Featured Story

Blessing Our New EdD Program

June 30, 2021

The gathering celebrated the end of a long journey—and the beginning of so many others.

In a special ceremony on campus recently, some of the members of the inaugural cohort of Chaminade’s Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change joined with faculty members, administrators and others to mark the much-anticipated kickoff of the new program.

Kumu Keahi Renaud delivered a Hawaiian blessing followed by Father Marty Solma, SM, Chaminade’s chaplain, who led attendees in prayer. Several Chaminade administrators then took to the microphone to touch on just how much planning and commitment it took to make the day a reality.

Speaking to incoming cohort members, Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington said that the new doctoral degree program is “all about leadership.” She continued, “You come from such different perspectives. The richness of your learning together will be something very, very special.”

Indeed, the 33 members of the program’s first class hail from a diversity of backgrounds and professional interests. Dr. Hans Chun, director of education leadership programs, added there was particularly strong interest in the program in Hawaii. The majority of participants are in the islands.

The first term for the doctoral students, who will be learning fully online, begin July 6.

At the ceremony, students were given a commemorative coin with the Chaminade seal to mark the special day along with a kukui nut lei, signifying wisdom and enlightenment. Dr. Dale Fryxell, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences dean, also dedicated a turtle-shaped bench honoring the launch. He said the turtle represents knowledge and he hoped the symbolism inspired the doctoral students.

Dr. Lance Askildson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the journey students are embarking on is an exciting—and important—one. The program’s inaugural cohort will learn, work, and grow together over the course of three years, the expected completion time for the degree.

Askildson said the doctoral program is focused on leadership development across disciplines.

“But it’s also about leadership by some very courageous faculty and administrators—to bring this program forward after a number of years of advocacy,” Askildson said, speaking to the group. “The legacy that underlies … Chaminade University is of a brand of education holistic in nature, dedicated to educating the whole person, but driven by something more than just a transaction of knowledge.”

He said that individualized, whole-of-person experience is integrated into the program’s very curriculum.

And that, he added, is exactly what attracted so many professionals to the program.

To those incoming students, he said, “I applaud you and I congratulate you.”

Second Chance Pell Program

June 29, 2021

Following federal approval, Chaminade University will launch an innovative “second chance” Pell Grant program this fall that will give Halawa Correctional Facility inmates an opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in Business Administration.

While the Pell Grant will not fully cover the cost of tuition and fees, generous donations from Atherton Family Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank and Sidney Stern Memorial Trust to the University, will help fill some of the financial gaps to make the program a reality for the students.

As part of the initiative, inmates will be eligible for federal Pell Grants in order to seek the degree. The US Department of Education invited Chaminade to submit an application for its Second Chance Pell Experiment in January 2020, which waives Pell Grant restrictions for incarcerated students.

And this spring, the federal government gave Chaminade the green light to move forward.

“We are proud to offer this new Second Chance program to incarcerated students at Halawa Correctional Facility, giving them an opportunity to build their skills so they can seek to rebuild their lives,” said Dr. Janet Davidson, Chaminade’s Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. “We cannot thank all our donors enough for their generous support of this program and are also incredibly appreciative of our strong partnership with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety.”

The program will officially launch August 23, with a cohort of 15 to 20 students.

Chaminade professors will deliver instruction in a hybrid model—with in-person classes and supplementary learning through an online platform. In order to participate, the professors are getting special training from the state so they can safely teach at the medium-security prison.

The University is offering incarcerated students a significantly reduced tuition rate; with their Pell Grant awards, they will not be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs. Meanwhile, correctional staff are evaluating prospective students for college readiness, using various reasoning assessments.

The associate’s degree itself will be 60 credits, and take about two years to complete. In addition to completing their general education coursework, the students—attending full-time—will tackle Business Administration courses that cover everything from accounting to statistics to macroeconomics. “Students will move through the program as a cohort, graduating after two years with an associate’s degree in Business Administration,” Davidson said. “We are looking forward to working with this community to help them expand their skills so they can access new opportunities.”

Dr. Kate Perrault Receives John B. Phillips Award

June 23, 2021

Dr. Katelynn Perrault, an associate professor of Forensic Science and Chemistry at Chaminade, is celebrating special recognition for her hard work—in the classroom, in the lab and in the community.

In June, Perrault was honored to learn she’d received the John B. Phillips Award at the annual International GCxGC Symposium. The award recognizes early career researchers making significant achievements and advancements in the field of two-dimensional gas chromatography.

Perrault received the award after presenting a lecture at the symposium titled, “A Secret Guide to Learning, Using and Teaching GCxGC.” Two-dimensional gas chromatography is a sophisticated method that allows researchers to separate what type of chemicals are present in complex samples.

In her case, Perrault is studying odors produced by bacteria associated with decomposing bodies.

She says the research could better identify which chemicals are released from a body after death, something that ultimately could help in search and recovery efforts and one day “help to bring closure to families who may not have known how, where or why their loved one passed.”

Perrault was also recently recognized for a very different type of work.

The American Chemical Society named her a 2021 Outreach Volunteer of the Year for her work to organize National Chemistry Week events in Hawaii. The week includes hands-on activities at Kahala Mall and a statewide illustrated poem contest that garners hundreds of entries each year.

Dr. Kate Perrault teaching her forensic science students

“Science outreach is so important to me,” Perrault said, speaking about the recognition for her work with the society’s Hawaii group. “I believe it helps people to understand the world around them through a scientific lens. We are living through an age where being able to assess information and events around us is greatly helped by a basic understanding of science and technology.”

Perrault brings that same enthusiasm to the classroom, and was recently able to see three undergraduate researchers (Kyle Furuta, Danson Oliva and Hunter Yamanaka) from her lab—the Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry—present posters at an international conference that she also chaired. More than 300 researchers, experts, students and newcomers from around the world attended the virtual, three-day Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop in February.

“The conference gave me motivation and great ideas for the next work we will perform in my own research group,” she said, “and I am grateful for the ability to have been able to share these three days with everyone in the field. It is so important, now more than ever, that we are able to remain connected to our global network within research, even if we aren’t able to gather in person.”

DNP Program Receives WSCUC Accreditation

June 21, 2021

Following a comprehensive review process, Chaminade University’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The accreditation recognizes that Chaminade University has met high standards of academic quality and effectiveness.

“Receiving this accreditation from WSCUC is a huge step forward as we can begin admitting students to our new DNP program, which will educate family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and nurse leaders,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade University president. “Nurses play such a significant role in healthcare delivery, and during times like these, it’s so important to have nurses who are able to innovate and adapt. The DNP program seeks to provide further education for dedicated and passionate nurses to excel as leaders in healthcare.”

Through the Commission’s extensive review, Chaminade University has been shown to have met the four standards of WSCUC accreditation, which include: defining institutional purposes and ensuring educational objectives, achieving educational objectives through core functions, developing and applying resources and organizational structures to ensure quality and sustainability, and creating an organization committed to quality assurance, institutional learning and improvement.

Chaminade University’s DNP program is designed for the registered nurse or advanced practice nurse who aims to provide evidence-based care to culturally diverse populations while also developing a leadership role as an advocate for health and social justice. Through the use of an innovative, technology-enriched, educational approach, the curriculum prepares graduates to address profound healthcare needs of society.

“The DNP program takes a values-based approach to education and patient care, and will incorporate strong community partnerships, individualized mentoring and culturally-informed advanced practice,” said Dr. Rhoberta Haley, Dean, School of Nursing and Health Professions. “We are excited to launch this program, especially during a time when nurse leaders are so urgently needed.”

The WSCUC is an institutional accrediting agency that serves a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions throughout California, Hawaii and the Pacific, as well as a few institutions outside the U.S. For more information about WSCUC accreditation, visit wscuc.org.

# # #

About Chaminade University 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.

Maryknoll School Teacher Receives Teacher of the Year Award

June 15, 2021

Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year awardee Mary Vannatta

From working late to offer one-on-one tutoring to incorporating exciting new digital tools into her classroom to inspiring students to be passionate about learning, Maryknoll School seventh-grade math and religion teacher Mary Jane Vannatta goes above and beyond to make sure her students succeed.

And all that hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially during the pandemic.

For her selfless dedication to students and tireless mentorship to fellow educators, the 40-year veteran of Hawaii Catholic schools was named the 2021 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year.

After being honored in a virtual ceremony May 27, Vannatta received the award in-person June 2.

In addition to accepting the Golden Pineapple Trophy from Chaminade University, Vannatta was awarded $1,000 from John C. and Marilou Brogan through Chaminade, a one-year car lease from Aloha Kia and $1,000 in gas gift cards from Hele-Par Hawaii. The Augustine Education Foundation also awarded $1,500 to Maryknoll School for faculty appreciation in recognition of Vannatta’s achievement.

Nominators said Vannatta is a caring, loving educator whose world revolves around her students.

One said that she incorporates a host of different tools to ensure students thrive in the subjects she teaches, including math. And during the pandemic, her workload increased exponentially as she learned new devices and programs to teach both distance learning and in-person students at the same time.

What she doesn’t know how to do, the nominator said, she’ll figure out so she can help her students.

Another nominator said Vannatta never hesitates to put in extra time for students—before school, after school and with remote help at all hours. If they need help, she’s there for them. And she’s done the same for her fellow educators, including as a mentor to new teachers and grade level chairperson.

Vannatta is an active member of the broader school community and of her parish.

And she can often be spotted at school events, many of which she has helped to plan.

Vannatta is also a lifelong learner, frequently attending professional development opportunities, looking to improve her religion instruction. She has completed courses to reach the Master Catechist level as she seeks to help guide her students to be thoughtful, ethical citizens of strong moral character.

Mary Jane Vannatta was also featured in MidWeek. Read the article here.

MBA Alumnus’ Mission: Be a Force for Good

June 1, 2021

Ethan West works with local farmers to curate the ingredients for his baby food.

When entrepreneur and CEO Ethan West ’16 was getting his Master of Business Administration degree at Chaminade, he remembers encountering the kinds of questions that still resonate with him today. Like: “What does it mean to be a force for good as a for-profit company?” and “How do you make decisions grounded in ethics?”

“I came up with a personal mantra back then at Chaminade: profit should be a byproduct of a mission achieved,” West said, adding he recalls being inspired by professors and business executives who understood the importance of taking a “business for good” approach to making money.

West’s personal mantra is now baked into the mission of his fast-growing company, Piko Provisions, which produces organic baby food with a commitment to sustainability. The company uses only naturally- and locally-grown ingredients and shuns preservatives and additives (like sugar).

The baby food is produced 100% locally, too, before being sent off to Hawaii stores.

A Foundation in Farming

West’s journey to co-founding Piko Provisions in 2020 started years earlier.

Before he was an MBA student, or in banking on the mainland, he was a kid who lived on a farm.

In fact, West grew up on a small organic dairy and produce farm in Maine. He says he used to wake up at 4 a.m. to help tend to the animals before heading off to school. And on weekends, the whole family would head off to the farmers market to sell what they’d grown and made to their neighbors.

His dad was a chiropractor “but a farmer at heart.”

Ethan West inspects the ripeness of bunches bananas.

“That was how we would take care of our community,” West said, adding his dad would even tote produce into the office to hand out to his patients. “It really set the foundation for the rest of my life.”

West attended the University of Maine, majoring in Political Science, and after graduation found a position in banking. That was when one of his best friends, who was living in Hawaii, reached out to him with a question: want a change of scenery? West jumped at the opportunity to move to the islands and “immediately hit the ground running.” He found a job and enrolled in the MBA program at Chaminade.

There, he found professors and peers who were just as interested in becoming drivers of positive change in business. He recalls his mentors making it clear that while leadership in business is about making decisions, leadership in the community—leadership that considers the welfare of your family, friends, and neighbors—is about making decisions “grounded in ethics and who you are as a person.”

West took that advice to heart.

Inspired to Make a Change

After graduating from Chaminade with his MBA, he set to work on a passion that he first developed during those early days on the farm: helping to feed his community. He took a managerial position at Kunoa Cattle Company, where he focused on partnering with local companies to deliver a quality local product. And from there, he jumped out on his own to form what would become Piko Provisions.

He credits his young niece and nephew for the inspiration.

In late 2019, shortly after they were born, he stumbled across a report about toxic heavy metals contained in baby foods. Mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead. As a new uncle, the findings appalled West. As a businessman, it galvanized him. Change was needed—and he was in a position to help.

“From that point on, there was no turning back,” he said. “It was a responsibility that I had to create a better option that honored Hawaii and used the incredible ingredients that are growing here. Ingredients like taro, ulu and Okinawan sweet potato that are perfect for babies.”

To get started, West enrolled in an online course about child nutrition and cooking. He started making and tasting baby food—lots of it—and partnered with local community groups to find parents who would offer feedback about what they wanted to see in baby food (and in a local company).

More Than Just Baby Food

Ethan West '16, CEO of Punahele Provisions

All that outreach was central to West’s mission-focused approach.

Because, West said, “we don’t want to just be a baby food company. We want to help shift the paradigm. We want to be resources for parents and oh, by the way, we make really great baby food.”

In early 2020, West and his team were just about gearing up for a crowdfunding campaign. But a roadblock stopped them in their tracks: the COVID-19 pandemic. “From a human aspect I could not in good faith ask anybody for money when so many people were struggling,” he said.

So West went back to the drawing board, picking everything apart.

The pandemic also redoubled his resolve to ensure he was keeping his money in the state. That prompted him to take a hard look at how his products were to be shipped off to the mainland and processed—a common practice because of a lack of infrastructure in Hawaii.

West was able to change things up and keep his processing in the state.

A Mission-driven Company

Piko Provisions was born shortly afterward. The brand bears the Hawaiian word that’s best translated as “to treat as a favorite” and it refers to how the company wants to “favor all the children of Hawaii and beyond by providing them with nothing but the healthiest baby food.”

It was also created as a public benefit corporation—a company, as West describes it, “beholden to a publicly stated mission.” That mission includes “strengthening the future” with healthy food and a more sustainable food system, supporting local agriculture, and caring for the environment.

West said that looking ahead, he’s optimistic about the change he—and others—can make with business and community actions. “I’ve been cursed and blessed with a case of eternal optimism. I think many entrepreneurs are, otherwise you wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning,” he said.

“But I am optimistic about the direction in which our food system is heading.” And that, West said, is because of a growing community awareness about where food comes from—and a desire to ensure it’s not only healthy but sustainable. “The market is demanding a better way of doing things,” he said.

His message to consumers: don’t be afraid to ask about the origins of your meal.

“That is probably the simplest and easiest things,” he said, “that you can do as a community member.”