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One Phone Call Changed Adrianna’s Future

Empowered by You

When Adrianna Nichols called Chaminade University from her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she wasn’t expecting the conversation that would change her life. She had planned to attend a university in Florida, but the cost made that dream impossible. Looking for another option, she called Chaminade to ask a simple question: Was it too late to apply?

“They answered on the first ring,” Adrianna recalled. “Right away, I felt welcomed.”

That moment marked the beginning of a journey made possible through a Presidential Scholarship—and shaped by a community that believed in her potential.

At Chaminade, Adrianna majored in Business Administration with a minor in Sport and Event Management. She immersed herself in campus life, serving for four years as the Men’s Basketball Undergraduate Manager, supporting athletic operations, and helping plan Commencement ceremonies.

Along the way, faculty and staff mentors encouraged her to take on new responsibilities and discover her strengths as a leader.

“The smaller environment allowed me to build meaningful relationships, receive mentorship, and have opportunities to get involved that may not have been possible elsewhere,” she said.

Adrianna graduated in May 2026 and today is the Stadium Operations Intern at the University of Minnesota’s Huntington Bank Stadium, where she helps coordinate athletic competitions and large-scale events. She has also worked with NBC Universal during Minnesota Lynx broadcasts and supported fan experiences with the nationally touring Cosmic Baseball team.

Her long-term goal is to become a collegiate athletic director or professional sports executive, leading with the belief that student-athletes are people first.

“I want to create environments where athletes feel supported as students and as individuals—not just competitors.”

Beyond her professional aspirations, Adrianna continues to serve in leadership roles at her home church in Minnesota, mentoring children, teens, and young adults while sharing her faith.

Looking back, Adrianna says the opportunities she found at Chaminade began with people who believed in her.

That belief started with a scholarship.

And it continues today through donors whose generosity empowers students to discover their purpose, lead with compassion, and make a difference wherever life takes them. Donations to Chaminadeʻs Fund, means the University is able to allocate unrestricted funds to  vital needs that support and empower students. Unrestricted funds are vital to Chaminade’s growth and students’ success. Like Adrianna, today’s students, at different stages in their educational journeys, are grateful for Chaminade’s belief in their abilities and for the generosity of donors. 

Every gift to the Chaminade Fund helps create stories. Click here to support the journey of students like Adrianna.

Faculty Recognized as New Academic Year Begins

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.“

 – William Butler Yeats

People are what make Chaminade University an incredible community, committed to our Marianist foundation and mission. At the annual Fall Faculty Institute this past Wednesday, faculty were recognized for their excellence in teaching, leadership, collaboration and dedication to their students and to each other. The following Chaminade University awards were presented to: 

CUH Excellence in Teaching Award

Wera Panow-Loui, MBA

Senior Lecturer, College of Business, Innovation & Technology

Wera Panow-Loui is an example of the type of learning that makes Chaminade unique—where students are challenged to go beyond theory, to demonstrate what they can do and, importantly, how they can contribute to the benefit of our communities. She contributes exceptional value to the student experience through experiential learning and real-world community impact,  data-driven, student-centered learning that elevates student engagement, and lasting educational impact through innovation and professional preparation.

Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award

Sr. Malia Wong, DMin

Senior Lecturer, College of Arts & Sciences

The Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award recognizes a full-time faculty member for achieving excellence in scholarship. Sister Malia Wong has been actively engaged in interfaith work for more than two decades, serving as a bridge builder between religious traditions, cultures and communities. She has served as a keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, guest lecturer, and presenter for numerous respected organizations, including the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists, the International Buddhist Women’s Conference, the Hawai‘i Council of Religions for Peace, the numerous Foundations, and other local and international faith communities. 

Dr. Joseph Allen Collegiality Award

Hans Chun, EdD

Director, School of Organizational & Education Leadership
Associate Professor, College of Education & Human Development

Over the years, Dr. Hans Chun has distinguished himself as an exceptional leader, scholar, mentor, and advocate whose contributions have profoundly strengthened the university community. His work consistently reflects a rare combination of visionary leadership, compassion for others, and unwavering dedication to faculty, students, and institutional advancement. Having served as Faculty Senate President since 2024, Dr. Chun has increased faculty participation and attendance at faculty senate meetings. Through this, he has cultivated an atmosphere where faculty feel heard, respected, and valued. What distinguishes Dr. Chun most, however, is the humanity with which he leads. He consistently recognizes and celebrates the efforts of faculty, staff, administrators, and students, fostering a culture of collegiality and mutual respect. 

In addition, 2026 Provost Leadership Awards were presented to seven well-deserving members of the Chaminade faculty and staff community for their dedication, character, and leadership. Award recipients included Dr. Hans Chun, Dr. Masahisa Yamaguchi, Dr. Alexis Barroga, Dr. Koreen Nakahodo, Dr. Carlos Gutierrez and Abigail Hurgo.

A beautifully carved paddle was also presented to Dr. Janet Davidson as an expression of deep gratitude for her leadership and commitment to advancing Chaminade’s strategic priorities. 

Chaminade University Welcomes Amir H. Toosi as Newest Dean

When Amir H. Toosi was 18 years old, he was tasked with writing down the place that he would choose to live. He wrote: Hawaiʻi. 

The first time he visited Hawaiʻi was on his honeymoon in 2004. The second time was in 2024 with his wife and daughter to look at colleges. And the third time was in 2026 when he was named a finalist for the Dean of Chaminade Universityʻs College of Business, Innovation & Technology.

Now years later, he has been named dean of Chaminade University’s College of Business, Innovation & Technology, bringing nearly three decades of leadership experience in higher education, business consulting, and academic program development to the univeristy.

Toosi joins Chaminade after serving for 14 years as dean of the Division of Business and Security Studies at Rivier University in New Hampshire. Throughout his career, he has led academic innovation, expanded academic programs, and built partnerships that strengthen student learning and workforce development. 

“I am excited and thrilled to be joining the academic leadership of Chaminade University and look forward to building relationships within the University and throughout the broader community,” Toosi said. “Hawaiʻi has always been a special place for my family and me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue growing the outstanding programs at Chaminade.”

At Rivier University, Toosi also served as program director and professor, overseeing academic affairs and contributing expertise in risk and crisis management, learning management systems, and program administration. He previously held leadership positions at Herzing University and American InterContinental University.  His applied approach to business practices is an ideal fit for Chaminade as well. 

“Dr. Toosi brings a wealth of experience as an innovative academic leader and a deep commitment to student success,” said Chaminade Provost Dr. Lance Askildson.  “His collaborative leadership style and vision for business education will strengthen our College of Business, Innovation & Technology as we continue preparing graduates to lead with purpose in an evolving global economy.”

In 2025, Toosi received the President’s Good Steward Award from the Education Alliance for New Hampshire and was recognized with the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of Champions Eminence Award.

Born in Iran and growing up throughout the United States as his father is a college professor, Toosi earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Business Administration from Heidelberg University, and a Doctor of Business Administration in Management from Argosy University in Chicago.

Chaminade’s College of Business, Innovation & Technology offers undergraduate programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Marketing, and Sport and Event Management. The College also offers a 12-month Professional MBA program designed for working professionals and is home to the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and the Economic Education Center for Excellence.

Alumna Tasha Castro Returns to Lead Campus Ministry at Chaminade

As an undergraduate at Chaminade University, Tasha Castro often walked the campus searching for something deeper than a degree. Like many students, she wrestled with questions about her purpose, her future and her faith.

Today, those same walkways on Kalaepohaku have taken on new meaning.

Castro has returned to her alma mater as Chaminade University’s new Director of Campus Ministry, bringing with her a passion for accompaniment, community and helping students discover that they don’t have to navigate life’s questions alone.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Castro said. “I remember being the student who was trying to figure things out. Now I have the opportunity to walk alongside students as they discover who they’re called to be.”

A first-generation college student and graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy, Castro received a Presidential Scholarship at Chaminade while earning bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and political science in 2009, followed by a master of education in Instructional Leadership from Chaminade in 2021. She served as president of the Native Hawaiian Club and credits the university’s faculty and Marianist community with broadening her understanding of faith, culture and service.

Those experiences shaped a career devoted to education.

After graduation, Castro became a cultural educator at Bishop Museum before joining Saint Louis School as its first kindergarten teacher when the school expanded to include elementary grades. Later, principal Christopher Casupang recognized her gifts for ministry and asked her to become the school’s religion teacher.

At first, she questioned whether she was ready, and then proved to everyone she indeed was.

When the opportunity arose to return to Chaminade as Director of Campus Ministry, those same self-doubts resurfaced. Yet, Casupang reminded her that she had been gaining the skills and honing her talents for this calling all along.

“He told me, ‘What are you talking about? We’ve been preparing you for this this whole time,'” Castro recalled. “‘For six-plus years, we’ve been helping you get to this point.'”

His encouragement echoed the advice he had offered years earlier when she stepped into religious education: “Take a leap of faith.”

That message has continued to guide her.

For the past five years, Castro served as a moderator for the Marianist LIFE program at Saint Louis School, an experience that provided her with the opportunity to walk alongside current and future leaders as they deepen their faith, discern their gifts, and accompany others on their own faith journeys. She believes this ministry has helped to bridge her journey from Saint Louis School to Campus Ministry at Chaminade.

One of Castro’s first priorities is simply building relationships. Rather than waiting for students to find Campus Ministry, she hopes to meet them where they are — whether through retreats, small gatherings or something as simple as taking a walk together.

“Maybe students are struggling at school, but they need someone to talk to, and they don’t know who to reach out to,” Castro said. “Just having someone who can walk around campus with them could be a source of support.”

The idea was inspired by Chaminade’s beautiful campus and by the example of the Marianists.

“I think about Jesus and how he walked to find his disciples,” she said. “There’s something meaningful about that idea of walking with people and inviting them into the community.”

Outside of Chaminade, Castro is also a respected cultural practitioner, serving as kumu hula for Ka Ulu Lehua i ka Wai Māpuna, a hālau whose members range from young keiki to kūpuna. She sees no separation between her cultural leadership and her ministry. Both are rooted in cultivating relationships, honoring tradition and helping others grow.

As she begins this new chapter, Castro carries deep gratitude for the professors and mentors who shaped her journey, including Dr. Henry Halenani Gomes, Dr. Regina Pfeiffer, Dr. Frank Bailey and Kumu John Keola Lake. Their guidance, she says, helped her see faith not as something confined to a classroom or chapel, but as something lived every day through service, compassion and community.

She is equally excited to embrace the Marianist charism, extending its spirit of hospitality beyond the Campus Ministry office and into every corner of campus. She is also thankful to  be working with newly appointed campus minister Andrew Peter Ancheta II, who graduated from Chaminade in 2021, recently served as Chaminade’s director of student engagement and is also a beloved member of the Chaminade ‘ohana..

For the student who once walked through campus searching for direction, coming home is less than returning to the past and more stepping into a vocation she was preparing for all along.

“I have to say that it has to be part of the plan,” she said. “I’ve literally moved within this circle my whole life — Sacred Hearts, Chaminade, Saint Louis, and now back to Chaminade.”

From Submarines to Psychology: Chaminade Student Named 2026 Tillman Scholar

Before beginning her doctoral studies at Chaminade University, Lauren Jacobs spent nine years as a U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer, serving in one of the first cohorts of women assigned to submarines. A 2013 graduate of the Naval Academy, Jacobs is dedicated to military service, which sparked a passion for supporting those facing mental health challenges and inspired her to pursue a career in forensic psychology.

Today, Jacobs is a doctoral candidate in Chaminade’s Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program, where she also serves as Student Association President. Expected to graduate in May 2027, she has focused her clinical training on working with adults experiencing serious mental illness within the criminal justice system. In recognition of her leadership, service, and commitment to creating positive change, Jacobs was recently named a 2026 Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation. We recently connected with her to learn more about her journey, her passion for serving others, and her goals for the future.

Where is your hometown?

I grew up in Plano, Texas, and my husband and I have called Kailua home for the last seven years.

Why did you choose the Naval Academy?

Looking back, applying to and choosing to attend the United States Naval Academy (USNA) was a big decision for a teenager. I wanted to be part of something greater than myself and to join a community of like-minded people. Academics and athletics were both mainstays of my high school life: I played volleyball and ran track competitively while earning an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, so I wanted a college experience that valued academics, athletics, and leadership in equal measure.

Why did you choose Chaminade for your doctorate degree?

My husband Andrew and I were stationed on Oʻahu in 2019 and completely fell in love with living here. We’ve been lucky to build a wonderful community of friends and family over the years, so when it came time to go back to school, I knew I wanted to stay. Chaminade’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program within the Hawai’i School of Professional Psychology (HSPP) offers a generalist education with an emphasis on cultural humility and adaptability to the diverse patient populations across the islands. I was drawn to both the variety and the depth of training the program provides.

What has your experience at Chaminade been like?

I would not trade my time at Chaminade for anything. Chaminade’s HSPP has passionate faculty and staff who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and prioritize mentoring psychologists in training. The clinical training I’ve received has been thorough enough to make me competitive with psychology interns across the United States and Canada. Providing much-needed psychological services to Hawaiʻi residents while completing our coursework has been deeply meaningful to me. My mentors and supervisors have been some of the best I’ve had the privilege to work with, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Many of my classmates in the program have also become lifelong friends, and that community is one I truly cherish.

How did you hear about the Tillman Foundation?

At USNA, we learned about Pat Tillman’s story in our ethics, leadership, and professional development courses. Over the years, I heard more about the Tillman Foundation’s work as it grew, and I watched several of my USNA classmates and submarine colleagues get selected as Tillman Scholars. Their example inspired me to apply.

What does being a Tillman Scholar mean?

To me, being a Tillman Scholar means choosing service to our communities as a guiding value, often above personal ambition and comfort. Switching career paths from Nuclear Submarine Officer to Clinical Psychologist was never going to be an easy road, but it felt imperative to put my experience and talents toward making a positive difference in my community, no matter how small the impact. I’m grateful the Tillman Foundation saw value in that sacrifice and in the goals behind it.

Are you working while going to school? 

I’ve worked as a teaching assistant for several courses in the PsyD program, alongside completing our academic and research obligations. A unique aspect of earning a doctorate in Clinical Psychology is that roughly half of our workload consists of clinical training: providing psychological services to members of our community under supervision. Balancing that professional training with research and coursework is essential to becoming an effective psychologist, since this profession demands lifelong learning. I’ve learned to juggle it all by leaning on my support system here on Oʻahu: my husband, sister, brother-in-law, friends, and fellow veterans.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I am deeply grateful to the faculty for their mentorship and guidance, and to my friends and colleagues for making this experience both fun and supportive. I would also like to thank the Pat Tillman Foundation for this amazing opportunity. 

Welcoming New Members to Boards of Regents and Governors

Chaminade University has appointed five respected business and community leaders to its Board of Regents and Board of Governors, adding a breadth of experience in business, finance, education, ministry and nonprofit leadership to the University’s governing boards.

The appointments come as Chaminade continues to expand its academic offerings, strengthen enrollment and deepen its commitment to serving Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

“We are honored to welcome these distinguished leaders to the Chaminade community,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington. “Each brings valuable expertise, thoughtful leadership and a commitment to service that will help advance the University’s Catholic Marianist mission. We look forward to working with them as Chaminade continues to grow and serve our students and community.”

Board of Regents

Emily Fukunaga is Chief of Staff, Digital Strategy at Servco Pacific Inc., one of Hawaiʻi’s largest privately held companies. A fourth-generation Servco leader, she has held leadership roles in supply chain management, operations and strategy at Servco, adidas and DFS Group. Fukunaga serves on the boards of Servco Pacific Inc. and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and is an Omidyar Fellow. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colorado College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Bro. Robert Metzger, S.M. has devoted more than four decades to financial leadership within the Marianist community. He currently serves as Director of Finance for the Marianist Province of the United States and Assistant for Temporalities/Treasurer for the Province. Previously, he served with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and has held numerous leadership roles within the Society of Mary, including service on the Board of Trustees at the University of Dayton.

Bro. Allen Pacquing, S.M. serves as Vice President and Executive Director of the Marianist Center of Hawaiʻi and is Director of Advising in Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. A longtime Marianist educator and administrator, he has served in leadership positions at both Chaminade University and St. Mary’s University in Texas. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Chaminade College Preparatory in California and is active in parish ministry at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Honolulu.

Board of Governors

Michael Camacho ’92 is President and CEO of PFC Investments and former President and CEO of PFC Finance in Guam. A 1992 Chaminade graduate, he has spent more than three decades in banking and financial services and remains active in civic and nonprofit organizations throughout Guam, including Rotary and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Kanakolu Noa is founder and executive director of Kūkolu, a nonprofit organization that supports Native Hawaiian and Indigenous entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on women-owned businesses. She previously held leadership roles at Kamehameha Schools, where she helped advance sustainable industries and food systems initiatives. Noa also serves on several nonprofit boards and was recognized by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine as one of its “20 for the Next 20” honorees in 2023. She holds graduate degrees in Indigenous Studies and business administration.

The Board of Regents provides fiduciary oversight and governance for the University, while the Board of Governors serves in an advisory capacity, supporting Chaminade’s mission and strategic priorities through community engagement, advocacy and philanthropy.