Guanlin Gao, Ph.D.
Director, Economic Education Center for Excellence
Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Guanlin Gao is an Associate Professor of Economics at the School of Business and Communication and the inaugural Director of the Economic Education Center for Excellence at Chaminade University. Dr. Gao received her doctoral degree in economics in 2015 from Georgia State University and was a faculty member at Indiana University South Bend prior to joining Chaminade University in 2017. She believes that “a mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Dr. Gao has provided training services to K-12 teachers since 2016. She has received multiple awards in teaching, research, and student mentoring, including the Theodore C. Boyden Excellence in Teaching Economics Award, Fr. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award, and President Mackey Outstanding Mentor Award. Dr. Gao was recognized as a distinguished faculty by Chaminade University in 2021.
Brina Domingo
EECE AY2023-2024 Academic Fellow
Dr. Brina Domingo is an assistant professor and field services coordinator with the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Her interest and passion in sharing economic education with people in Hawaii communities stems from coming from a low-income community herself. Dealing with setbacks due to a lack of economic education, Dr. Domingo hopes to be able to teach current and future generations about economics to make positive changes in their daily lives. Partnering with EECE, she hopes to conduct research to find strategies that she can share with others that everyone can benefit from and utilize.
Eddie Merc, PhD.
EECE AY2023-2024 Academic Fellow
Dr. Eduard Merc is the current MBA Program Director and an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management at the School of Business and Communication (SBC) at Chaminade University of Honolulu. He received his doctorate degree in education with the emphasis in educational technology from University of Hawai`i in Manoa in 2019. In 2021, Dr. Merc was awarded the best business professor award as an adjunct faculty member at Shidler College of Business, University of Hawai`i at Manoa.
Richard Hill, Ph.D.
English Department, Chaminade University of Honolulu
EECE AY2023-2024 Academic Fellow
Richard Hill is a professor in the English Department at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Dr. Hill received his Ph.D. from Edinburgh University in Scotland, studying the great Scottish authors Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr. Hill has written and published academic books and articles on both authors, and presented papers at conferences around the world. He teaches literature and composition in Chaminade classrooms, online, and to high school students in Kauai and in Hana, on Maui. Dr. Hill lives on Maui with his wife and four children, representing Chaminade as an ambassador to the Neighbor Islands of Hawaii.
Myra Narruhn
EECE Student Trainee
Myra Narruhn is a second-year Business Major at Chaminade University. She is a part of the EECE research team and looks forward to working with her peers and mentors. EECE has given her the opportunity to learn and gain experience in the research field. She hopes that one day, she will be able to work a professional job related to this position.
Rian Sydney Pagtakhan
EECE Student Trainee
Rian Sydney Pagtakhan, a sophomore majoring in Business Administration at Chaminade University, is passionate about helping others. Committed to sharing his knowledge of economics through the EECE program, Rian aims to educate both his peers and future generations. He is enthusiastic about collaborating with colleagues and contributing to his community.
Derenza Iriarte
EECE Student Trainee
Derenza Iriarte, a first year student currently studying at Chaminade University, is enthusiastic about collaborating with her colleagues and mentors. The EECE program has given Derenza the opportunity to learn and gain experience in the research field, which will help her pursue a career in business.
Waioli Misajon
Affiliated Graduate Student
Graduated from Maryknoll High School, Waioli received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Digital Media Art from Saint Mary’s College of California. Currently, she is a candidate for Master of Science in Counseling Psychology at Chaminade University. Waioli is the founder of Mood USA, a nonprofit organization supporting mental health for children.
Anna Ezzy
Affiliated Graduate Student
Anna Ezzy is a Hauʻoli Mau Loa scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo pursuing a master’s degree in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science. Anna received her bachelor’s degree from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with a concentration in Environment, Economics & Politics and a minor in Food Studies. From 2020 to 2022, she worked with FoodCorps Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative to promote the consumption and awareness of underutilized locally-grown staples. Anna is passionate about addressing inequities in the food system and restoring food sovereignty in Hawaiʻi.
Timothy Johnson
Affiliated Graduate Student
Hi I’m Timothy Johnson, I recently graduated from Chaminade University class of 2023 having received my Bachelors in Business Administration with a Minor in Economics. I am currently beginning to undergo my studies to get my MBA. My main personal goal is currently to finish my masters program, my goals within the EECE are to further my understanding of economics as a whole for my future and to help others through the EECE program to be able to begin to understand economics so that that may go out and do what they wish for their communities while being better equip with knowledge about economics. Mahalo Nui Loa and looking forward to the future!
Ryden Iwamoto
EECE Affiliate
Ryden Iwamoto is a second-year at the University of Chicago studying economics and data science. He is the founder and former Executive Director of HI Econ and is a Director for the Oahu Economic Development Board. Ryden seeks to help others deepen their understanding of and appreciation for key economic concepts that drive their everyday lives and to support beneficial change in the realm of economics for future generations.
Mira Kubo
EECE Affiliate
Mira Kubo is a senior at Punahou School and the Executive Director of HI Econ, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to immersing Hawaii’s youth in economics to catalyze real change. She enjoys investing and studying the stock market, in addition to hanging out with friends and drawing. She is interested in the systemic complexities of economics and International Relations as well as how these often overlooked factors affect our daily lives.
Madi Hirata
EECE Affiliate
Madi Hirata is a senior at Punahou School. After taking economics and business courses in school, she was intrigued by the concepts she learned as they could be applied in her everyday life. Eventually, Madi hopes to one day pursue a career in the business field. Outside of school, she enjoys video production, running, and traveling. She is excited to contribute to the EECE’s research this year. of economics and International Relations as well as how these often overlooked factors affect our daily lives.
