fairness, and compliance with federal and state laws, draw upon a specific knowledge base and skillset gained during her tenure in the Communicology program. Jenn added that “my time with Communicology equipped me with the skills to listen, navigate sensitive conversations, facilitate understanding of difficult content, and ensure a fair process for those impacted by issues of sex discrimination or gender-based violence.”
Clearly, Jennifer Matayoshi has achieved much success and given so much to the university and surrounding community. We are so grateful to Jennifer Matayoshi for her many contributions to the Communicology program and the legions of students who enrolled in her classes, and the many students, faculty, staff, and administrators who intersect with her. We are so fortunate to have her as an alumnus, colleague, and friend.