Kenji Nomura

Kenji Nomura

Fellowship Placement: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Hometown: Hagerstown, MD 

Kenji Nomura is a dedicated and enthusiastic STEM educator, with a passion for igniting curiosity and innovation in young minds. Throughout his seven years of teaching experience, he has been leading students through the captivating realms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Kenji holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Southern Adventist University and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington. He began his teaching career at East Hamilton High School (EHS) in Ooltewah, TN. During his three years at EHS he taught Geometry, Honors Precalculus, and Honors Statistics and sponsored the Peer Tutoring Club after school. He then spent four years teaching at his alma mater, Highland View Academy (HVA) in Hagerstown, MD. At HVA he instructed students in a range of courses, including Geometry, Algebra II, Statistics, Astronomy, 3D Modeling and Design, Intro to Computer Science, Robotics, and Project-Based Learning I and II whilst simultaneously serving as the school’s IT manager. Throughout his career, Kenji has consistently sought innovative methods to deliver STEM education. His teaching philosophy revolves around fostering curiosity in every student. Kenji works to accomplish this by creating an environment of exploration through interactive learning. He strongly believes in the power of curious inquiry, motivating him to integrate hands-on experiments, real-world examples, cross-curricular lessons, and collaborative projects into his teaching methodology. Notably, during his tenure at HVA, he helped to write and secure grants, totaling over $20,000, to advance STEM education at HVA. These grant awards were pivotal in establishing a versatile makerspace and procuring equipment to conduct an astronomy course for his students. Kenji considers himself fueled by curiosity and his passion for growth and knowledge. His goal is to impart that passion to his students and cultivate a lasting curiosity about the marvels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In this way, he aspires to empower the visionaries, innovators, and problem solvers of tomorrow, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to conquer the challenges of an ever-evolving world.