Diane M. Kimoto

252C DeVos
(616) 331-6568
KimotoD@gvsu.edu

Diane M. Kimoto is teaching courses in public administration, nonprofit management and research methods, as well as some graduate courses. Before joining SPNA as a tenure-track faculty member, Dr. Kimoto facilitated the Communication Workshop and Career Development Workshop for several years.

Dr. Kimoto earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California with concentrations in interpersonal, organizational, and health communications. She has been a faculty member at The University of Alabama, The University of Southern California, and California State University, Long Beach. Her research and publishing interests focus on understanding how community-based initiatives serve as a coming together of everyday people, professionals, and service providers (a) to assess community needs, (b) to determine how best to deliver these needs and services to the public, (c) to advocate on behalf of their community, and (d) to serve as liaisons between community members and resource holders. Her commitment to the advancement of both public and nonprofit administration has been fueled through a background in grantwriting (e.g., state, federal, and private), internship and service learning programs (e.g., American Red Cross, University of Alabama, USC, etc.), and task force partnerships in California (University-Wide AIDS Task Force), Alabama (Department of Health and West Alabama AIDS Action Coalition), and Michigan (Department of Health, and Healthy Kent 2000 and 2010).

As an active participant of the Grand Rapids community, she chairs Healthy Kent 2010 and serves on their Nominating Committee, advocates on behalf of children through the United Way's Children Ready to Succeed Investment Council, assists in grantwriting for the local American Red Cross chapter, and donates her consulting skills to the Veterans Outpatient Clinic. She is currently gathering materials for a grant that will culminate in a series of children's books devoted to the social issue of diversity (e.g., culture, gender, physical challenges, age, etc.).

Dr. Kimoto provided the following profile information:

• To relax, I like to .... cook. It is so gratifying to create delicious meals with my hands so that it can be shared with those I love.
• People are often surprised to find out that I ... am a licensed massage therapist.
• My best advice to students ... is to go for their dreams. Don't be afraid to ask for help, because there is always someone willing to lend support.
• My personal hero is ... my father. I respect his kindness, his humility, and his patience.
• My favorite place in the world is... sitting in my uncle's backyard in Pearl City, Hawaii under the mango tree with the extended Kimoto family.