Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

Chaminade Students, Faculty and Staff Welcome Dr. Lynn Babington as University’s 10th President

Students, faculty and staff from all divisions and schools at Chaminade University enthusiastically greeted Dr. Lynn M. Babington Aug. 1 when she officially began her tenure as the institution’s tenth President.

The colorful welcoming ceremony featured a traditional Hawaiian “oli” (chant) by members of the campus ‘ohana clad in Chaminade blue clothing. Following a gift presentation to Dr. Babington and her husband, Dr. Randall Carpenter, Chaminade Rector Bro. Ed Brink, S.M. delivered a blessing.

Dr. Lynn BabingtonDr. Babington, whose appointment was announced last December by Chaminade’s Board of Regents, most recently served as Interim President at Fairfield University in Connecticut. Her previous roles at this Catholic university included Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“Our new President is a highly regarded educator, administrator and thought leader who will further the progress we’ve made over the past two decades at Chaminade,” according to Board of Regents Chair Vaughn G.A. Vasconcellos.

“Dr. Babington’s fresh perspective and personal warmth will lead to new ways of invigorating the campus and all the communities we serve,” he said.

“Joining the Chaminade ‘ohana is a tremendous honor and privilege,” Dr. Babington said. “The university has a well-deserved reputation for its strong liberal arts foundation and Marianist mission of creating a more just and peaceful society.”

Having begun her career working with disadvantaged populations, Dr. Babington said Chaminade’s continued commitment to improving the community it serves “speaks to her passion” by addressing disparities in healthcare, education and the criminal justice system.

Dr.  Babington also praised Chaminade as having “tremendous growth potential” and looks forward to “building on the university’s solid foundation” by working closely with the campus community and supporters in the public and private sectors.

Welcome Ceremony at Clarence T.C. Ching Hall“As for our students,” Dr. Babington said, “I’m inspired by their pursuit of academic excellence and their outreach to needy populations through service learning projects. Moreover, the wonderful diversity of our student body makes Chaminade one of the most multicultural campuses in America.”

In addition to her positions at Fairfield, Dr. Babington held leadership roles at Northeastern University from 2003 to 2011 and studied as a Fulbright Scholar at Ben Gurion University in Israel.

In 2013, she was selected for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program, a three-year leadership development experience designed to enhance the nation’s healthcare system.

Dr. Babington received her master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s (magna cum laude) in nursing from the University of Michigan.

More information on Dr. Lynn Babington can be found on her academic profile.

Students Gain Real-World Experience – and Empathy – Working on Cultural Center Project in Philippines

By helping design the layout and plan the budget for a cultural center in the Philippines, Chaminade University students acquired real-world experience benefiting their future careers while learning about the Filipino culture.

Leading this excursion to the island of Negros were Associate Professor Elizabeth Lockard, M.Arch, Ph.D. of Chaminade’s Environmental + Interior Design (E+ID) program, and Assistant Professor of Accounting Aaron M. Williamson, Jr. from the School of Business and Communication.

Also assisting was Dr. Frederique Kandel, a biology lecturer with the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Dr. Kandel advised students on ocean-related issues impacting design considerations for the eco-friendly structure.

The construction project is the Pantawan Arts & Learning Center, which will facilitate cultural exchanges among local and international artists, educators, tourists and residents. The four-story building in the City of Bais will also provide creative and educational workshops for underprivileged Filipino students.

Design considerations included:
– Sensitivity to local culture and customs;
– Adherence to international building standards;
– Security precautions;
– Flexible spaces to accommodate numerous activities; and
– Natural ventilation to counter the tropical heat.

Spearheading the construction effort is Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo, a commissioner with the Hawaii State Foundation for Culture and Arts, along with her husband Curtis. Inspired by the foundation’s collaboration with public schools on Hawaii’s Art in Public Places – Artists in Residence initiative, the couple decided to introduce a similar program on Eva’s home island of Negros.

Reflecting on this educational and humanitarian outreach to the Philippines, Dr. Lockard said the trip was “transformative” for her Chaminade students. Not only did the undergraduates tackle advanced design challenges, she said they “developed a deeper cultural empathy through this process and learned to see the world differently.”

“The most authentic learning comes from working on a live project, and so this in itself has been an invaluable experience for the students,” Dr. Lockard said. “But also to provide a center for arts and learning that will serve a community in need shows how design can substantively contribute to quality of life and the betterment of society.”

According to E+ID student Gerlie Valdez, the most difficult aspect of the project was designing the building and interiors so they’re “sensitive and appropriate for the client and the location.”

“This is the first time we’ve ever done an international project,” she pointed out, “and the challenge is to be able to obtain a good knowledge of the people’s culture and their way of life and to integrate it in how they use spaces.”  

Valdez added that her biggest takeaway from the excursion was “doing something honorable and giving back to my native country as a real designer.”

“It was incredibly humbling to be able to see the site, meet with architects, furniture manufacturers, designers and the local people of the community overall,” Valdez said. “With that, I gained a lot of confidence and knowledge in helping me move forward with the project.”

E+ID student Petrice Goto said the trip “changed me as a person.”

“I experienced people living in the provinces that had little to no money, but they were happy with the little they had,” Goto said. “I have begun to not take things for granted and to appreciate everything I have.”

Chaminade University offers the only accredited, degree-granting Environmental + Interior Design program (E+ID) in Hawaii. Since its accreditation in 2013, the employment rate for graduates seeking a full-time, entry-level position in an interior design or architectural firm is more than 80 percent and has been increasing every year. The  E+ID program extends beyond the traditional scope of interior design to encompass the broader aspects of the environment into the design process. 

Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication offers a Master of Business Administration degree along with undergraduate programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Communication, International Trade and Computer Information Systems. Undergraduate degree programs in Business Administration and Management are also available through PACE (Professional and Continuing Education) online and evening courses.

Chaminade’s spring musical ‘Into the Woods’ wins 7 awards from Hawaii State Theatre Council

The Hawaii State Theatre Council honored Chaminade University’s spring production of “Into the Woods” with seven Po‘okela Awards – including “Overall Musical” and “Ensemble Performance in a Musical” – thus tying for the second-most accolades at the August 7 ceremony.

Winning a “Pokie” for “Director of a Musical” was Bro. Gary Morris, SM, with Chaminade’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts. In addition, the associate professor of performing arts won the “Leading Male in a Musical” award for his role in “1776: The Musical,” staged at Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre.

Chaminade’s production was also recognized for:

  • Sound Design & Engineering (Daniel Yoo);
  • Set Design (Michelle Bisbee);
  • Lighting Design (Christine Sutrov); and
  • Hair, Make-Up and Wig Design (Grace Capellas).

Serving as stage managers were Chaminade students Marchella Verstegh ‘18 and Ava Wong ‘20. The musical ran from March 31 to April 9 at the campus Mamiya Theater.

“Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, offers a modern twist on classic fairy tales with a “be careful what you wish for” theme. The Tony Award-winning musical premiered on Broadway in 1987. Walt Disney Pictures released a film adaptation in 2014.

Chaminade University Announces Legacy Gift of Over $1.6 Million

Angela Starke’s (BGS English ’85) bequest will go toward supporting the Bridges to the Future campaign

Chaminade University announces the receipt of over $1.6 million bequest through the estate of the late alumna Angela Starke, BGS English ’85. The major gift will support Chaminade’s ongoing Bridges to the Future campaign. Starke’s generosity represents one of the largest, single private gifts from an individual in support of the campaign, and the largest bequest in school history.

Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, Angela Starke graduated from Chaminade University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in General Studies. Continuing her passion for emphasizing the importance of higher education and showing her appreciation for her professors, Starke established the Fr. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award benefitting Chaminade faculty members, and also made charitable gift annuity contributions to further the university’s educational mission.

“Angela was a lifelong learner,” said Chaminade President Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM, PhD. “Her history of giving to Chaminade began the year after her graduation and continued steadily throughout her long life. As a non-traditional student, Angela became close to many of our faculty and staff, particularly Dr. Al Lum and Fr. John Bolin, SM. When she established the Fr. Bolin Award, Angela remarked, ‘a university is only as good as its faculty.’”

In 2008, Angela and her husband, Vincent Mainelli, were inspired by the history of the Marianists in Hawaii, and in particular, a collection of rediscovered nineteenth century photographic glass plates of the Hawaiian Kingdom, taken by Bro. Bertram Bellinghausen, SM, the first president of Saint Louis School. In a letter written to then Chaminade President Sue Wesselkamper, Starke and Mainelli announced that they would donate $100,000 towards the “preservation, expansion, and maintenance of the Bertram material and other archival material relating to the Marianists in Hawaii.” The exhibit later traveled to the neighbor islands and Washington D.C.

“My Chaminade experience didn’t end with a degree in 1985,” said Starke, in a 2002 interview for Chaminade Quarterly. “Instead, it spelled out reasons to give back to the university. I appreciated the quality education I received at Chaminade.”

ABOUT BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE
Bridges to the Future campaign focuses on four critical areas: (1) ensuring student access and support; (2) advancing academic programs; (3) building a richer campus life; and (4) renewing Chaminade’s athletics tradition. To contribute to the campaign, interested individuals should contact Diane Peters-Nguyen, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at [email protected] or (808)735-4772.

ABOUT CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY’S PLANNED GIVING
The Planned Giving Program creates a lasting legacy and supports the continuing educational opportunities for future students and tomorrow’s leaders. In 2016, Chaminade University was selected as a participating organization in Hawaii Community Foundation’s two-year Legacy Giving Campaign.

$1 Million Awarded to Chaminade in Recognition of National Excellence in Science Programs

Chaminade joins select group of 24 universities nationwide recognized for inclusivity and quality in STEM programs

NSM Student in LabChaminade University of Honolulu today announced a grant of $1 million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) as an awardee in the 2017-22 ‘Inclusive Excellence’ program. Chaminade was selected as one of 24 awardees from a pool of over 500 universities who applied for the prestigious recognition as a Howard Hughes Undergraduate Institution. The program will fund culture-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education programs, Hawai‘i-centered research, and activities that link science to family and community for Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

Dr. Helen Turner
Dr. Helen Turner

“Chaminade has been building excellence in STEM for a decade with support from agencies such as National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF) and Kamehameha Schools, and this award recognizes the tremendous progress we have made in preparing the next generation of Hawai‘i and Pacific scientists” says Dr. Helen Turner, Chaminade’s Dean of Natural Sciences and Principal Investigator of the HHMI Program. “This award takes us to the next level of national recognition for the curriculum and cutting-edge teaching methods our faculty have developed. The HHMI program confronts the challenge of connecting STEM education with culture, family and community – which are critical for our local students to be successful and to build a strong Hawai‘i for the future.”

“Finding a way to include all students, from all backgrounds, in STEM is critical for building future generations of American scientists”, says David Asai, HHMI Senior Director for Science Education. “HHMI recognizes that science excellence depends on having a community of scientists that is rich in diversity of people and perspectives. This national experiment expects that the selected universities will produce useful models to address inclusivity in STEM.”

ABOUT THE HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is the largest private, nonprofit supporter of science education in the United States. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has created an Inclusive Excellence Commission whose role will be to evaluate the outcomes of this national experiment, and to disseminate to the broader community what is being learned.

US-China Relations in the Trump Era Explored

An overall fairly sanguine outlook regarding US-China relations, balanced by a dose of realism, characterized remarks by Dr. Christopher A. McNally, at a recent forum as part of Chaminade’s Sino-Capitalism lecture series.

Christopher McNally

McNally, a professor of political economics at Chaminade and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center, is a nationally recognized expert on Sino-Capitalism, which provides an intriguing framework for examining the unique US-China relationship in this era.

Despite tough talk directed at China during the US Presidential campaign, Trump’s approach after taking office has shifted 180 degrees according to McNally (–who also pointed out the opposite has occurred with Russia). Trump previously had bashed China on trade, currency manipulation, and its geopolitical aspirations.

After his very positive meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s new agenda is emerging that ties geopolitical cooperation to deepening economic relations. McNally noted that the United States and China are “deeply enmeshed” over a broad spectrum of politico-economic relations. Financial and economic integration means that China and the US have to, for better or worse, get along.

McNally went on to explain that economic ties between the US and China are so deep because China has generated a novel yet highly dynamic form of capitalism that is globally integrated. Among China myths debunked in his presentation, McNally firmly rebutted the notion that the United States is still in the driver’s seat, stating that this is increasingly not the case. He illustrated this by the fact that the United States has to rely on hard power more often now to project its influence rather than more efficient use of economic or financial strategies.

Nevertheless, recent developments give cautious cause for optimism. The new agenda under Trump that ties geopolitical cooperation with China (especially vis-à-vis North Korea) to deepening economic relations is positive. Postponement of the 100-day deadline to address economic imbalances to one year is another sign of a more collaborative approach.

Regarding the US-China Trade deal, while modest in some ways, the agreements on US beef, LNG, and ratings agency access certainly represent a clear “win-win” situation for both sides.

McNally summarized his reasons for optimism by pointing out that Sino-capitalism could create the conditions for a unique economic condominium – its bottom-up entrepreneurial element is already deeply integrated into the US economy, and the potential for “growing the pie” is enormous.

Support for this forum is provided by the late Chaminade Regent Stanley W. Hong’s Endowed Fund for Distinguished Asia-Pacific Speakers and Scholars.