Chaminade University of Honolulu

Faculty

Chaminade Professor’s New Book Reveals Robert Louis Stevenson’s Importance in Illustrated Literature

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Dr. Richard Hill

Congratulations are in order for Richard Hill, Ph.D., assistant professor of English.  His book Robert Louis Stevenson and the Pictorial Text: A Case Study in the Victorian Illustrated Novel has been recently published by Routledge (2017).  The book is a scholarly analysis of the lifetime illustrations to the fiction of Robert Louis Stevenson.  A famous 19th-century writer, Stevenson wrote books such as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the great pirate novel Treasure Island. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Stevenson also spent time in Hawaii as well as traveling through the Pacific.  Over the years, Stevenson has been the subject of much serious critical scholarship. Hill’s book contributes to this scholarship by examining how Stevenson sought illustration for his work and how illustration succeeded or failed according to Stevenson’s opinion.

Dr. Richard Hill Book: Robert Louis Stevenson and the Pictorial Text - A Case Study in the Victorian Illustrated Novel

Hill initially did his doctorate work on Sir Walter Scott, Stevenson’s literary forebear. Hill received his Ph.D. from Edinburgh University, the alma mater of Scott and Stevenson.  After Hill completed his work on Scott, he targeted Stevenson for his next endeavor. “Stevenson became the natural focus of my work,” Hill recalled. “Stevenson was another famous Scottish author but one who had come to the Pacific, like me!  It was a natural fit for my focus of research.”

Hill completed the book through a series of challenges and distractions, including illness, moving from Oahu to Maui, and the birth of two children to whom the book is dedicated. “I’m very proud of the fact that the entirety of the book, from conception to publication, was produced while being a faculty member at Chaminade University,” he added.  “Thanks must go to my department, dean, and the Sullivan Family Library for their support through the process.”

Faculty Hui Spurs Enthusiasm

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Before the start of the semester, faculty huddled together to prepare themselves to give their best to their students and new classes.  At the opening breakfast of the 2017 Faculty Hui, they shared what they did over the holidays and the classes they would be teaching. The gathering came to order with prayer and an ‘oli, which quietened the room and focused the faculty on the purpose of their individual curricula in light of Marianist educational values.

2017 Faculty HuiDuring the two-day gathering held January 11-12 on campus, Bro. Bernard Ploeger, S.M. presented his presidential address with an open forum to discuss the state of the university. Divisions met to hone their strategies and goals to ensure student success. In addition, Janet Davidson was announced as associate provost of Academic Affairs. Faculty Development and Assessment with Brian Richardson (Faculty Center director), Cari Ryan (Assessment specialist) and Makana Mattos (Institutional Design) will be led by her.

Breakout sessions were well-received. Faculty shared with their colleagues on innovative ways to teach, scholarship and research involvements, and the distinctiveness of a Marianist education.  Faculty genuinely enjoyed exchanging ideas and expertise with one another.  Sessions included:

  • Google for Education – Elizabeth Park
  • Writing Learning Outcomes – Brian Richardson and Candice Sakuda
  • Speech Choir Performance of Forgiveness for English Language Learning – Eva Washburn-Repollo
  • Experiential Learning – Gail Grabowsky
  • Grant Writing Strategies – David Carter
  • Yale Summer Fellowship: Why Should We Teach Slave Narratives? – Allison Paynter
  • Teaching Students the Value of Using Evidence in Practice-Based Professions – Julie Elting
  • The Larger Perspective of Video in Education – Tom Galli and Allison Paynter
  • Strategies for Interdisciplinary Pedagogy: A Report from the Watery Field – Scott Wylie, Katrina Roseler
  • Strategies for Using Rubrics – Brooke Carlson
  • Breakout Edu – Makana Mattos
  • Train the Mind and Cultivate the Heart: Marianist Education – Dave Coleman, Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Charlie Peterson

Discussions inspired at the Faculty Hui carried into the first week of classes as faculty continued to ponder new ways of teaching.  It was a great start to a new beginning.

Chaminade University Selects New Associate Provost for Academic Affairs

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Janet Davidson

Chaminade University of Honolulu announced that Janet T. Davidson, Ph.D., has been selected as the University’s new associate provost for Academic Affairs.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Davidson into the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching and Learning,” said Chaminade University provost, Helen Whippy, Ph.D. “Dr. Davidson will bring her teaching expertise, academic scholarship, and capability of collaborating with colleagues to Academic Affairs as our new associate provost.”

Davidson has been at Chaminade University in a full-time capacity since fall 2005. She has served as an associate professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. At the undergraduate level, Davidson taught: Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems; Women and Crime; Ethics in Criminal Justice; Criminology; Corrections: Prisons and Community Alternatives; as well as statistics. At the graduate level, she taught: Research Methods; Inmate Rights; and Reentry and Rehabilitation. In addition, Davidson advised both undergraduate and graduate students regarding their programs of study. Most recently, she co-managed Chaminade’s inaugural undergraduate research program.

Davidson published numerous peer-reviewed and applied research publications. Most recently, she published “The Challenges of Determining Student Engagement in a Digital, Mobile Learning Age” in a special-edition Mobile Learning themed volume of GLOKALde, which she co-edited. She also coordinated the blind peer review of five of her Chaminade colleagues’ manuscripts, also published in the special edition volume focusing on mobile learning.

Prior to Chaminade, Davidson worked at the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General as a research analyst. She earned her doctorate in Sociology with specific focuses on crime, law, and deviance, as well as her M.A. and B.A. in sociology from the University of Hawaii – Manoa. Her research interests include institutional and community corrections, recidivism, and issues related to gender and crime.

Center for Teaching and Learning Selects New Assessment Specialist

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Cari Ryan, Assessment Specialist

Chaminade University welcomed Cari Anne Ryan as its new assessment specialist for the Center for Teaching and Learning. With her hire, the Office of the Provost completed its trifecta of director (Brian Richardson), instructional designer (Makana Mattos), and assessment specialist (Cari Ryan). Ryan will work with the faculty on course and program assessment, program review, designing and implementing assessment plans, and closing the loop on assessment.

Previously Ryan taught Writing and Research Methods at Pacific Rim Christian University.  She also served there as a Student Learning assessment coordinator and library director.

Ryan earned a B.A. in Art History and English from Seton Hall University in New Jersey and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Celebrating 430 Years of Employee Service

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The house was packed with well-wishers of employees who were being honored for their years of service.  Poinsettias, Santa jars filled with candy, white tablecloths and folded red napkins, Christmas decorations, a brightly lit tree, lots of food and sweets, and of course, the eggnog added to the festive spirit.

Annually the Personnel team highlights employees who have been with Chaminade starting with 5 years and then in additional 5-year increments. This past December 9, they honored 39 of Chaminade’s finest. In total, these faithful employees have served the university for more than 430 years.

The top contender was Chitha R. Unni (Philosophy and Religion) with  50 years (yes, the big 5-0). He was followed by Steven Downey (Audio Visual) and Yukio Ozaki (Fine Arts) each with 30 years of service. The 20-year benchmark was achieved by Hector Mamaclay (Facilities) and Evelyn M. Sanqui (Purchasing/ Bookstore). Oh, the stories they could tell!

With lei and hugs, kind words and good cheer, Chaminade University offered the 39 its gratitude for the blessings they have brought to this campus.

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  • Richard Kido at Employee Years of Service
  • Faculty and Staff at Employee Years of Service
  • Staff at Employee Years of Service
  • Employee Years of Service

Chaminade Business Professors Spearhead Molokai Nonprofit Seminar

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Chaminade Business professors, Richard Kido, Wayne Tanna and Aaron Williamson, flew to Molokai on a Saturday in mid-December to hold a day-long nonprofit seminar for residents.  For the three professors, it was an opportunity to do community service using their gifts and talents. The material had been well-received and meaningful for last year’s participants. So they gladly volunteered to return for a second year, responding to the Molokai Island Foundation’s request.

Thanks to the foundation, the seminar and refreshments were offered for free. Nonprofit executives and board members and anyone interested in starting a nonprofit were encouraged to attend.   Held in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Conference Room in Kaunakakai, Molokai, the seminar provided a rare networking opportunity for local nonprofit people to meet, as well as the chance to be updated on relevant tax changes.

Similar to the Honolulu seminar annually offered in September by Chaminade’s School of Business, the Molokai seminar offered guidance through the tricky maze of tax compliance for nonprofits and a review of the categories and governing instruments for tax-exempt organizations. Also covered were compliance law changes, and handouts were provided.