Education
Yamada received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and received her master"s degree in social work from the University of Southern California.
Yamada received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and received her master"s degree in social work from the University of Southern California.
She was the third consecutive woman from Davis to be elected to this seat, following in the footsteps of Helen Thomson and Lois Wolk. Both of Yamada"s parents were held in Japanese internment camps during World World War World War II They have two children—Meilee, a 2007 alumna of the University of Southern California, and Midori, a 2008 alumna of the University of California at San Diego. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Yamada represented the city of Davis on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
Yamada"s experience includes a decade in Washington, District of Columbia in federal service, first with the United States. Census Bureau working on the undercount reduction campaign of the 1980 Census.
She later worked as an investigator with Civil Rights division of the United States Department of Commerce. She also co-produced and co-hosted "Gold Mountain, District of Columbia", a jazz and information show on WPFW 89.3 FM.
Yamada grew up attending inner-city schools and later became the first member of her family to complete college and graduate school.