Pamela Oda ‘24, MSCJ ‘25 rarely has down time—and she likes it that way.
When the Criminology and Criminal Justice student isn’t attending class or studying, she’s probably volunteering or interning in her field. And just recently, she stepped away from a long list of Chaminade extracurriculars so she could juggle all her work at Chaminade with running two small businesses. You read that right: On top of everything else, she’s an entrepreneur.
“In all honesty, I believe that all my experiences at Chaminade University—whether it was academics, clubs and organizations, student employment, events and more—have all been transformative for me,” Oda said. “Everything I’ve participated in, every person I have had the pleasure of working with and everything in between has made me into the person I am today.”
Oda, whose bachelor’s degree from Chaminade also includes a second major in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization at Chaminade along with minors in Computer Information Systems and Psychology, is an intern with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Honolulu Field Office.
It’s the third internship she’s clinched while pursuing her degree. She was previously an undergraduate intern for the Hawaii State Judiciary, contributing to legislative and government reports. And in summer 2023, she was a research intern for the state Attorney General’s Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division Research and Statistics branch.
Oda credits Chaminade professors and departments with helping her secure the opportunities—and countless others, including a chance to participate in a summer institute focused on data analytics and supercomputing.
Oda said Dr. Kelly Treece, director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice program, has been a true inspiration to her.
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“She is truly one of those professors that pushes you to do your best,” Oda said.
Dr. Rylan Chong, director of the Data Science program, has also served as a mentor.
“From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the criminal justice field,” Oda said.
“I looked at universities that had criminal justice programs in Hawai’i and the mainland and knew that I wanted to attend a university with a criminal justice program that had hands-on learning experience and a small professor-to-student ratio. I chose Chaminade because it had the qualities that I was looking for—in addition to scholarships to help cover costs.”
Oda, who is from Hilo, added that she didn’t want to attend a university too far from home.
“Through my busy schedule of academics, part-time employment, internships, clubs and organizations as well as co-operating two small businesses, my time at Chaminade has taught me how to manage my time and achieve things that I never thought I could,” she said.
“With that said, through my hard work, I have been able to be a leader and mentor others in various capacities. Through my various leadership and internship experiences, I wanted to be a role model for other students and show them hard work, networking, and exploring can take you places. I want to show other students the possibilities available while pursuing your studies.”
Oda will be wrapping up her undergraduate degree in December and then—thanks to Chaminade’s innovative 4+1 program—moving directly into the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Studies program. She plans to continue her work under Treece and with the ATF.
And of course, she’s got those two small businesses to help run. Both sell handmade crafts.
“Serving my community is my passion and that message is something that I truly take to heart,” said Oda, who is excited about passing the baton of student leadership to her peers. Oda previously served as student government president, a role she greatly valued.
“I wanted to make a positive impact on the Chaminade community through being a strong advocate for student change and fostering relationships amongst students, faculty and staff.”
Suffice to say Oda has achieved that goal—and so much more.
