Naoko Tsunoda, Director

Naoko is the child of a refugee birth mother who gave her up for adoption and was raised by parents who invested deeply in her education—an experience that shaped her understanding of the value of higher education and the stark inequities faced by refugee and immigrant children. Rooted in a lifelong commitment to education and equity, social justice and community advocacy, Naoko is a proud champion of DreamED Collective’s mission to provide refugee and immigrant youth and women with the culturally responsive guidance and support they deserve.

With a diverse background spanning the specialty food and beverage industry, entrepreneurship, and now public education as a dual-immersion teacher, she brings both strategic insight and lived empathy to her work. Naoko believes mentoring and community engagement are not just tools for guidance but powerful vehicles for liberation, confidence, and long-term success.