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Aspiring Teachers Thrive in ‘Living Classroom’

Early education is all about experiential learning. So it makes sense that critical coursework for aspiring early education and Montessori teachers should be hands-on, too.

And that’s exactly the idea behind Chaminade’s Summer Montessori Methods course.

Early Childhood and Montessori Programs Director Elizabeth Park, Ph.D. says the course is designed to immerse students in the core areas of Montessori education and turn Hawaiʻi into a “living classroom,” complete with excursions.

Among this year’s highlights:

  • Students learned from Kumu Kaipoʻi Kelling, MEd ’06, who shared the ancient Hawaiian creation chant Kumulipo and demonstrated how children can learn through storytelling.
  • On July 19, participants visited Pali Lookout and other significant sites on Oahu with Kumu Leilani Antone, MAT ’17, who explored how Montessori principles can be integrated with Hawaiian knowledge systems in the classroom, including through math, art and science.
  • Students also got the chance to visit a local Montessori school to see the method in action, observing the prepared environment, child-led learning and classroom dynamics.

Park explained that the Summer Montessori Methods course is offered to students in select Chaminade degree or certificate programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Montessori Education and Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in early education.

This summer, 22 students at varying points of their degrees participated.

“A central goal of the program is to connect Montessori philosophy with place-based education,” Park said.

“As our host place, Hawai‘i provides a culturally and ecologically rich environment that allows students to explore how local context, land, and culture can be meaningfully integrated into Montessori practice. This immersive summer experience prepares students to become reflective and culturally grounded educators.”

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Park explained that Montessori education is fundamentally different from traditional teaching models, with a focus on the whole child.

“Children learn through hands-on materials, self-directed activity, and purposeful work in prepared environments that foster independence, concentration, and a deep love of learning,” she said.

“In today’s tech-obsessed world, Montessori offers a refreshing and necessary balance. It grounds children in real, tactile experiences before introducing abstract or digital concepts. Instead of screen time, children manipulate concrete materials that help them understand math, language, and the world around them in meaningful ways.”

Chaminade operates a Montessori Laboratory School on campus in addition to several pathways for aspiring Montessori teachers.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Montessori Laboratory School, click here.

2 Business Leaders Elected to Board of Regents

Two Hawaiʻi business leaders have been elected to serve on Chaminade University’s Board of Regents as the institution marks its 70th year of serving students across the islands and Pacific.

The new Regents are: David Oyadomari, who is the founder and managing director of Ekklesia Capital, an innovation and strategy firm focused on developing small businesses; and Kristine Stebbins ’87, senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Bank of Hawaii.

They kicked off their three-year terms on July 1.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. called Oyadomari and Stebbins longtime supporters of Chaminade “who fully embrace our University’s service-focused mission and are driven to help build stronger island communities.”

“We are most appreciative for the time and expertise they bring to the Board of Regents led by Chair Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil that is working tirelessly to support and serve as our institution’s governing body,” she added.

Oyadomari, formerly executive vice president of operations at American Savings Bank, has more than 25 years of experience in new market and product development, cost reduction and organizational design and also serves as strategic advisor to FTV Capital.

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A graduate of ’Iolani School, Oyadomari earned his bachelor’s degree at Claremont McKenna College and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as the president of the Claremont McKenna Alumni Association, Oyadomari is an advisory board member for Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication.

He also volunteers for other organizations, including the Hoea Foundation.

Oyadomari says he is committed to his family and faith, as a founding member of Kakaako Christian Fellowship, and seeks to live the values that Chaminade teaches—from moral character to building a just, peaceful society. He is married to Tammy Oyadomari-Chun, who is the deputy superintendent for Strategy at the Hawai’i Department of Education, and they have a son.

Stebbins joined the Bank of Hawaii in October 2020, and has nearly 30 years of experience in digital marketing, brand strategy, integrated marketing, product marketing, and channel marketing through the customer experience lens.

She was founder and CEO of Beyond Vigilant, a strategic consultant company that led clients through digital business transformation, and has also held leadership positions at Ogilvy Mather Advertising, Accenture, Ascentium, and Microsoft.

Stebbins, who is Catholic, earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Chaminade.

In addition to her volunteer work with the University, including the School of Business and Communication, she has served on the board for Girl Scouts and mentored local entrepreneurs through the Mana Up effort and Bank of Hawaii Women-Inspired employee resource group.

For a full list of Chaminade’s Board of Regents, click here.

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.

carlos_gutierrez_headshot 136x200

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.”

Chaminade Awarded $2.3M to Bolster Behavioral Health Workforce

To help fill the urgent demand for more mental health services, Chaminade University of Honolulu has been awarded a $2.34 million federal grant over four years to expand and strengthen the state’s behavioral health workforce.

The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) award provided by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports Chaminade’s initiative to develop a health care workforce in a comprehensive effort to address the acute shortage of mental health professionals across the islands.

Dr. Pamela Smith (Associate Dean, School of Nursing and Health Professions)
Pamela Smith, EdD, APRN-Rx

Hawai‘i is facing a critical shortage of mental health services, especially for children, adolescents and homeless members of the community. The lingering effects of the pandemic, recent natural disasters such as the Maui wildfires, compounded by economic uncertainty and systemic healthcare gaps, have driven an unprecedented demand for behavioral health support.

The BHWET initiative will primarily serve young adults and marginalized populations throughout Hawai‘i, ensuring that care reaches those who need it most.

By equipping nurse practitioners with advanced behavioral health training and embedding them in community health settings, Chaminade University aims to transform access to care across the state.

The grant, awarded to Chaminade’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program will provide support to students, faculty, clinical preceptors, and community organizations in order to educate future PMHNPs in an interprofessional setting while concurrently strengthening the interdisciplinary team approach to delivering care.

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“Our mission is rooted in developing a workforce capable of serving the community,” said Dr. Pamela Smith, vice dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions and DNP director. “With this support, we’re not only expanding educational access for future PMHNPs, we’re directly addressing the workforce gaps that are preventing families and children from getting the care they need.”

This latest grant strengthens Chaminade University’s mission to serve Hawai‘i by investing in the next generation of mental health providers and expanding access to care where it’s needed most.

Dr. Lorin Ramocki, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, added that by advancing workforce training and community-based partnerships, “Chaminade is taking meaningful steps to close the mental health care gap and uplift underserved populations across the state.”

As Chaminade’s PMHNP track coordinator and grant program lead, Dr. Dana Monday will work with key community collaborators in this initiative, including the Institute of Human Services (IHS) and Child and Family Services (CFS). Both agencies offer deeply rooted, community-based services to vulnerable populations.

Chaminade’s BHWET initiative directly addresses this crisis through a multi-faceted approach:

• Recruitment and Training: The program will support and train a new generation of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) by providing targeted financial support to students in Chaminade’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, lowering economic barriers to entry into this vital field.

• Field Placement and Experiential Learning: New and expanded partnerships with community organizations will provide students with hands-on experience in integrated care settings across high-need areas, particularly in underserved communities.

• Interprofessional and Team-Based Training: Students will train alongside professionals from various health disciplines, learning to deliver collaborative, holistic care that integrates behavioral health into primary care environments.

• Preceptor Development: The program will also focus on increasing the capacity of experienced behavioral health professionals to serve as clinical preceptors and mentors for the next generation of practitioners.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chaminade has graduated more than 650 students in behavioral health majors, including Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), Bachelor’s in Psychology, Masters in Counseling Psychology (MSCP), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and started Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) and Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy (MSMFT) programs.

The DNP program, launched in 2021, has four specialty tracks, including Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Executive Leader, and the only Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program in the state.

(HRSA Award Grant No. M01HP54853-01-00)

Chaminade Hosts ‘Meaningful Work’ Summit

Scores of policymakers, corrections officials, nonprofit advocates, and others converged on Chaminade’s campus for a summit focused on fostering pathways to meaningful employment for those who have been impacted by the justice system, including formerly incarcerated individuals.

The June 25 Pathways to Meaningful Work Symposium, organized by Chaminade and made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, included a panel of formerly incarcerated people who shared the barriers they faced to employment and the support and resources that made all the difference.

Janet Davidson, Ph.D, vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the event was designed to bring together a diversity of stakeholders on a critical issue.

The summit comes as Chaminade prepares to welcome a third cohort to its prison education program at Halawa Correctional Facility.

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Participants of the program earn an associate’s degree in Business Administration.

Davidson said the prison education initiative has prompted questions at the University and beyond about “what’s next.”

She continued, “Once someone earns a degree, how are we helping them transition to meaningful employment?” And that’s what the summit was meant to explore.

Ved Price, executive director of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, spoke at the conference and said it’s critical to generate more conversation about how to transition people out of prison and ensure they can build successful lives following incarceration.


“We want the community to understand that education is one of our most powerful interventions that we have for incarceration,” Price said. “It’s important to get as many people to the table as possible, meaning the business community, corrections, policymakers, all in the same room.”

Since the launch of Chaminade’s prison education program, 17 people have earned their associate’s degree while incarcerated.

Davidson said in addition to welcoming a new cohort this fall, the University plans to offer bachelor’s degree courses to previous AA graduates. Chaminade also has plans to expand the program to other correctional facilities.

Nursing Professor Receives Prestigious Honor

Chaminade Associate Professor Marife Aczon-Armstrong, MSCP ’03, Ph.D. has been selected for induction into the American Academy of Nursing’s 2025 Class of Fellows, a prestigious honor reserved for leaders in the field who have made substantial contributions to health care.

This year’s fellows hail from 42 states and 12 countries. They will join 3,200 active Academy Fellows who “together advance the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.”

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Aczon-Armstrong has been a nationally board certified nurse case manager for 25 years, and a Fulbright Senior Specialist for more than a decade. In addition to a doctoral degree in nursing, she holds master’s degrees in nursing and counseling psychology along with multiple certifications.

Marife Aczon-Armstrong

Lorin Ramocki, DNP, interim dean of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions, congratulated Aczon-Armstrong on receiving “one of the highest honors in our profession” with her induction as a 2025 fellow.

“This recognition reflects not only her extraordinary contributions to leadership and nursing education, but also elevates the national profile of our School and its commitment to advancing health equity and innovation,” Ramocki said.

The academy said the 2025 Class of Fellows was selected from a historically high number of applicants.

The fellows will be formally recognized at a conference in October in Washington, D.C.

“I cannot emphasize enough at this pivotal time in history the vital importance of recognizing this extraordinary and sizeable group of nurse leaders. With rich and varied backgrounds from practice, policy, research, entrepreneurship, and academia, they have been instrumental in using nursing’s holistic approach to improve the health of patients and communities throughout the world,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, Ph.D.

Also among the 2025 Class of Fellows: Sondra Leiggi Brandon, a member of the University’s Board of Governors. Brandon is vice president of Patient Care, Behavioral Health at the Queen’s Health Systems.