Emily Arakawa

Emily’s role as Development Coordinator focuses on being the resident “expert” on various software programs used for the Fund’s development efforts and meeting the administrative needs of her team.

Hailing from New York City, Emily brings a unique perspective and skillset to Asian Pacific Fund with over three years of experience in DEIJ and education spaces. After graduating a year early in 2019 from New York University, Emily started her career in DEIJ at a white-shoe law firm as Diversity & Inclusion Assistant during the peak of the COVID pandemic and anti-Asian hate. Then, she switched gears to teaching fourth grade as one of the founding grade teachers at a charter school based in upper Manhattan. Throughout her career, she has readily adapted to various roles and responsibilities within her teams while assuming a growth-oriented, “roll-up-your-sleeves” mindset. Her passion for helping people and serving communities in the name of equity, empathy, and justice fuel her professional journey.

Emily currently resides in San Jose with her extended family and two dogs – Coco and Milo! Outside of work, you can find her at her community gym, Warcat Strength, training in the sport of powerlifting, in front of her gaming PC playing competitive video games with her best friends on Discord, or exploring all of the delicious hidden gems the Bay Area has to offer!