Chaminade University of Honolulu

University Communications & Marketing

Finding Balance: A Future Psychologist’s Journey

Ryan Panzarella, PsyD ’26 credits his formative years for giving him an empathetic ear.

He grew up abroad, attending American schools in Europe and the United Arab Emirates, and believes his global experience and perspective have served him well as he prepares for a future in psychology. “I have always believed that our differences are our strengths,” he says.

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Panzarella is pursuing a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology at Chaminade. The APA-accredited program is designed to prepare students for psychology practice, and stresses immersive learning and clinical experience. Panzarella has thrived under that model, tackling a number of hands-on internships at facilities in Hawaiʻi and Colorado.

Panzarella’s academic journey has been a circuitous one.

It started when he entered boot camp at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

After two years, Panzarella realized military life wasn’t his life’s path. So after a gap year, he enrolled at Berklee College in Boston, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music therapy and started pursuing a future in counseling and psychology. “The environment at Berklee better suited me since I was surrounded by students from different cultures,” Panzarella said.

As a music therapy major, Panzarella learned to connect, inspire and heal others through music.

Ryan Panzarella believes in open spaces to allow for dialogue.
Ryan Panzarella, PsyD ’26 says he found his passion in counseling psychology.

“Music strikes an emotional chord among people,” Panzarella said.

Panzarella’s first job after graduation wasn’t in music therapy, however. Instead, he moved back to the UAE, where he took a position as a project and general manager. He then returned to Seattle to land for a job with Comcast Business. He thought he was ready to settle down. He wasn’t.

Feeling unfulfilled, he quit his well-paying job, and decided to become a professional caretaker at an adult foster care home.

“I found the work rewarding.”

With the support of his parents, Roy and Jody Panzarella, he was able to enroll in the Clinical Psychology doctoral degree program at Chaminade. The PsyD program aims to educate and train students, employing a practitioner-scholar model so graduates succeed in the profession.

Panzarella’s dissertation is titled, “Narratives of Solitude and Belonging in the Age of Information,” and explores how the more connected we are online, the more isolated we become. “It’s a paradox,” he explained. “How do we as psychologists address that gap?”

Panzarella said Associate Professor Joy Tanji, Ph.D. has been a key mentor for his dissertation research. Tanji, meanwhile, praised Panzarella for making key connections through his research.

As he continues work on his degree, Panzarella has made what he hopes is a temporary move to Denver for a one-year internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute. His goal is to return to the islands and open his own practice.

“I want to give back to the community, which has been instilled in me since I was young, even more so now that I have been at Chaminade,” he said.

Undergraduates Showcase Summer Research

For many undergraduates, summer means spending lots of time at the beach or the mall.

But for a group of Silverswords, this summer offered the perfect opportunity to sink their teeth into a complex research project under the mentorship of a Chaminade professor. The undergraduates presented their work in July at the Summer Research Institute Symposium on campus.

Among the areas they explored: AI, healthcare, architecture and financial literacy, to name a few.

Shania Lindsey R. Gervacio ’27 presented her research on using artificial intelligence as a creative tool in interior design concept development. The Environmental + Interior Design student at Chaminade conducted her research under Associate Professor Junghwa Suh, D. Arch.

“I chose to take up this summer research opportunity because I wanted to utilize my free time expanding my knowledge in this career field of interior design while developing my skills in research and public speaking,” she said, adding her goal is to become an interior designer.

“I was very excited that I had the chance to present my findings and results to the University community. I honestly was unsure of who would be attending, so it was definitely a unique and memorable experience to have presented in front of diverse audiences.”

Gervacio hopes to refine her research paper for an upcoming national conference.

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Jax Wong ’26, who is majoring in psychology, presented research on potential psychosocial interventions for adults with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). His research was conducted under Associate Psychology Professor Abby Haltson, Ed.D.

Wong said he chose the topic because he has autism and ADHD, and wanted to investigate support available to people like him in the community.

“I consider myself very lucky and fortunate to have a strong support system, but many other folks do not and are left to fend for themselves,” he said.

“My research findings confirmed my predictions: there is a very concerning lack of research on my communities and the evidence for potential interventions is also lacking.”

Wong added it was “intimidating” to present his research to the University community, but the experience gave him more confidence in his work and his research skills. He now looks forward to pursuing a career in academia to improve the state of research in his areas of interest.

The annual Summer Research Institute is coordinated at Chaminade in partnership with Kapiʻolani Community College.

Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., who is assistant provost for Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs, said the grant-funded initiative offers important research experiences to undergraduates. In a new aspect this year, each student also selected a community partner to work with in addition to a mentor.

The community partners, including nonprofits, informed the research work, provided background information on fields, and directed students to available resources and information.

Silverswords Celebrate Jubilee in Rome

A group of students, young professionals and faculty from three U.S. Marianist universities, including Chaminade, recently journeyed to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee of Young People with thousands of other youth from around the globe. The pilgrimage included special gatherings, spiritual activities, public service opportunities and vigils.

Marianist officials said Hawaiʻi was well represented among the more than 1 million young pilgrims attending the jubilee. The Chaminade contingent joined groups from fellow Marianist institutions, University of Dayton in Ohio and St. Mary’s University in Texas.

At a welcome address for the jubilee in St. Peter’s Square on July 29, Pope Leo XIV told the young pilgrims they are the “salt of the Earth and the light of the world.”

“We hope that all of you will always be signs of hope in the world,” he continued.

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Father Martin Solma, S.M., vice president of mission and rector at Chaminade, said the pilgrimage underscores the University’s work to “remain true to its Catholic and Marianist legacy and the characteristics of a Marianist education: formation in faith, an integral, quality education, family spirit, service, justice, peace and the integrity of creation.”

The gathering was planned around the Jubilee Year of Hope, an event of spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Catholic Church designated by Pope Francis. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops explains, the Jubilee Holy Year was aimed at encouraging Catholics worldwide to renew themselves as “pilgrims of hope.”

A jubilee year has been held every 25 years since first being declared in the year 1300.

Francis said, in discussing the Jubilee Year of Hope, that Catholics “must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” The final day of the Jubilee of Young People will be celebrated on August 3 with Pope Leo XIV.

Leadership, Goal Setting Stressed in ‘College Camp’

High school students from across the state gathered at Chaminade in July for a week-long camp designed to give them a taste for the college experience and inspire them to pursue big goals.

Chaminade partnered with YMCA for the College & Career Camp program, which included students in grades 9 to 11 and stressed leadership and the importance of building workforce-ready skills. The program is geared toward underserved teens.

Janet T. Davidson, Ph.D., vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the camp “represents a mission-aligned partnership that inspires future college students, increases confidence, solidifies hope, and engenders incredible growth and self-efficacy in the span of a week.”

She added, “This is the type of work that benefits our larger community for generations to come.”

The camp included 50 students. They got the opportunity to stay in Chaminade’s Hale Pohaku residence hall, participated in a community service project, set personal goals and toured campus.

Jon Cho, YMCA senior program executive director, stressed the camp is geared toward students who may not have the resources to pursue college without assistance. He noted the camp also included critical tutorials on the admissions and financial aid process.

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Plus, students met with professionals in the fields they’re interested in and worked with Chaminade mentors.

“Students discover more about themselves, experience independent living in a college environment, and gain a better understanding of what they need to accomplish in high school to attend college or enter the workforce,” Cho said.

Davidson said the experience is ultimately about demystifying higher education and helping students feel like they belong on a college campus. “This equips students with both the knowledge and confidence to pursue continued education,” she added.

Aspiring Teachers Thrive in ‘Living Classroom’

Early education is all about experiential learning. So it makes sense that critical coursework for aspiring early education and Montessori teachers should be hands-on, too.

And that’s exactly the idea behind Chaminade’s Summer Montessori Methods course.

Early Childhood and Montessori Programs Director Elizabeth Park, Ph.D. says the course is designed to immerse students in the core areas of Montessori education and turn Hawaiʻi into a “living classroom,” complete with excursions.

Among this year’s highlights:

  • Students learned from Kumu Kaipoʻi Kelling, MEd ’06, who shared the ancient Hawaiian creation chant Kumulipo and demonstrated how children can learn through storytelling.
  • On July 19, participants visited Pali Lookout and other significant sites on Oahu with Kumu Leilani Antone, MAT ’17, who explored how Montessori principles can be integrated with Hawaiian knowledge systems in the classroom, including through math, art and science.
  • Students also got the chance to visit a local Montessori school to see the method in action, observing the prepared environment, child-led learning and classroom dynamics.

Park explained that the Summer Montessori Methods course is offered to students in select Chaminade degree or certificate programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Montessori Education and Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in early education.

This summer, 22 students at varying points of their degrees participated.

“A central goal of the program is to connect Montessori philosophy with place-based education,” Park said.

“As our host place, Hawai‘i provides a culturally and ecologically rich environment that allows students to explore how local context, land, and culture can be meaningfully integrated into Montessori practice. This immersive summer experience prepares students to become reflective and culturally grounded educators.”

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Park explained that Montessori education is fundamentally different from traditional teaching models, with a focus on the whole child.

“Children learn through hands-on materials, self-directed activity, and purposeful work in prepared environments that foster independence, concentration, and a deep love of learning,” she said.

“In today’s tech-obsessed world, Montessori offers a refreshing and necessary balance. It grounds children in real, tactile experiences before introducing abstract or digital concepts. Instead of screen time, children manipulate concrete materials that help them understand math, language, and the world around them in meaningful ways.”

Chaminade operates a Montessori Laboratory School on campus in addition to several pathways for aspiring Montessori teachers.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Montessori Laboratory School, click here.

2 Business Leaders Elected to Board of Regents

Two Hawaiʻi business leaders have been elected to serve on Chaminade University’s Board of Regents as the institution marks its 70th year of serving students across the islands and Pacific.

The new Regents are: David Oyadomari, who is the founder and managing director of Ekklesia Capital, an innovation and strategy firm focused on developing small businesses; and Kristine Stebbins ’87, senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Bank of Hawaii.

They kicked off their three-year terms on July 1.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. called Oyadomari and Stebbins longtime supporters of Chaminade “who fully embrace our University’s service-focused mission and are driven to help build stronger island communities.”

“We are most appreciative for the time and expertise they bring to the Board of Regents led by Chair Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil that is working tirelessly to support and serve as our institution’s governing body,” she added.

Oyadomari, formerly executive vice president of operations at American Savings Bank, has more than 25 years of experience in new market and product development, cost reduction and organizational design and also serves as strategic advisor to FTV Capital.

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A graduate of ’Iolani School, Oyadomari earned his bachelor’s degree at Claremont McKenna College and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as the president of the Claremont McKenna Alumni Association, Oyadomari is an advisory board member for Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication.

He also volunteers for other organizations, including the Hoea Foundation.

Oyadomari says he is committed to his family and faith, as a founding member of Kakaako Christian Fellowship, and seeks to live the values that Chaminade teaches—from moral character to building a just, peaceful society. He is married to Tammy Oyadomari-Chun, who is the deputy superintendent for Strategy at the Hawai’i Department of Education, and they have a son.

Stebbins joined the Bank of Hawaii in October 2020, and has nearly 30 years of experience in digital marketing, brand strategy, integrated marketing, product marketing, and channel marketing through the customer experience lens.

She was founder and CEO of Beyond Vigilant, a strategic consultant company that led clients through digital business transformation, and has also held leadership positions at Ogilvy Mather Advertising, Accenture, Ascentium, and Microsoft.

Stebbins, who is Catholic, earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Chaminade.

In addition to her volunteer work with the University, including the School of Business and Communication, she has served on the board for Girl Scouts and mentored local entrepreneurs through the Mana Up effort and Bank of Hawaii Women-Inspired employee resource group.

For a full list of Chaminade’s Board of Regents, click here.