Kyoko M. Toyama is a Professor in the Counseling Department and the College Discovery Program at LaGuardia Community College. She received her M.A. and M.Ed. from Teachers College, Columbia University and her Ph.D. from New York University. Dr. Toyama also teaches Japanese at LaGuardia and has been part of a Virtual Exchange with Matsusho Junior College in Nagano, Japan. Her current research interests include inter-racial, inter-ethnic and inter-faith families and identity development. Dr. Toyama is also an avid Japanese Taiko drummer and an instructor who uses drumming as a therapeutic intervention for children and adults with special needs.