Chaminade University of Honolulu

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Building a Framework for School of Nursing Excellence: A Marianist Way

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Chaminade Nursing Professor Dr. Edna Magpantay-Monroe presented her research on building a Marianist framework for nursing education at a national conference in the nation’s capital recently.

Edna Magpantay-Monroe

More than 2,000 nursing professionals attended the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society biennial conference in November. Magpantay-Monroe was among those invited to present her research in a poster presentation. She also attended the conference as a nursing honor society delegate.

Magpantay-Monroe’s research came out of an 18-month project with the Sigma Theta Tau International’s Emerging Educational Administrator Institute, a highly-selective program designed to mentor experienced faculty who aspire to become administrators in higher education.

Her research project ― “Building a Framework for School of Nursing Excellence: A Marianist Way” ― focused on the unique ways Marianist institutions like Chaminade University can prepare aspiring nurses for successful and fulfilling careers in healthcare and inspire them with a strong public service mission.

Magpantay-Monroe is a founding faculty member at Chaminade’s Honolulu School of Nursing, and has more than 30 years of experience in the field. Her research focuses on emotional intelligence, mindfulness and coaching, along with a number of patient-centered areas in healthcare. She also serves in a number of professional organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau International’s Hawaii chapter, which was founded in 1978 and is comprised of members at nursing schools statewide.

“Forensic Microbiology” Goes International

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In 2017, Chaminade Professor Dr. David Carter co-authored a textbook on the emerging (and groundbreaking) role of microbes in forensic science. Three years later and “Forensic Microbiology” is not only a seminal text in the field, but an Arabic version is slated to be published in December 2021.

Dr. David Carter

Carter, director of the Forensic Sciences program at Chaminade, co-wrote and served as one of the book’s four co-editors to focus on the emerging role of microbiology in forensic science investigations.

As he notes, microbes (or microorganisms) don’t replace more mundane forms of evidence – think fingerprints or cell phone records – but they can prove vital in establishing a cause of death, estimating when a person has died, and analyzing changes to a body after death along with evidence at a scene.

Using microbes – one of the “trendiest” areas of forensic science – can involve cutting-edge DNA analysis or tools and procedures that were invented more than a century ago, Carter previously told Campus News. ““There were folks using microbes in the 19th Century as evidence,” Carter said, adding that some of those techniques were forgotten and then recently unearthed to determine their efficacy.

Why microbes? Because they’re “present everywhere a human goes,” Carter said.

They’re always on us – and in us – “and not all forms of evidence do that.”

Forensic Microbiology Book

The planned Arabic translation of “Forensic Microbiology,” which is already in use at institutions nationally and around the globe, underscores the growing utility of microbiology in forensic science – and how Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program is at the forefront of that effort.

Indeed, the focus of Carter’s research is the structure and function of the postmortem human microbiome and the process of human decomposition, especially in tropical environments. In his decades of work analyzing crime scenes, Carter has consulted with investigative agencies around the globe, published in high-profile scientific journals, and served as a leader in the academic field.

He has also mentored scores of Forensic Sciences students, including two Chaminade University graduates who contributed to “Forensic Microbiology”: Emily Junkins (’16) went on to pursue a doctoral degree in microbiology while Whitney Kodama (’17) joined the Honolulu Office of the Medical Examiner.

Dr. Eurina Cha Receives Bright Society Award

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An international organization on a mission to promote peaceful, healthier communities recently honored Chaminade’s Associate Professor Dr. Eurina Cha for her years of work in public and community health.

Dr. Eurina Cha receives 2019 Bright Society Award

Cha was the recipient of the 2019 Bright Society Award from the Global Cooperative Society International-Hawaii chapter. Leaders from the non-governmental organization presented Cha with the honor at a special gathering in December at the Waialae Country Club.

Global Cooperative Society (GCS) was launched in Korea and is well-known across Asia.

A number of Korean and Korean-American community leaders attended the GCS awards ceremony, including representatives from the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Korean Association, National Unification Advisory Council, and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu.

Dr. Eurina Cha receives 2019 Bright Society Award

Ronald Moon, former chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, presented Cha’s award.

Cha, a certified advanced public health nurse, has more than 25 years of experience in nursing and frequently volunteers her time at community events. She’s also the lead faculty member at an annual event on Hawaii Island that provides health screenings and education in a culturally sensitive way.

The Bright Society Award is presented to community leaders working to make society “brighter.”

Cha said she was honored to receive the award. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I shared my pride in being a nurse educator at Chaminade and public health professional to serve the community, particularly Korean-American communities, to promote a happier and healthier community.”

Celebrating Years of Service

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Chaminade faculty and staff gathered earlier this month for some holiday fare and fun – and to recognize dozens of colleagues celebrating years of service milestones.

Among those honored: Dr. David Coleman, a professor of Religious Studies at Chaminade, who has served at the institution for 45 years.

Dr. John Steelquist, professor of Operations Research, was recognized for 35 years at Chaminade.

And two members of the University ‘ohana are celebrating 30 years at Chaminade: Dr. Chock Wong, an associate professor of Mathematics, and Librarian Valerie Coleman.

Chaminade’s annual faculty and staff Christmas celebration is one of the few times during the year that team members from across the institution are able to gather and enjoy each other’s company.

The end-of-the-year luncheon is also a time for reflection – as faculty and staff members recall the accomplishments of the past year and the big goals for the year ahead.

Here’s the full list of Chaminade employees celebrating years of service milestones:

Ty Aki
Leiko Bedoya
Mefleen Billy
Dr. Denise Hackman
Karen Harp
Kevin Mikami
Shadrack Nabea
Maxine Nihei
Siako Noket
Andrew Perez
Cheryl Yamamoto

Eva Djou
Ryan Hirata
Seiko Kuliano

Dr. Joseph Allen
Heidi Harakuni
Allison Jerome
Choong Lim
Cassandra Sakamoto
Eva Washburn-Repollo

Dr. Lilia Castle
Huo Chen
Venus Ituralde
Dr. Regina Pfeiffer
Sr. Malia Wong

Rui Huang
Cesar Tesora  

Valerie Coleman
Dr. Chock Wong

Dr. John Steelquist

Dr. David Coleman

Graduate and Online Undergraduate Scholarships

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Dr. Lynn Babington talks to KHON2 about our new $5,000 graduate and online undergraduate scholarship in celebration of 200 years of Marianist Education. The one-time $5,000 scholarships are available to new, incoming students looking to pursue a master’s degree or online bachelor’s degree.

At Chaminade University, we are committed to improving the community we call home through education.

Chaminade University Introduces New Scholarships for Incoming Students

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HONOLULU, HAWAII (December 2, 2019) – As part of its commitment to improve the community through education, Chaminade University has introduced new scholarships for incoming students. The University will award $5,000 scholarships to new students who wish to pursue master’s degrees or online bachelor’s degrees in eligible programs.

“The legacy of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade is one that embraces education as a way to change society and ensure a community of justice and reconciliation,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, President of Chaminade University. “These new scholarships will enable new students to contribute to the fabric of Hawaii in honor of our longstanding tradition and commitment to improve the communities in which we live and serve.”

The $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to new full-time students. Among the eligible master’s degrees are teaching, business administration, education, criminal justice administration, and pastoral theology. The scholarships for bachelor’s students are exclusively for online programs and span a wide range of majors.

To apply, applicants are asked to explain how they serve the community when completing their scholarship applications. The deadline to apply for Winter 2020 is December 20, 2019, and the deadline for Spring 2020 is March 20, 2020. The scholarship is available to new students only and cannot be combined with existing institutional partnerships or agreements.

In addition to expanding its incoming student scholarships, Chaminade University continues to provide a variety of other scholarships including many endowed awards for current students. This provides eligible students the opportunity for financial support beyond the first few terms and well into the completion of their program.

For more information, visit chaminade.edu.  

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.