Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D., Lecturer in Ethnic Studies and Sociology
Books
Women, Wars and Public Policies
About
Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D., is a scholar of race, culture, and public policy. She is the author of two books, Women, Wars, and Public Policies and Race, Nation, War. Her research explores the intersections of race, culture, and public policy through feminist and comparative lenses. She is particularly interested uncovering hidden histories which shed light on public policy. As director of The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project, she mentors undergraduate researchers.
Dr. Yonemura's career spans four continents and twenty years in California colleges and universities. She has received Fulbright Fellowships to Eritrea and Germany and taught in a variety of learning communities: Upward Bound, Summer Bridge, Full Circle Project, the GE Honors Program, and the Black Honors College. Bridging campus and community, Dr. Yonemura has served on the Board of Directors of My Sister’s House, a Sacramento nonprofit, and on the Board of the UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association. Dr. Yonemura teaches in the Ethnic Studies and Sociology Departments.
She earned a B.A. (honors and honors thesis) in Independent/German Studies from UC Santa Cruz. She also holds an M.A. in African Studies and a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from UCLA.
Contact
Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
Lecturer in Ethnic Studies and Sociology
- on Zoom
- Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:45-1:15
- https://csus.zoom.us/j/83580893681
The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project
Dr. Yonemura serves as the Director of the Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project (IODHP).
The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project centers undergraduate student research. Students serve as the primary researchers, conducting in-depth oral and Deaf history interviews with narrators from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Students engage in scholarly analysis of their narrators' lived experiences, exploring themes of identity, community, and history. They also present their findings in academic settings, including conferences and classroom forums, contributing to broader conversations in community health sciences, political science, Deaf Studies, ethnic studies, women and gender studies, sociology, and history.
The IODHP emphasizes cultural humility and inclusive research practices, fostering community building which enriches our university and society.
Spring 2026 Courses
Sociology
SOC 1, Principles of Sociology. 3 Units.
TR 10:30-11:45am, in person
General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: Social and Behavioral Sciences (4-A)
Course description: Introduction to the field of sociology; its basic concepts and principles; the analysis and explanation of culture, personality, social institutions, social change, population, social processes and collective behavior.
More information: Spring 2026 Sociology Schedule
Ethnic Studies: To Be Announced.
More information: Spring 2026 Ethnic Studies Schedule
Teaching
Course offerings
- ETHN 11: Introduction to Ethnic Studies
- ETHN 14: Introduction to Asian American Studies
- ETHN 70: Introduction to Pan African Studies
- ETHN 133: Cross-cultural Aging
- ETHN 155: Genocide and Holocaust Studies
- SOC 1: Principles of Sociology
- SOC 123: Black Studies, Sociology