Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

by Emily Rose

Welcome to our Alumni Spotlight, a dedicated space where we celebrate the diverse journeys and achievements of our Yokohama International School graduates. Each interview reflects the lasting impact of our community and the far-reaching influence of a YIS education. This edition features two remarkable alumni, Jennie Ikuta ('03) and Michael Geary ('84-'86), whose paths exemplify the values and spirit of being a YIS Dragon. Join us as we explore their unique contributions and insights, shedding light on the powerful connection between our past and present. 

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JENNIE IKUTA (‘03) 

Jennie Ikuta attended YIS for ten years, graduating in 2003. Her parents moved to Japan from the U.S. for work and prioritized keeping the option of returning to the U.S. for college open.

FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM YIS: 

Bus rides to cross-country meets, being on the speech team, and time spent with friends. 


LASTING INFLUENCES: 

Teachers like the Wycherleys (Chemistry & English), John Healam (Geography), Peter Jackson (History), Emily Nicol (3rd grade), and Jim Day (5th grade). 


VALUE AND SKILLS FROM YIS:

Jennie still uses Extemp speech in seminars, as it develops the ability to quickly synthesize material and think on your feet—skills that are key to drawing together students' insights and advancing discussions. She also runs regularly and completes about a marathon each year. 

 

ADVICE TO CURRENT STUDENTS: 

"Be intellectually curious and driven— this is different from studying hard. Develop a sense of interiority—don't just stare at screens! Read, write, and create as much as possible. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life, so you may as well make yourself the most interesting person you can be around."

 

LIFE SINCE YIS:

Jennie earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago (2007) and completed a Ph.D. in Political Theory at Brown University (2014). After a postdoctoral fellowship in Madrid, she became a professor of political theory. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs and the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her first book, 'Contesting Conformity: Democracy and the Paradox of Political Belonging' was published by Oxford University Press in 2020, and she is at work on a second book project, titled 'White Losses: Moral Psychology and the Demands of Racial Justice.' (under advance contract, Oxford University Press) 

 

BEING A DRAGON MEANS... 

"Being globally-minded, which widened my sense of who counts as part of my community." 
 

 

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL GEARY('84-'86) 

Michael Geary attended YIS for two years, 7th and 8th grade, when his father was assigned to work in Japan. He was part of the 1990 graduating class. 

FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM YIS:

Everything—from French, band, and science classes to extra-curricular activities, and the friends he still stays in touch with after 30+ years. 


LASTING INFLUENCES:

Michael remembers Mme Marmillot (French), Mr. Langley (Science), Mr. Riley (Music), and social studies classes as particularly impactful. 


VALUE AND SKILLS FROM YIS:

Michael credits his time at YIS with teaching him how to mix with and learn from people all over the world, instilling a lifelong appreciation for living overseas. Michael often reflects on his previous teachers and the lessons they imparted, thinking about how to incorporate those experiences into his own teaching. 


ADVICE TO CURRENT STUDENTS: 

“Get the most out of classes and friendships as they will be with you for a lifetime.”

 

LIFE SINCE YIS:

In his professional journey, Michael returned to Japan as a business consultant and later worked in the Philippines for a Japanese firm. He pursued an MA in education, which eventually led him to Shanghai. Today, he teaches English and Economics at an international school in Shanghai. 
 

BEING A DRAGON MEANS... 

"It means being part of a close network of people scattered all over the globe."