Pac Rim 2025
Meet the Team
Jared Galeai
Conference Chair
Jared Galea’i is a specialist at the University of Hawaii, Center on Disability Studies. He is a PI on projects at CDS related to employment, transition services and benefits planning. He is a former Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with State agencies working with high schools, colleges, corrections and Native American Rehabilitation Programs. His interests are in employment, inclusion, diversity and education.
Max Malmud
Conference Coordinator
Max Malmud is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he received his B.Ed. in Secondary Education, and a current student in pursuit of his M.Ed. in Global Perspectives on Educational Policy and Practice. Max’s background includes work in K-12 education and higher education institutes with focus on inclusive community leadership, culturally integrated curriculum development, and diversity-driven programming/event management. He hopes to continue his work with the Center on Disability Studies to create more equitable learning opportunities and develop more inclusive initiatives for his community.
Lisa Eng
Administrative Coordinator
Lisa-Marie Eng is the Operations Coordinator of the Center on Disability Studies. With 10+ years of experience managing projects, contracts, grants, communications, and cost management, she is highly skilled in creative strategies to improve the well-being of people with disabilities. She is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has provided training to employers, government agencies, community-based organizations, educators, families, and individuals.
Frank Jumawan
Accessibility and Website Coordinator
Frank Jumawan is an Instructional Support Specialist for Technology and Distance Programs at the College of Education and a Web Accessibility Specialist for the Center on Disability Studies. Frank received his undergraduate in Exercise Science and Health Management and his M.Ed. in Educational Technology. With over 10 years of experience in instructional technology, he actively explores ways to enhance digital accessibility and create inclusive learning experiences.
Genesis Leong
Proposals Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator
Genesis Leong has 15+ years of experience in marketing and organizing large scaled events focused on cutting-edge technology, social justice advocacy, and community development. She has extensive experience in presenter recruitment and coordination; inclusive design; digital media; and creating content about people with dignity.
Lori Lum
Registration Coordinator
Lori Lum is an Operations Coordinator for several projects at the Center on Disability Studies. Though it’s her first year with CDS, she brings with her 30+ years of administrative experience and financial experience in overseeing and managing projects, grants, and contracts. She also has extensive experience in coordinating, planning, and managing conferences and trainings.
Dr. Raphael Raphael
Marketing Coordinator
Raphael Raphael is a film and disability researcher/practitioner who teaches film, disability history and disability studies at the Center on Disability Studies, where he also serves as editor-in-chief of the peer reviewed, open access journal Review of Disability Studies. With experience in K-12 education in the US, Europe, Asia and Eurasia, he is interested in inclusive education and culturally responsive teaching. He is currently working on a book on connections between the late 19th century freak show and early film.
Dr. Nicole Schlaack
Volunteer Coordinator and Evaluation Coordinator
Nicole Schlaack is a specialist with the Hawai’i Family Engagement Center (HFEC) at the Center on Disability Studies (CDS). She has a background as a P-12 teacher in an immersion language program and a Ph.D. in educational psychology with a focus on school development, teacher education, and organizational change. Her research interests are culturally responsive pedagogy, program evaluation, and family-school-community partnerships. With a few years of conference planning experience, she is looking forward to supporting Pac Rim as the volunteer coordinator.
Manca Sustarsic
Exhibitor Coordinator
Manca Sustarsic, Ph.D. is a faculty member at the Center on Disability Studies in the College of Education at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She has done research and evaluation on several multi-level educational interventions in Hawai‘i, working with youth and adult community members. Her research focuses on the experiences of diverse populations in K-12 and higher education, with a focus on students from underrepresented groups, including international students, marginalized students, students from low-income families, and students with disabilities.
Kiriko Takahashi, Ph.D.
Sponsor Coordinator
Kiriko Takahashi, Ph.D. is an Associate Specialist at the Center on Disability Studies (CDS). Her projects at CDS range in scope from basic and applied research to demonstration projects. Her research interests include transition of students with disabilities in the STEM pipeline, on culturally responsive teaching, on inclusive education, and on Universal Design for Learning and the use of assistive technology. She also teaches graduate courses in Disability & Diversity Studies. Originally from Japan, she is also involved in multiple international activities and research. She jointly organizes an International Disability Inclusion Symposium on Higher Education and Disability (IDIS) with her colleagues at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo.
Davin Takahashi
Technology and Website Coordinator
Davin Takahashi is an Educational Specialist at the Center on Disability Studies. He has brought his background in computer science in providing IT support and assistance with various STEM education projects at the Center on Disability Studies. He hopes to further explore ways in which technology can contribute to the improvement of education and other areas of life.
Dr. Naomi Rombaoa Tanaka
Poster Coordinator
Naomi Rombaoa Tanaka, Ph.D. is a faculty member of the Center on Disability Studies at the College of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Naomi’s work aims to grow the strengths of educators, families, and students. She is passionate about strengthening teams through technical as well as adaptive leadership. Her area of interest is the use of technology to increase personal well-being, resilience, and peace.