TUJ LEAD Executive Committee

Nicole Despres

She/Her
Dean of Students
The Dean of Students oversees the day-to-day operation of and quality of services provided by OSSE. She also works with upper administration, student government, and other university departments to implement school policies.

Luis Navarro García

He/Him
Assistant Dean of Student Engagement
The Assistant Dean of Student Engagement overseas the general operations of Student Engagement. These are centered in improving student life within the school community through activities, clubs and organizations, and other initiatives within Temple University, Japan Campus. He also supervises the Student Government.

Tomoko Matsui

She/Her
Assistant Director of Student Engagement

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement serves as a member of the TUJ LEAD Executive Board. The role’s primary responsibility is to organize approximately 15–18 student activities both on and off campus each semester, with the goal of enhancing student life and engagement at Temple University, Japan Campus. The role is also responsible for TUJ LEAD Fellows recruitment, Welcome Week session support, monthly meeting preparation, and event planning support in collaboration with the TUJ LEAD Fellows team. These efforts are centered on fostering an inclusive community and strengthening students’ sense of belonging at TUJ through collaboration with TUJ LEAD Fellows and the Executive Board.

Karl Neubert

Any/ Any pronouns
Associate Professor in Communication Studies, Film & Media Arts
Karl Neubert is an award-winning filmmaker whose expertise includes all aspects and genres of film and TV production, as well as film theory, the history of U.S. and Japanese cinema, event organization, subtitling and Japanese culture. 

Neubert has taught entry, intermediate, and advanced-level film production courses, as well as special topic-based classes on subjects such as U.S. cinema, alternative cinema, music video and the portrayal of cis and transgender women in the media. He is also the director of Temple University, Japan's Student Film Festival.

Sarajean Rossitto

Adjunct Associate Professor in Asian Studies
An accomplished performer, presenter and workshop facilitator, Sarajean's work centers around developing skills, knowledge and effective partnerships between organizations and across borders in order to affect social change. Sarajean has worked with grassroots and international organizations on programs impacting disaster response and preparation, gender, poverty, inclusion, human rights, conflict mediation, community health, cross-cultural communication, at-risk youth, gender-based violence, persons with diverse abilities, and HIV/AIDS. Sarajean currently teaches about US social movements, Japanese civil society, gender and conflict management at Temple University Japan Campus and about NGOs in cross-cultural context and project management at Sophia University. A life-long activist, Sarajean works with US citizens across the globe attempting to impact US policy. Sarajean serves as a board member of several nonprofit and educational organizations including Asian Rural Institute, Mirai no Mori, Place to Grow and Democrats Abroad. For most of the year, on weekends, vegetable gardening and cooking take up any remaining free time.