Curtiss Takada Rooks, Ph.D., a critical race and ethnic studies scholar in Asian and Asian American Studies at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) brings a wealth of higher education experience that includes administrative positions as associate dean of liberal arts, department chair, program coordinator and associate dean of students & dean of residential life. With over 95 academic guest lectures, presentations and publications on multiracial/multiethnic identity, ethnic community and diversity & inclusion issues he also brings applied experience to his academic endeavors as a senior research associate in program evaluation for the Imoyase Group and the LMU Psychology Applied Research Center, addressing community wellness, chronic disease and health disparity issues in BIPOC communities. Additionally, Dr. Rooks serves on the Gates Millennium Scholars Program National Advisory Council, consultant to the Los Angeles Japanese Consulate on its Japan Black L.A. Initiative, advisor to APIA Scholars, a national non-profit scholarship program for underserved APIA youth and is a board member of the US Japan Council, Southern California Japan America Society, and the California Human
Rights Organizations.

Dr. Rooks holds a doctorate in Comparative Culture with an emphasis in cultural anthropology from the University of California (1996), Irvine, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Trinity College (Hartford, CT, 1982) and an A.B. in Economics and A.B. in Asian Studies (double major) from Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH, 1979).

Born at Camp Zama, Japan to an African American father and native Japanese mother, Dr. Rooks now lives in Culver City, CA with his wife Miki Fujimoto and daughter Mariko who graduates with a master’s in public health this spring. As a family, they are active in the Los Angeles area Japanese American community.