Jon Masuo Yamashiro was born the oldest son and raised as a third generation Okinawan American in the “cultural pastiche” of Honolulu, Hawaii. He traveled from the islands to study at Washington University in St. Louis and received his BFA in 1985, then went on to earn an MFA in photography from Indiana University in 1991. Since the fall of 1993, he has had the privilege of teaching photography to college students at Miami University. Jon has exhibited his photographs internationally, nationally and regionally. In 2009 he received the prestigious Effective Educator Award presented by the university’s Alumni Association for his teaching at Miami University. Jon lives in Liberty, Indiana with his wife Jennifer. Their son Luke (21) is currently a senior at Miami University and their daughter Lydia (25) is in her final year at Logan University finishing her Doctor of Chiropractic degree.