WAHIAWA SITE TEAM

The Passion Behind G.E.A.R. U.P.

NICOLE KURASHIGE

Site Coordinator

Nicole Kurashige is the GEAR-UP Program Liaison. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, English Department, and teaching first-year writing, second-year writing, third-year writing, and literary studies in addition to her work with GEAR-UP. Her research specialty areas include pop culture studies and digital media literacy.

MELVIN DIZON

Site Mentor

Melvin is a product from a program similar to GEAR UP. He is also a retired Army Veteran with an Associate of Arts in Liberal. Currently, he is a double major in Social Work and Psychology, while minoring in sociology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

BLYTHE BALLESTEROS

Educational Assistant

After a thriving career in many different businesses, GEAR UP Manoa Wahiawa was pleased to welcome Jesse Neimus to the team. As a motivated, results-oriented collaborator, they’ve helped to make us what we are today.