I am an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University (resume). My primary field of study is American Studies. Specifically, I research and write about: technology and society, youth studies, African American History and Studies, American Culture, and Popular Culture. I am the author of Struggles for Equal Voice: The History of African American Media Democracy (SUNY Press, 2012). I am a co-author of a book on baseball, Packaging Baseball: How Marketing Embellishes the Cultural Experiences (McFarland, 2012). I have also edited Soccer Culture in America: Essays on the World’s Sport in Red, White and Blue. A few other book projects are also on my to-do list currently. My academic responsibility also includes being on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Popular Culture. Please see my vitae for my full background.
I also work as a conference interpreter and a translator. I have worked for various projects in automotive, architectural, information technology, pharmaceutical, medical, industries. My organizational clients include governments, international organizations, NGOs, NPOs, etc. The list of books I have translated and published in Japanese includes President Obama’s first autobiography, Dreams from My Father.
While I enjoy my work in academia, I also spend a lot of time outside of teaching and researching. I have worked as a soccer referee in Japan, France, and the U.S. since 1995. I have been fortunate enough to officiate professional and international games. For the last few years, I have also enjoyed working for the Michigan Referee Committee as a referee assessor and a referee instructor.
Another part of my life is in medicine. When my father was sick in 2003-2005, I decided to take a course to become an emergency medical technician (EMT) to better understand what was happening in his body. Although I have not worked as an EMT, I maintain my license and have volunteered for the Red Cross’ medical team at the Boston Marathon since 2005.
I live with my wife, Nichole and our Shelty dog, Dr. Obie in Holland, MI.
Yuya Kiuchi 