Kuniko (Kuni) Yasutake, M.A.
Principal Consultant
Kuni Yasutake is a cross-cultural communication specialist, and has education and work experience both in Japan and the U.S. She earned her M.A. in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota with a focus on multicultural education and cross-cultural communication/training. She received her B.A. in Social Science at Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan and has also attended a yearlong study abroad program in African American Studies at the University of California-Davis. Kuni is a recipient of the Hosei University Study Abroad Scholarship in 1994 and the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship in 1998.
Kuni has over 15 years of professional experience in various industries such as food services, international trade, education and educational administration. In previous positions she has worked as North End/East Side AfterZone Manager at Providence After School Alliance, Rhode Island; the Director of Federal and State Aided Programs at New Bedford Public Schools, Massachusetts; Asian Marketing Representative at Northland Organic Foods Corp, St. Paul, MN; and a staff assistant with the Fulbright Grant Program and Educational Information Service (currently Educational Advising Service) at the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission, Tokyo, Japan. Along with her specialized education in cross-cultural communication and diversity issues, Kuni was able to gain valuable lessons working in those multicultural/international offices: real-life challenges among culturally diverse organizational members.
Kuni has also been active in coordinating and participating educational community programs such as the Cross-Cultural Discussion Group, International House of Rhode Island; the Small World Coffee Hour, University of Minnesota; and the International Classroom Connection, Minnesota International Center. In addition to the current services, Kuni hopes to provide educational programs that are designed to promote cross-cultural understanding and tolerance to local school aged children, youth and community organizations.
Kuni enjoys international travel and has visited countries in Asia, Europe and North America. In 2001, she was chosen to be an International Friendship Ambassador of her home town in Tokyo. She is fluent in Japanese and English and has fair understanding of Spanish. To her knowledge, she has communicated with people from 76 countries as of the end of 2009.
In addition to her own practice of cross-cultural consulting, Kuni currently works as Visiting Lecturer at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and as Quality Advisor for the 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program funded by Rhode Island Department of Education, and AfterZone afterschool program administered by Providence After School Alliance. Also, Kuni’s love of food helped her land a food writing job and she regularly contributes to a popular Japanese food magazine, Ryori-Tsushin (The Cuisine Magazine.)
Chris Papenhausen, Ph.D.
Senior Strategic Adviser
Chris Papenhausen is currently an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. He received his Ph.D. in Strategic Management at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. He also earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and a CPA.
His research interests include strategic decision making and generational theory. Chris has previously held various positions in investment analysis at Goldman Sachs, Continental Bank, and Kemper Securities.
