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Dr. Alex Sugiyama appointed to vacant TUSD School Board seat

by on Dec. 30, 2011, under Life, Politics

Dr. Alexandre Sugiyama

Just heard via email and on the Bill Buckmaster Radio Show that Dr. Alexandre Borges Sugiyama has been appointed to the TUSD School Board seat vacated when Judy Burns passed away in October.

Dr. Sugiyama is of Japanese/Portuguese ethnicity (his parents emigrated from Brazil), and is a lecturer at the Eller School of Management at the UA, along with fellow TUSD Board member Dr. Mark Stegeman, who is an Associate Professor there. Sugiyama got his Ph.D. from the UA in 1998, click here for his website and photo.

He got his B.S. in Economics from Cal Tech (1991), his M.A. in Economics also from the UA (1994), and has been a Lecturer here since 2002 (adjunct lecturer for 2 years, Lecturer since 2004 to present). After he got his Ph.D. Alex worked at American Express in Phoenix till 2000, as an Econometrician, then Manager of Risk Management.

Coincidentally Dr. Sugiyama shares my maiden name (though we are not related), and my husband and I have met with him over coffee. He is married with two young daughters. His wife was a 3rd grade teacher at Carrillo Elem. School.

Dr. Sugiyama’s contact info:
520.621.4831 office
520.621.8450 fax
sugiyama@eller.arizona.edu
McClelland Hall 401H

Pima County School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian made this appointment today, from a field of 54 applicants, including former TUSD board member Bruce Burke, and former candidates for school board positions over the years — Marilyn Freed, Miguel Ortega, Armand Salese. Three applicants were interviewed by Dr. Arzoumanian before she made the final selection after the first round of interviews: Ronald Michaels, Ross Sheard, and Dr. Sugiyama, who will be sworn in on Tuesday, January 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the TUSD Board meeting room, 1010 E. 10th St.

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  • Roger W

    TUSD. Hope for the best, expect the worst. If it is the leadership, it must be the rank and file.

  • Roger W

    Update: TUSD. Hope for the best, expect the worst. If it isn’t the leadership, it must be the rank and file. Or could it be the union? Parents, please take your schools back. You gave up way too easy.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Let’s wait & see how Dr. Sugiyama votes next year.  He will serve for one year in this appointment.

    • Tip O’Neill

      I learned long ago that giving Repubs the benefit of the doubt was foolish.

      • Carolyn Classen

        Dr. Sugiyama has been registered to vote as a Republican since April, 1996. He may choose to run for election next year when 3 TUSD board seats are up, including those currently held by Miguel Cuervas and Mark Stegeman.

  • nemuslaw

    In terms of a journalistic perspective, what is the significance of noting Mr. Sugiyama’s ethnic background?  

  • Carolyn Classen

    Dr.Sugiyama mentioned his ethnicity on his application packet. Besides, I share the same last name (Sugiyama is my maiden name as I mentioned above) and I wanted our readers to know that he is half Japanese-American, and that we are not related. His ancestors immigrated to Brazil from Japan , and mine went to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

  • usmctrucker

    I graduated with Dr. Sugiyama and, while not personally acquainted, knew him through reputation.  American Express recruited him heavily as he was known as a brilliant young economist.  TUSD just got an exceptional mind to join their board.  And for all of the partisans out there; he’s not a Republican idealogue, he’s an economist. 

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