Meet Our Faculty & Staff

After several years teaching health and physical education at elementary and middle schools in Tokyo, Ms. Ogawa became a scuba diving instructor, teaching scuba diving in Thailand, the Maldives and Canada. She returned to Japan after a period in Germany and became a licensed special education instructor. Ms. Ogawa loves sports of all kinds, and is currently teaching physical education at ISAK.

Mr. Christensen has a Master’s degree in English Literature and a Bachelor’s degree in English Education. For the last ten years he has been teaching English language arts, IB English Language and Literature and IB Film at his previous schools. Mr. Christensen grew up in Minnesota in the United States and has lived in Turkey for the last decade. Living and working abroad has broadened his perspective as a teacher and lifelong learner.

Michelle has been teaching for 18 years. For the past 8 years, she has been teaching IBDP Chemistry and Biology in Germany and Vietnam. She believes school is about more than just the academics and looks forward to being involved in the extended aspects of the curriculum that are a significant part of UWC ISAK Japan. Michelle enjoys being part of UWC ISAK’s incredibly diverse community because it broadens horizons and allows one to better appreciate their own background.

Ms. Kobayashi was drawn to UWC ISAK Japan after learning about the leadership education that centers on attaining a peaceful and sustainable future. She is excited to be part of a diverse community and the opportunity to teach young people who will make the world a better place. She enjoys yoga, jogging, traveling, cooking, reading, and watching movies. She is excited by the opportunity at UWC ISAK to learning from each other — students, teachers and the community as a whole.

Dr. Ruben’s academic journey spans continents and disciplines. He earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience, robotics, and computer science from Chubu University in Japan, blending his passions for technology and the brain. His teaching adventures have taken him to India, Taiwan, and Colombia, where he shared his expertise in engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and robotics with students of all ages. Dr. Ruben thrives in diverse and inclusive environments, where he sparks connections between real-life science and classroom theory, believing in education as a catalyst for a brighter future. An avid adventurer and certified pilot, he is also passionate about project-based learning, empowering girls in computer science, and the craftsmanship of Japanese traditional carpentry. In his downtime, you can find him savoring coffee, cycling, or exploring the great outdoors.

I graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada where my passion for teaching and social sciences began. Before coming to Japan, I taught IB MYP Individuals and Societies for two years in Jordan and started a master’s degree in Modern International and Transnational History at the University of Oslo; which I am in the process of completing. I am constantly driven to discover new perspectives and research topics that connect disciplines across the social sciences. My philosophy in education stems from the crucial foundation of open, honest, and critical discussion. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring new places and going on multi-day hikes.

Ms. Chien has a Master’s degree in International Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Literature. She has been teaching both Chinese A and Mandarin B in the IB Diploma Programme for 10 years. Ms. Chien was born in Taiwan and has lived in the UK for the last 15 years. Having taught in both Taiwan and UK, she truly enjoys working in an international environment, and believes that the cultural diversity helps enrich the whole learning process.

Originally from Spain, Mr. Melero gained valuable business experience in information technology, graphic design and advertising before finding his true calling as a teacher. He has since spent nine years teaching mathematics and computer science in the UK, Spain, Germany and Japan. Mr. Melero has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Málaga and a PGCE in mathematics from the University of Oxford. Inspired by his computer science background, he uses every opportunity to integrate technology and online resources into his mathematics lessons. When not teaching, he enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, cycling, photography, fishing, and scuba diving.

Ms. Bonnell is originally from Miami, Florida, but has spent time living throughout the US and Japan. She visited Akita prefecture in Japan in high school as an exchange student. The experience inspired her to study abroad again in Tokyo and pursue a career in international education. She has since supported international students at Brown University and Millsaps College, has worked with students preparing to study abroad at Lehigh University, and has taught English as a Second Language in Mississippi and Tennessee. At Brown, many of the students with whom Ms. Bonnell worked closely were UWC alumni, and she was struck by their cultural humility and commitment to changing the world. Before joining UWC ISAK Japan, Ms. Bonnell has lived with her husband and two kids for the past three years at a boarding school in Virginia while pursuing her doctorate at the University of Virginia. She loved raising kids in a residential community and is thrilled to be able to move with her family to UWC ISAK Japan. She is excited about Karuizawa’s onsens and teaching her kids to ski in the winter.

Mr. Wanklyn says UWC ISAK Japan is in the perfect location to study the biological and environmental sciences. Succession and zonation are under your feet around this active volcano. He values the school’s support for individual projects, both science and community-focused. A former journalist, he enjoys helping students investigate a story and publish it.

Mr. Alfonso Mangubat comes from the Philippines, where he spent ten years teaching and leading schools from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma Programme. Alfonso is passionate about history and the social sciences and enjoys lengthy discussions. He came to Japan to help lead a small international school in the Tokyo Prefecture as its PYP coordinator and Middle School Individuals and Societies teacher. He chose UWC ISAK Japan because of the community, its mission, and the challenge of teaching a dynamic subject. He and his wife are also countrysides and mountain enthusiasts.

Andrew is an experienced Australian IB Economics teacher. He has taught in 4 different states in Australia and been on one overseas posting (Florida, USA). He is currently doing my Masters (IB focus) online from Perth with lots of IB teachers from around the world in his interactive tutorials.

Ms. Bolger started teaching Japanese language and culture as a fellow teacher at a public school in Ontario, Canada. After graduating from university, she taught Japanese at University of Durham, U.K. for 6 years. Also interested in Computer Science, she then worked in the software industry in the U.K. and Japan. Ms Bolger earned a B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of Tsukuba as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Essex.

Ms. Blessing Mutiro is a proactive counselor eager to help all patients attain exceptional mental and emotional wellness. Born and bred in the Southern region of Africa, in Zimbabwe, Blessing spent the last 14 years away from her home country. She served as a counselor in a non-Governmental Organization in South Africa for two years before moving to the beautiful Kingdom of Eswatini, also known as Swaziland, where she lived for 12 years. There, she worked as a school counselor for Ubombo Trust Schools and served in different Swaziland communities as a consultant working under the department of Social Welfare. Blessing joined UWC ISAK Japan because she strongly believes in UWC values and admires Japanese culture. She is excited about the beautiful Karuizawa environment and the community.

With twenty years of experience teaching the IB Programme in Curacao and Atlanta, Georgia (US) and thirty years of teaching experience in total, Mrs. Hasham brings considerable expertise and knowledge to ISAK. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University and a Master’s degree from Syracuse University. She most recently served as CAS Coordinator at Atlanta International School and has broad experience in international education, with her major focus on high school history courses. In 2011, Mrs. Hasham received a Teacher of the Year Award from ECIS, a global organization that promotes best practices in international education.

Prior to joining the faculty at UWC ISAK Japan, Ms. Mimuro taught science at UWC Maastricht. She brings deep IB experience to UWC ISAK, having previously served as a biology examiner and moderator for the IBDP. She has also served as principal examiner for Salters Nuffield Advanced Biology (A Level) for a leading exam board in the UK. Ms. Mimuro is passionate about Aikido and enjoys participating in the UWC ISAK Japan martial arts activity.

Cathy Banerji has always lived and worked in India in various careers ranging from theatre, education, publishing, and working in the United Nations Volunteers. As a workshop leader for the IB for TOK, English A courses, and Film Studies, she traveled to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As a child, she spent a summer in Tokyo, wandering around the corridors of Sophia University where her father was a Chemistry visiting professor. Her deep connection with Japan began that summer. She became interested in UWC ISAK Japan for its mission and its motto: “One Life. Realize Your Potential. Be a Catalyst for Positive Change.” The rest is history. She enjoys living the school philosophy and its community.

Cheikh joined UWC ISAK Japan with 25 years of experience in English Language Teaching. He holds a doctoral degree in education from SUNY, Binghamton, New York and a master’s degree in ESL from Cheikh A Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. He has taught in Senegal, the USA, and Qatar. Cheikh is returning to the movement after teaching at UWC-USA for ten years. He enjoys the enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity of the UWC students and the fact that they do not just accept diversity; they celebrate it. The natural landscape of Karuizawa offers plenty of opportunities to connect with nature, and Cheikh is looking forward to taking part in many outdoor activities with UWC ISAK students. Cheikh enjoys swimming and playing soccer in his free time.

Adam is a math teacher from Brisbane, Australia. He has been teaching for most of the last 5 years after completing a degree in mechanical engineering and a year of teacher training. In 2017, he started his international career when he moved to UWC Mostar, and is now very excited to experience life in another UWC school. In his spare time he likes to play football and table tennis, write/play/listen to music, spend time with dogs, stargaze, hike, swim and snowboard.

Mr. Masui was born and raised in Japan. After attending college, he moved to the United States and went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Japanese with an emphasis in language teaching from San Francisco State University. Mr. Masui taught Japanese language and culture at a secondary school (grades 6 through 12) in the San Francisco Area for thirteen years. He enjoys helping students develop a genuine interest and motivation for learning languages. He believes that learning languages is the key to becoming a citizen of the world and hopes to support students in becoming respectful and responsible global citizens. After living in the U.S. for 18 years, Mr. Masui and his dog, J.J., are very excited to return to Japan and to be a part of such an innovative school in a beautiful environment.

Since leaving her picturesque hometown of Málaga, Spain, Mrs. González has worked in the UK, Germany and Japan teaching Spanish to middle school, high school and university students with diverse international backgrounds. She has extensive experience in curriculum design and planning, having implemented new Spanish courses at her last two schools. Mrs. González holds a Law Degree from the University of Málaga; a Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from UNED University in Madrid; and a PGCE in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Málaga. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures, as well as designing jewelry when she finds the time.

Gözde Kamer İlter has experience teaching IBDP, AP Chemistry and Nanoscience in Turkey since 2010. She completed her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and participated in European Schoolnet projects to implement nanoscience education at the high school level. She is eager to learn more about the educational philosophy and strategy of the UWC movement. The respect she has for Japanese culture and the outdoor program of UWC ISAK brought her to Japan. As a road cyclist and outdoor enthusiast, she is excited to discover the nature of Japan and Karuizawa.

Mr. Bonnell grew up in the US and has worked all over the eastern United States, from Boston, Massachusetts, to Jackson, Mississippi. He, his wife Christina, and their two kids come to Karuizawa from Woodberry Forest School, a boarding school in rural Virginia where he served as a college counselor. Mr. Bonnell ran cross country and track in college and still runs to keep up with his son, who loves racing and playing tag more than anything else. The Bonnell family loves all things outdoors and will find any excuse to go outside and explore. Mr. Bonnell and his family are excited to get to know passionate and thoughtful students from all over the world, to understand their culture, and share a piece of their own.

Mr. Underwood has extensive experience in teaching English Literature and English as a Second Language. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Teaching from the University of Tasmania. Before coming to UWC ISAK Japan, he taught in rural Western Australia and Hiroshima International School. An enthusiastic writer, Mr. Underwood believes in the value of creativity as a means of self-expression and to make positive change in the world. When not in the classroom, Mr. Underwood enjoys cycling, hiking, and spending time with his three daughters.

Mr. Hinton has taught in schools in Turkey, Italy, Brunei Darussalam, and the UK, where he was Head of Arts. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Cambridge University and has been teaching in an international environment for nearly thirty years. He is a practicing artist, working in oils, watercolor and relief printing, as well as being a professional photographer. He loves the creative spirit the visual arts develops in students..

Mr. Thomas is a South African educational leader. His 12 years journey in education started at home and then propelled him to various leadership positions in South Korea, Lesotho, the Philippines, and finally Vietnam, where he was the Vice-Principal of a multi-campus international school system. UWC ISAK Japan aligns with his educational philosophy grounded in the belief that education is a basic human right and a necessary tool for survival and success. He believes we must empower students with the necessary skills to reach their potential and become transformational leaders who will be catalysts for change. His life-long goal is not only to support students in realizing and achieving their greatest potential but also to support the school community in creating the most optimal environment for teaching and learning.

Mr. Reygel is originally from Toronto, Canada, but has not called it home for some time now. For the last fourteen years, he has taught in Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and The Netherlands. He recently returned to Japan after eight years of teaching in Europe to serve at Ritsumeikan Junior and Senior High School (just outside of Kyoto) as an English Language and Literature teacher, Extended Essay Coordinator, and Approaches to Learning coordinator. He is excited about joining the UWC movement, specifically UWC ISAK Japan, with its focus on Leadership in a tight-knit community of learners. “So much about Karuizawa appeals to me that I hardly know where to begin. The climate, being surrounded by nature. Introducing my daughters to snow that doesn’t melt before it hits the ground… it reminds me of all the best parts of Canada!”

Before coming to UWC ISAK, Mr. Onder who is a teaching librarian worked in Turkey. He currently teaches information science and theory of knowledge. He earned his MBA through Ozyegin University and his master in Advanced Education in High School through University of the People. At UWC ISAK, he uses his previous experience to enhance the research and learning abilities of students as well as creating a strong library for UWC ISAK Japan.