Faculty Name
Minako Ahearn, M.A.
Title
Instructor
Department
Japanese,World Languages and Cultures
Office Location
Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D. Academic Center, Room 400
Education
M.A., Education, Central Michigan University
B.M., Organ Performance, Southern Methodist University
B.A., Social Studies, International Law, International Christian University
Biography
Minako Oki Ahearn served as principal of Seigakuin Atlanta International School for ten years and is the founder of International Charter Academy of Georgia. Having spent her early life between Japan, America and Europe, Ahearn knows firsthand the difficulties and the great benefits of living in more than one culture. Throughout her career, she has striven to provide similar experiences to others. She started a dual language program and pioneered service-learning and peace-education initiatives in Atlanta in 2004.
Ahearn believes in a future of peaceful international cooperation, where individuals from different cultures interact with open hearts and minds. Having worked both in the classroom and in administrative roles as principal, her ideals are matched by the hands-on experience of running an educationally-sound and financially-viable school.
Ahearn obtained a bachelor’s degree in international law from the International Christian University in Japan in 1982, a bachelor of music from Southern Methodist University in Texas in 1986 and a master’s degree in education from Central Michigan University in 2005. She previously taught Japanese at Oglethorpe University and LaGrange College. The area of her research focus has been Dual Language Immersion education for the last 15 years. She was named one of the 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia in 2019.
Courses Taught
Japanese
Research Interests
Dual Language immersion education
News
Find out who are on this year’s 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia
Georgia Asian Times
Educating the Next Generation of Global Citizens in Georgia
The Government of Japan Official E-magazine
Performances
2019 Georgia Asian Times 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia
Acceptance Speech during minutes 35-38.