Lisa Kawamura

Lisa Kawamura is a Lecturer in the Communication Studies Department at California Polytechnic State University's College of Liberal Arts. She teaches courses including Forensic Activity, Performance of Literature, and Public Speaking. Kawamura's academic focus centers on performance studies with emphasis on the rhetorical dimensions of oral history and cross-cultural communication.

She holds an M.A. and B.A. from San Francisco State University. Kawamura joined Cal Poly in 1998 and served as Associate Director of Forensics until 2007. Beyond teaching, she advises the Nikkei Student Union club and serves as President of the California Faculty Association-SLO Chapter, representing faculty at the statewide level. She actively participates in Tsuru for Solidarity, advocating against immigrant detention and providing healing circles for WWII incarceration survivors.

Kawamura's contributions to campus community and labor advocacy were recognized with the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party Labor Leader Award. Her professional work bridges academic instruction, cultural advocacy, and social justice initiatives within educational and community contexts.