Name: Susan H. Kamei
Year of JACL Scholarship Award: 1974
Scholarship Award Name: Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Law Scholarship
College/University Attended: University of California, Irvine, and Georgetown University Law Center
JACL Chapter That Awarded Scholarship: SELANOCO
Current Profession: Speaker, Teacher and Author of “When Can We Go Back to America: Voices of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II”
As part of its Scholarship Spotlight series, the Pacific Citizen asked Kamei to reflect upon the JACL scholarship and its significance on her life.
Susan Kamei
The Pacific Citizen: How has receiving a JACL scholarship impacted your life?
Susan H. Kamei: I was so honored to receive the Hayashi scholarship, as I was starting my first year at Georgetown Law, and [I continued] to receive the scholarship in my second and third years. I still have on my résumé/CV (curriculum vitae) that I was a JACL Hayashi Law Fellow. In addition to the financial support that was certainly meaningful, I valued the “vote of confidence” from JACL leaders in pursuing an education and career in law. Having been a beneficiary of JACL support, I have been committed to serving in the Japanese American community throughout my life.
The P.C.: Did you know about JACL before you won the scholarship?
Kamei: Yes. My parents were founding members of the SELANOCO chapter, and I grew up attending JACL events. After I graduated law school and returned to Southern California to join a law firm in Los Angeles, I served on the SELANOCO board and volunteered for the redress campaign, including on the national JACL level.
The P.C.: If you could give your twentysomething self some advice from where you are now in your life and career, what would it be?
Kamei: I would affirm the advice I was fortunate to get as a young adult: Create opportunities for myself and then make the most of them. After practicing corporate law, I transitioned to working in real estate development and land-use policy and practice. Then, I migrated into a long and productive career as a senior academic administrator at USC, where I also was able to develop curriculum and teach. I’m proudest of the undergraduate course I created about the (Japanese American) incarceration and its relevance to issues today. I am still conducting incarceration-related research with my faculty appointments in history and with the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Cultures and am now teaching in the community. I could not have anticipated how valuable each of the different jobs and roles I have had would give me the experience and expertise to take on new opportunities. I would also affirm to my twentysomething self how important it is to be grateful for mentors and all those who supported me. I cherish the relationships I had with JACL leaders such as Mike Masaoka, Min Yasui, Norm Mineta and so many others who kindly took an interest in me.
The P.C.: What is your greatest personal/professional achievement?
Kamei: My greatest personal achievement is being my daughter’s mother. My greatest professional achievement is being the author of an award-winning book that is bringing the story of the Japanese American incarceration to new audiences.
The P.C.: How do you define success?
Kamei: Being able to contribute in ways that make a positive and tangible difference in the lives of others.
The P.C.: Any words of wisdom for this year’s JACL scholarship recipients?
Kamei: Recognize that the scholarship is not just a monetary award but also represents the faith that the JACL community has in you and remember that there are many who believe in you when times are tough.
The P.C.: What do you think is the strength for JACL’s future?
Kamei: The mission to stand up for the civil and human rights of all — something we need now more than ever.
The Pacific Citizen’s annual Scholarship Special Issue highlighting JACL National Scholarship award recipients is scheduled for Sept. 19. For more information on the JACL National Scholarship program, visit www.jacl.org.
