Chaminade University of Honolulu

Faculty

$1.25 million grant for early intervention education

Chaminade University has been awarded a five-year, $1.25 million federal grant aimed at bolstering Hawai‘i’s early intervention workforce so that infants and toddlers with developmental concerns have greater access to high-quality and timely services. 

Elizabeth Park, Ph.D., who is a professor and director of Chaminade’s Early Childhood and Montessori Programs, said the islands face a critical shortage of early intervention professionals. The lack of early intervention services is especially acute in rural or Neighbor Island communities.

And the greatest cause of the shortage? A gap in higher education programming. Park said no university-level academic program in Hawai‘i previously focused on preparing early intervention (birth to age 3) professionals—and those who sought training on the mainland didn’t always return. 

With the grant funding, Chaminade plans to launch an Early Intervention Certificate and offer generous scholarships to cohorts. Project MĀLAMA (Mentoring and Advancing Local Access for Meaningful Achievement), as Park’s initiative is dubbed, will also work to build partnerships with local organizations so that students can get hands-on opportunities and job placement.

Park said the hope is to help build a stronger ecosystem for early intervention in the islands.

The inaugural cohort is slated to include 10 to 12 students with Jonathan Alexander (also pictured) serving as project co-director.

Early intervention services are delivered by a range of  professionals focused on cognitive development, including social workers, speech pathologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Park said early interventionists train on neurodiversity, inclusion and much more.

And, she added, early intervention can sometimes make all the difference. “Especially for those children who are really at the borderline, with a little bit of early intervention like speech therapy or physical therapy, they can really transition to the mainstream for education,” Park said. 

The early intervention grant comes as Chaminade continues to collaborate with the state Department of Health, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Kamehameha Schools and other entities to increase the number of highly-trained early childhood educators in the islands.

Park said a strong focus on serving Hawai‘i’s youngest keiki will pay big dividends.

And through Project MĀLAMA at Chaminade, “graduates will be well-equipped to deliver inclusive, equitable early intervention services across Hawai‘i,” Park said, in the grant application.

“The project strengthens long-term workforce sustainability,” she continued,” by fostering a pipeline of professionals who reflect the communities they serve and are committed to improving developmental outcomes for young children and their families.”

Park said she decided to apply for the grant after conferring with other professionals and academics focused on improving the pipeline of services to young children. She added the grant was a collaborative effort and was made possible with technical assistance from Chaminade’s Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity team and grant specialist Andrew Perez.

Additionally, Park said she received support from the state Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii Pacific University, University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Early Childhood Action Strategy.

Chaminade Dean Inducted Into Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame

Gail Grabowsky, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Chaminade, executive director of the University’s UN CIFAL Center and a decorated ocean and roughwater swimmer, was inducted into the Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 18.

Grabowsky was inducted into the Ocean and Channel Swimming category for the Class of 2025.

Gail Grabowsky

In an interview before the ceremony, Grabowsky said she was humbled by the honor.

“I’m a distance swimmer and I love swimming,” said Grabowsky, who makes time to swim three mornings a week off Ala Moana Regional Park. She has won the female division of the Double Roughwater swim six times and has also clinched wins and a long list of age-group firsts in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, King’s Swim, the Wailea Roughwater and the Popoiʻa Swim.

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Grabowsky said she fell in love with ocean swimming as a young girl in California.

That quickly grew into a passion for environmental sciences and marine studies.

One of the biggest highlights of her job, she said, is being able to take students to field experiences in Hawaiʻi waters—from Ala Moana to Hanauma Bay. “That’s where I’m lucky,” she said. “f you create a memory for them that’s tied to Chaminade or them loving science, that’s important.”

Grabowksy, from Los Angeles, studied at Duke University and earned her doctoral degree in Zoology in 1993. She first came to the islands as a graduate student in 1992 and returned a year later for a postdoctoral position. She started teaching at Chaminade in 1997.

The Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame, founded in 2002, seeks to “promote, preserve, and perpetuate Hawaiian aquatic sports for the future” by celebrating the achievements of island swimmers, divers, and water polo athletes.

Professor Participates in Interfaith Learning Seminar

Peter Steiger, Ph.D., a Religious Studies associate professor at Chaminade, joined scholars from around the country this summer for a prestigious seminar focused on deepening interfaith learning and cooperation across Council of Independent Colleges campuses.

The Teaching Interfaith Understanding seminar was held in Chicago, and included robust discussions on scholarly frameworks, reviews of syllabi and case studies, and special sessions on topics in higher education. Steiger said a key focus of the seminar was collaboration.

Selection for the interfaith seminar is competitive, and participants must be nominated.

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Organizer Interfaith America said the gathering “provides a multidisciplinary space for participating faculty to explore the theoretical foundations and practical pedagogies of interfaith engagement in higher education.”

Peter Steiger, Ph.D., a professor of religion at Chaminade, participates in an Interfaith America seminar. (Photo Credit: Kelly Feldmiller/Courtesy of Interfaith America)

This was the program’s 11th year.

Steiger said what he appreciated most about the seminar was the opportunities for engaging dialogue. “Hearing the speakers and faculty participants at the seminar gave me greater hope for the future of religious pluralism and interfaith understanding in America,” Steiger said.

“University campuses, both public and private, small and large, should be committed to bringing about greater interfaith understanding and respect for the diversity of religion in the world.”

Faculty Recognized for Scholarship, Excellence

Three faculty members were honored this week for their outstanding contributions to the University and community.

The awards were presented at Chaminade’s Faculty Institute in preparation for the new academic year.

Jennifer Nafarrete, Ed.D., an assistant professor of nursing, was honored with Chaminade’s Excellence in Teaching Award. An award presentation announcement said Nafarrete not only incorporates innovation in the classroom, she provides transformative mentorship to each of her students and engages them through “real-world learning” and clinical opportunities.

“As faculty advisor for the Hawaiʻi Student Nurses Association, she has guided students to multiple awards while building a strong community of future nurses.” the announcement said.

“Her influence extends far beyond graduation, as former students continue to seek her guidance and share milestones. Dr. Nafarrete’s dedication embodies the spirit of excellence at Chaminade.”

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Kelly Treece, Ph.D., who is director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice program at Chaminade, was honored with the Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award.

In announcing the honor, presenters noted Treece’s work in organizing the “Waves of Justice: Human Trafficking Awareness & Strategy Summit,” a three-day event held in Spring 2025. The summit convened experts, advocates and students to address human trafficking in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.


Treece’s work serves to “exemplify impactful, community-engaged scholarship that bridges academic rigor with real-world application,” an award announcement said.

“Her commitment to involving students in meaningful professional experiences and sustaining partnerships with local organizations reflects her dedication to justice-oriented education and student success.”

The final honoree announced was Darren H. Iwamoto, Ed.D., associate dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, who was named recipient of the Dr. Joseph Allen Collegiality Award. The honor celebrates Iwamoto’s commitment to teamwork and collaboration.

An announcement detailing the award noted Iwamoto’s work to build “partnerships with community organizations” and his “dedication to program excellence.” Iwamoto was also praised for his work to strengthen Chaminade’s interdisciplinary partnerships, including with the Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists and state Department of Education.

Forensic Sciences Professor Recognized For Research on High-Profile Case

Carlos Gutiérrez Ayala, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Forensic Sciences at Chaminade, received the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ prestigious Robert Gaffney Achievement Award at the 77th Annual Scientific Conference this spring.

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Gutiérrez Ayala received the honor for his case research and oral presentation, “Forensic Reconstruction and Forensic Taphonomy: An Experiment for a High-Profile Case Conducted for the First Time in Chile.” His work was recognized for its innovation, scientific rigor, and global relevance, marking a significant contribution to the advancement of forensic science research and practice.

The Robert Gaffney Achievement Award aims to promote ongoing professional development in forensic sciences and support emerging leaders in the field.

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“I feel very proud to receive this national award,” Gutiérrez Ayala said, adding that the research was linked to a high-profile case in Chile.

“Thanks to the forensic results of this case research, I was able to provide all the necessary answers for this case and present them to my colleagues at the AAFS Conference.”

Gail Grabowsky, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, said Ayala’s work “continues to inspire and elevate the field of forensic science.”

She added, “We are thrilled to see his case research receive the recognition it deserves.”

New Volume Explores Scottish Literature in the Pacific

Two English professors at Chaminade are celebrating the publication of a new volume, Scottish Literature of the South Seas: Critical Studies of Scotland and the Pacific, which grew out of a 2019 conference at the University aimed at spotlighting and celebrating Scottish literature.

Allison Francis, Ph.D. and Richard Hill, Ph.D. said the project was something of a labor of love.

The volume turns to an international group of academics and writers to “consider the Scottish presence in the Pacific Islands and Oceania during the 19th century,” Francis said.

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The collection also includes “fascinating new scholarship” on the topic.

“Scots settled and married into Pacific cultures in a way that other British didn’t (especially English), and consequently there is a Scottish presence in modern Pacific life,” Hill said.

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Allison Francis, Ph.D.
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Richard Hill, Ph.D.

“We have traced very early Scottish literary presence through to modern day parallels that has not been done before.”

The professors noted they are thankful to everyone who made the volume possible, including a number of Chaminade students who assisted with re-writing, compiling and editing for the book.

They also hope to continue exploring the subject. And in the fall, they plan to hold a reading and question-and-answer session on the volume for the Chaminade campus community.