Chaminade University of Honolulu

Faculty

HUMAN OR ANIMAL BONES? LECTURER CARLOS GUTIERREZ SHARES HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE WITHOUT DNA TEST

When crime scene investigators discover small bone fragments, it’s often difficult to initially determine if the remains are animal or human. Conducting a costly and time-consuming DNA analysis in a laboratory is one way to resolve the question. Or, as Chaminade University lecturer Carlos A. Gutierrez points out, a much simpler and far less expensive examination could reveal the answer on site that same day. Gutierrez specializes in forensic microanthropology, a new field of study with broad implications for crime scene investigators around the world – especially those working in economically disadvantaged countries and in small towns with limited resources. As part of his research, Gutierrez developed a bone identification technique involving polarized microscopy analysis. Carlos A. Gutierrez (NSM, Forensic Sciences)“You can get very good information and quick answers for families,” according to Gutierrez, who earned a master’s degree in Forensic Sciences from Chaminade in 2016. “If the bone fragments are from a human, you go to the next step – DNA analysis.” But if the remains are from an animal, he said, the probe can stop there. “Lots of police departments could use forensic microanthropology for crime scene investigations,” Gutierrez added. “That’s my goal – to spread the word.” Along with spreading the word among Chaminade students, Gutierrez recently presented his research and conducted workshops at the third UCENM International Forensic Sciences Conference in Honduras, and at the fifth Forensic Sciences, Law and Public Safety International Conference in Acapulco, Mexico. Before coming to Chaminade, Gutierrez served as director of a criminalistics laboratory in his native Chile, where he notably led efforts to identify victims of two massive disasters. One tragedy involved a deadly fire in 2007 at a hostel in Punta Arenas, and the other was a 2010 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the city of Constitution. Two years ago, Gutierrez and his wife Ana Acuna founded Honolulu-based True Forensic Science, LLC with guidance from the Hogan Entrepreneurs Program at Chaminade. Their company provides training, consulting and products in the forensic sciences, especially for clients in Latin American countries. Chaminade University’s Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers a bachelor of science degree and a minor in Forensic Sciences. Students enrolled in these programs can prepare for careers in biology, medicine, pharmacy, anthropology, criminal justice, psychology, law and other fields.

Dean Schroeder, Minister Fineisaloi, Biology Student Ignacio Receive Founders’ Week Heritage Awards

As a highlight of Founders’ Week activities at Chaminade University, Vice President for Mission and Rector Bro. Edward Brink, S.M. presented the annual Heritage Awards to faculty and staff members and a student for their continuous commitment to Marianist values.

Receiving the Chaminade Award at the Founders’ Eucharist for exhibiting “traits of openness, hospitality, graciousness and faith in a loving God” was School of Business and Communication Dean Scott Schroeder.

“Colleagues describe Scott as gracious and welcoming,” Bro. Ed said. “His openness to new ideas and suggestions points to his collaborative style of leadership.” Students who worked with Dr. Schroeder describe him as “thoughtful, caring and approachable” and able to motivate and inspire them, Bro. Ed added.

A Marianist Educational Associate since 2014, Dr. Schroeder was a postdoctoral fellow in the Management and Leadership in Education Institute at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA, an M.B.A. from Arizona State University and a B.A. from Santa Clara University.

Dr. Schroeder donated the $250 cash award he received to the Accounting Student Scholarship Fund. This in memory of founding accounting faculty member and longtime Chaminade trustee James Wong, who attributed his success in life to the influence and hospitality of the Marianists dating back to his high school days.

Receiving the Marianist Award was Maimoa Fineisaloi, Minister for Peace and Justice with the Campus Ministry team. Bro. Ed praised her for “drawing others into the challenge of building a collaborative community, and commitment to the vision and mission of Chaminade University.”

“A nominator of Maimoa pointed to her work with the Feeding the Hungry program at Next Step Shelter as an example of her advocacy for justice,” Bro. Ed noted. “She is quiet and yet consistent in her efforts. She hopes to lead others to take action in support of those who are in need within our local community and beyond.”

Fineisaloi, who became a Marianist Educational Associate in 2014, earned a M.S. in Counseling Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology from Chaminade. She donated her cash award to the campus Micronesian Club and the Tales and Treats program, in which students read to children at community centers and provide them with nutritious snacks.

Presented with the Founders’ Award was student Vanessa Ignacio, who maintains a 3.4 Grade Point Average while majoring in Biology major and minoring in Chemistry. After graduating from Chaminade, Ignacio will attend A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. She eventually intends to practice family medicine on the Big Island.

“One of Vanessa’s nominators referred to her as the ‘epitome of a servant leader’ and indicated that Vanessa was able to see the presence of God in the people who are part of her journey here at Chaminade,” Bro. Ed said.

“Vanessa knows that it is a privilege to journey with others towards God,” and friends describe her as “devoted, faithful, loving, caring, down-to earth, strong, independent and reliable.”

A member of the Eia Kou Makuahine Student Marianist Lay community, Ignacio serves as the Filipino Club social chair. She also served as a Vice President for Student Government and as Rectoress on the university’s Awakening Retreat.

Ignacio designated her cash award to support Campus Ministry, which has “given me priceless memories, unending joy and a lifetime family,” she said.

Religious Studies Professor Examines Ancient, Recovered Writings to Explore Life’s Big Questions

If God forgives all humans who repent their sins, would God forgive a repentant Satan?

And since Christians are commanded to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” should people in some way love the Devil and other spiritual opponents?

These profound questions are explored by Dr. Peter Steiger, a Chaminade University Associate Professor of Religious Studies, as he researches the ancient manuscripts of Didymus the Blind, an early Christian teacher who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, during the 4th Century.

This controversial theologian is the subject of Dr. Steiger’s academic paper – “(No) Sympathy for the Devil? Love of Spiritual Adversaries in the Writings of Didymus the Blind” – which he recently presented at the annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society in Melbourne, Australia.

“Didymus was an expert on the Bible and wrote many commentaries on Old Testament books, as well as very important theological treatises on debated issues of his time,” Dr. Steiger said. “Unfortunately, 150 years after his death, his writings were judged to be too controversial, and so they were removed from monastic libraries and no longer copied.”

Fortunately, however, an unknown monk probably took several documents written by Didymus, placed them in leather-bound folios, walked down a precarious pathway into a cave near the Nile River “and just threw them on the floor,” Dr. Steiger said.

Some 1,500 years later, the dust-covered manuscripts were discovered by British soldiers as they searched for a safe place to store munitions during World War II.

“They’re kind of stumbling around in there, I’m sure, and they find this pile of books,” Dr. Steiger said. “It was pretty clear almost immediately that they were of extreme value. It’s one of the largest collections of writings from a single author from this time period that’s ever been discovered.

“It does have this sort of  ‘Indiana Jones’ scenario to it,” he added.

Given the active antiquities market in Egypt, some pages may have been torn out and sold by local people, Dr. Steiger said, while other pages were damaged by bookworms.

Much of the collection remained intact due to the arid climate, however, and British authorities eventually disseminated the long-lost manuscripts among scholars in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany for critical evaluation and preservation.

Dr. Steiger wrote his dissertation on Didymus’ commentary about the Book of Genesis, including his interpretation of the seven days of creation and banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.

More recently, Dr. Steiger researched what Didymus wrote about Abraham and Job as friends of God. He also researched certain biblical figures “who were not friends of God,” notably Judas Iscariot and Satan.

When asked to name God’s enemy, people typically reply: “The Devil,” according to Dr. Steiger. But Didymus said something different.

“His claim and my paper suggest that the Devil is opposed to God, but God has no enmity toward the Devil but rather loves Satan,” Dr. Steiger pointed out. “The Devil’s real enemy is every human being.”

Does that mean humans should have at least some sympathy for the Devil?

“This is one of the ideas that originally got Didymus’ writings condemned,” Dr. Steiger noted.

“So, if I can shed some light on what he said, we may be able to have a better understanding of what it means that Christians are to love their enemies – and who those enemies really are.”

Dr. Fryxell Appointed Education Dean, Dr. Edelson Named Humanities and Fine Arts Interim Dean

Chaminade University President Lynn Babington recently made two key academic appointments by naming Dr. Dale Fryxell as Dean of Education and Dr. Cheryl Edelson as Interim Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts.

Dale Fryxell, Dean of EducationDr. Fryxell, a former Faculty Senate president, teaches courses in Development Psychology, Career Counseling, Cross-Cultural Counseling and other topics. His research interests include: autism, violence prevention, positive behavioral supports and educational reform.

Prior to joining Chaminade, Dr. Fryxell worked for the Hawaii Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division. He also provided technical assistance to the Department of Education, Department of Human Services and other agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Fryxell earned his doctorate and master’s degrees in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Minnesota.

Cheryl Edelson, Interim Dean of Humanities and Fine ArtsDr. Edelson has won numerous awards and honors, including Chaminade’s 2013 Father John Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award, and the 2010 President’s Award from the National Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association.

Courses she teaches include: Expository Writing, American Literature: 1940-Present, Literary Theory and Criticism, and Introduction to Motion Pictures.

Dr. Edelson earned a doctorate in English and bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside. She holds a master’s degree in English from the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Helen Turner Named as Chaminade’s Inaugural Vice President for Innovation

Dr. Helen TurnerChaminade University President Dr. Lynn Babington has named Dr. Helen Turner, an internationally-regarded cellular immunology researcher, as the institution’s first Vice President for Innovation. The appointment is in addition to Dr. Turner’s responsibilities as Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

“Creating this new leadership role reflects Chaminade’s growth trajectory and commitment to providing cutting-edge academic and research programs that benefit our students, faculty and all the populations we serve,” Dr. Babington said. “Moreover, this appointment supports Hawaii’s critical transition to an innovation economy.”

Chaminade Board of Regents Chair Vaughn Vasconcellos describes Dr. Turner as a respected leader in the scientific and higher education communities with a “proven track record of innovation,” thus making her well qualified for the new position.

“Along with representing the campus on numerous scientific advisory boards, Dean Turner attracted grants and developed programs that placed Chaminade on the map for STEM education,” Vasconcellos pointed out. “She also helps students gain admission to prestigious graduate and health professional programs nationwide.”

In her new role, Dr. Turner said she’ll focus on “student readiness for the workplace, for leadership and for making contributions to their communities.”

“Our innovative programs and cutting-edge approaches draw on our deep faculty expertise,” Dr. Turner emphasized, “and will position our students to lead in Hawaii’s economic development.”

A biology professor, Dr. Turner conducts immunology research on pathologies such as asthma and eczema. She receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Defense, as well as private foundations.

Dr. Turner recently obtained a $1 million STEM education grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She also developed the $9.6 million Ho`oulu STEM Scholarship program with Kamehameha Schools.

Prior to joining Chaminade in 2007, Dr. Turner was an associate director at The Queen’s Center for Biomedical Research in Honolulu. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of London and performed post-doctoral work at Beth Israel Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.

Humanities Senior Lecturer Shares Marianist Values at International Conference on Buddhist Women

Marianist values of service, justice, peace and adaptation were shared by Sr. Malia Wong during an interfaith presentation at the 15th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women. Held June 22-28 at the University of Hong Kong, the gathering drew more than 800 participants from 31 countries.

2017 Sakyadhita International ConferenceSr. Malia, a religious studies senior lecturer with Chaminade University’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts, co-led a Christian-Buddhist dialogue entitled “Wisdom and Insight: Cross-cultural Perspectives.” She joined the Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Ph.D. in discussing how their respective religions help bring about a more peaceful society.

“My greatest takeaway is the joy of having been able to work with, serve and stand in solidarity with Buddhist nuns from around the world in educating for peace, dignity and social justice,” Sr. Malia said.

2017 Sakyadhita International ConferenceSr. Malia, who attended the event through a Chaminade faculty development award, helped create a photo collage that served as the formal conference video.

Sakyadhita (Daughters of the Buddha) is a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the spiritual and secular welfare of women, while promoting harmony among the Buddhist traditions and other religions.

The School of Humanities, Arts & Design offers undergraduate programs in Religious Studies, English, Environmental + Interior Design, Historical and Political Studies, Humanities, International Studies and Social Studies. The division also offers a Master of Theology degree with specialized certificate programs in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction, and in Permanent Diaconate Education for future permanent deacons in the Roman Catholic Church.