Board of Directors
OAANY’s Board of Directors provides oversight and strategic guidance to the leadership team, offering historical context and a long-term vision for the organization. Board members help shape initiatives, support cultural programs, and maintain strong ties with Okinawa, ensuring continuity and growth for the OAANY community. They also elect the volunteer leadership team, fostering collaboration and sustainable governance.
Board Member
Teiko Yonaha Tursi
OAANY member since 1984
Teiko grew up in Nago, Okinawa, where she graduated from Nago High School in 1960.
Entered Ryukyu International College in 1960 where she majored in English Literature. She went on to study in the United states, graduating from Glassboro State Collage (NJ) in 1962, and obtained Master of Social Work from Widener University, State of PA in 2002.
Board Member, Treasurer
Sonoko Niswander
Sonoko joined OAANY in 1992. Sonoko is from Kumejima (久米島出身). More information coming soon.
Board Member
Gerardo Tan
Info coming soon...
Our Leadership
Our dedicated leadership team plays a vital role in organizing OAANY events throughout the year—including our two annual gatherings, the Summer Picnic and Bonenkai. In addition to event planning, the team oversees community communications, manages social media, and helps maintain a strong connection between OAANY and Okinawa through collaboration with the Okinawa Prefectural Government. Leadership also supports educational opportunities such as the Kempi Scholarship Program and Junior Study programs, helping to foster cultural exchange and learning. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all leadership members are volunteers, elected by the board to serve two-year terms. Their commitment ensures OAANY continues to grow as a vibrant, connected community.
OAANY President
Mariko Sakiyama Middleton
Mariko Sakiyama Middleton is a proud mixed-race Ryukyuan-American with a passion for Indigenous identity, cultural reclamation, and decolonization. An OAANY member since 2019, she served as Co–Vice President in 2024 and was elected Kenjinkai President in August 2025. She is deeply committed to spirituality, community building, and planning events that strengthen and celebrate Okinawan heritage.
OAANY Vice President
Yuki Kikuyama
Yuki Kikuyama is an Uchinaanchu whose family is part of the Peruvian/Okinawan diaspora, with paternal roots in Gushikawa and maternal roots in both Kitanakagusuku and Ginoza. Yuki and her family have been part of OAANY since 2007 and she was selected to participate in the Junior Study Tour in the summer of 2010. She hopes to continue establishing long-lasting friendships in the kenjinkai as vice president.