Name: Kamuela E Yong, Native Hawaiian
Discipline: Applied Mathematics
University/Year: University of Iowa, 2012
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
Research Interests: Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Epidemiology
Dr. Kamuela Yong is the first Native Hawaiian to earn a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and is a co-founder of Indigenous Mathematicians. Originally from Waimanalo, Hawaii, Dr. Yong went to Los Angeles where he earned a B.S. in civil engineering and a B.S. in applied mathematics from Loyola Marymount University. He then went to the University of Iowa where he earned a M.S. in mathematics and a Ph.D. applied mathematics. After Iowa, Dr. Yong did a postdoctoral fellowship at Arizona State University before returning to his home in Hawaii to work at the University of Hawaii – West Oahu.
Dr. Yong’s research interests include mathematical modeling of biological, ecological, and epidemiological systems using diffusion. Dr. Yong is the 2019 recipient of the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2020 recipient of the University of Hawai‘i Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching.