Aki Nakanishi is a Senior Research Assistant at the Community College Research Center. She received her BA in Anthropology and Hispanic Studies from Brown University and joined the CCRC following the completion of her MA in Applied Anthropology at the University of South Florida. Her thesis research examined youth participation and educational strategies in critical pedagogy, and involved co-facilitating a youth program in participatory action research for social change. Aki has also collaborated on projects regarding educational for all and education for sustainable development as an intern at the UNESCO Office in Quito, Ecuador. In addition to education, Aki’s research interests include community engagement and sustainable development both locally and internationally.