Chaminade University of Honolulu

University Communications & Marketing

Students Investigative ‘Crime Scene’ in Waikiki

The “crime scene” in Waikiki drew more than a few curious glances from beachgoers and passersby.

But it wasn’t police investigating the site. Instead, Chaminade University Forensic Sciences students—in official CSI gear—were the ones collecting evidence and documenting the scene.

The mock crime scene was set up in early April as a hands-on learning opportunity, allowing students to practice critical forensic skills.

“They feel the reality of being in an actual crime scene,” said Carlos Gutierrez, D.F.S., assistant professor of Forensic Science. “They’re applying all the skills they learned during the semester in a more specific and realistic scenario.”



Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program is known for its practical approach, blending rigorous academics with real-world applications. The setup in Waikiki demonstrated Chaminade’s commitment to hands-on learning, giving students a chance to navigate complex investigative procedures under faculty supervision, Gutierrez said.

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The major in Forensic Sciences includes instruction on the techniques used for recognizing, documenting and analyzing physical evidence, reviews of the legal system and ethical guidelines that govern forensic sciences, and hands-on applications of the scientific method in a lab.

All Forensics Sciences students are required to complete a rigorous, 135-hour internship. Students have completed internships with a variety of entities, including the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, police departments in Hawaii and Guam, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Central Identification Laboratory.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program, click here.

Graduate Project a Win for Teacher’s Students

Texas teacher Yasmin Rodriguez, MEd ’25 wants her students to love reading as much as she does.

So when she was challenged to try her hand at grant writing for her EDUC 794: Culminating Experience course at Chaminade, she knew instantly what her appeal to the community would be: Funds to buy new and engaging books for her classroom that showcased multiculturalism.

Rodriguez submitted the grant request to DonorsChoose.org, a site that allows anyone to contribute to school projects and classroom needs, and within a few short days had met her goal of $1,000. From there, the fun part began. She got her students involved in choosing the titles on Amazon.

And before long, boxes of books started arriving at her classroom door.

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Rodriguez said her students were overjoyed to open the boxes and shelve the books, which included nonfiction and fiction titles. There were even some fun comic books in the mix.

Katrina Roseler, Ph.D., associate professor of Education, teaches EDUC 794 and said Rodriguez stood out for her commitment to service, justice and community building.

“While all students complete a professional development project, like a grant proposal, very few actually follow up and submit their grants for funding and she’s the first that I know whose grant was funded before the term was over!” Roseler said.

Rodriguez teaches fifth grade at a public school in San Antonio, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2016 from St. Mary’s University, Chaminade’s Marianist sister school in Texas, and subsequently jumped at the opportunity to pursue her Master’s of Education fully online at Chaminade.

Her concentration is instructional leadership, which Rodriguez says was a perfect fit. Through coursework and online class discussions, she said, she’s been able to better tailor her curriculum to the needs of her students. Rodriguez teaches a bilingual Spanish-English class so individualization is key.

“Several of our classes have focused on building differentiated modes for students to engage in their learning,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just little adjustments that make a big difference. And the Chaminade program was very good because it provided different ways to learn about our students. We were able to reflect on learning styles and teaching methodologies.”

Yasmin Rodriguez, MEd ’25 teaches fifth grade in San Antonio, Texas.

Rodriguez says she’s known she wanted to become a teacher since she was in the first grade.

“There’s nothing else I ever wanted to do,” she said.

Her advice to students interested in pursuing a career in education: Know the first few years in the classroom will be the toughest. “There’s so much you don’t learn in classes,” she said. “But every year, it gets a little easier. And I’ve learned to find the joy in the little things and the wins.”

Rodriguez also gets excited about watching her students grow and achieve their goals.

“I push them to do their best,” she said.

Her graduate studies at Chaminade have also helped her more quickly recognize the learning supports her students need. That was one of the reasons she wanted to refresh her classroom’s bookshelf. She said her students just weren’t getting excited about the outdated books she had.

Now independent reading time is something they look forward to.

“It was such a good way to refresh their brains and get lost in reading,” she said.

Chaminade Professor Elected to Accreditation Board

Scott Schroeder, Ph.D., a Management professor in residence at Chaminade University, has been elected to the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) Board of Commissioners in acknowledgement of his scholarly contributions and years of experience in academia.

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Schroeder rejoins the board after having served two terms from 2018 to 2024. He has also served as an IACBE site visit team member and site chair for seven years.

And in 2024, the IACBE recognized Schroeder with the Dr. John L. Green Service Award for his commitment to higher education.

The IACBE is a global programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Its mission is to advance academic quality in business programs through evidence-based accreditation that encourages institutions to build unique educational models to reflect their mission and vision.

Scott Schroeder

Schroeder was most recently president of Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu.

He has also served as dean of the School of Business and Communication at Chaminade University, dean of Academic Affairs at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Seattle, and chair of Graduate Management Programs at Antioch University.

As a professor in residence at Chaminade, Schroeder regularly teaches graduate classes on organizational behavior, organization development and strategic management.

His research focuses on personal power and social influence in the workplace. He also consults on executive transition, executive team development, and strategic planning.

Schroeder completed his Ph.D. at UCLA and postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

Chaminade Mourns Passing of Pope Francis

A message from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.:


Chaminade University of Honolulu joins with communities around the islands and the globe in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

Pope Francis was a defender of the marginalized, an inspirational advocate for our Earth, and a beacon of hope to people from all walks of life. He will be greatly missed.

Pope Francis also challenged us to give of ourselves to ease the suffering of our neighbors and underscored the responsibility we all have to use our skills to make the world a better place for everyone. He believed fiercely in the transformative power of education to lift communities, and leaves us with a legacy of service and selflessness.

Prayers for Pope Francis will be offered at various events on campus this week, and we invite you to join us.

In his writings, addresses, and homilies, Pope Francis encouraged us to be people of hope, reconciliation and mercy. Those attributes are needed in our world at this time. We are grateful for his guidance, wisdom and compassion, and know he will continue to serve as an inspiration.

Professor Honored for Outstanding Contributions

Eva Washburn-Repollo, Ph.D., a professor of Communication at Chaminade, has been selected for a prestigious award from her alma mater recognizing outstanding contributions to her field.

The Silliman University Board of Trustees will confer Washburn-Repollo and seven other alumni with the Outstanding Sillimanian Award in August.

Since 1962, just 188 alumni have received the honor.

Washburn-Repollo teaches Communication, Intercultural Communication and Media and Discourse Studies at Chaminade, and her research focuses on cultural interpretation and identity.

She is the recipient of two Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grants, which funded immersive study trips to the Philippines with Chaminade students and educators.

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Washburn-Repollo received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Silliman University, along with a master’s of science in Reading from Southern Connecticut State University and a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

She said her work as a professor “is shaped deeply by indigenous knowledge systems, performance ethnography, and arts-based pedagogy—approaches that center the body, the land, first and heritage languages, and the relational in how we come to know the world.”

As she receives the honor from Silliman University, Washburn-Repollo is also preparing for retirement from Chaminade and undertaking a new project to launch a sustainable retreat in the Philippines with her husband.

“This space will be a gathering ground for artists, cultural workers, and healers, where traditional Visayan knowledge meets contemporary practices,” she said.

Students Flex Their Event Planning Skills

You can’t take advantage of opportunities you don’t know about.

That’s the idea behind the annual LEI (Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration) event, which is organized by nonprofit ClimbHI in collaboration with Chaminade students in the University’s senior field experience class.

More than 650 high school and college students attended this year’s LEI gathering, held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on April 14.

The fair featured over 60 Hawai’i business and organizations sharing career opportunities in short “speed-dating” style segments. Students also learned about what types of preparation different jobs require and the internships that might be available to them as they advance their skills.

“We want these high school students to know that after graduation, there are all these opportunities available to them,” said Wendy Lam, Ph.D., a professor of Business Administration and Sport Event Management at Chaminade who oversees the Chaminade students who help organize the LEI event.


“It’s a very meaningful project that our students can apply everything that they have learned, from accounting to marketing to management and human resources.”

Loke Yokoyama ’25 is among the students who worked on the project.

“As a Chaminade student, we get to help with the planning and coordinating of the event,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun using my skills that I have obtained at Chaminade. The best part is working as a team.”

Yokoyama added Silverswords even made ti leaf lei for participating businesses.

John Paul Pacura ’25, a Business Administration senior, said Chaminade students got to apply their strongest skills and sharpen others in putting the event together.

“One of the biggest takeaways from this event is utilizing all the skills we have learned at Chaminade over four years,” Pacura said.

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This is the 13th year of the LEI event, which is especially focused on inspiring Hawai’i youth to pursue careers in the visitor industry. At the exposure fair, participants also got a chance to engage with industry leaders and participate in hands-on activities.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with ClimbHI and our industry and community partners to bring this important program to life,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

ClimbHI President Julie Morikawa said the LEI program is designed to offer a stepping stone between exposure to career opportunities and the hiring process, “allowing students to achieve their dreams and helping local businesses with workforce development.”