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Chaminade Magazine: 70th Anniversary Issue

The latest edition of Chaminade Magazine, available electronically now, celebrates the University’s seven decades of service to the community and looks ahead to new opportunities for advancing social justice, making a positive difference and uniting to solve shared challenges.

You won’t want to miss our featured story, which includes voices from across Chaminade’s ʻohana, including students, alumni and faculty, talking about what the University means to them.

To read the latest edition of Chaminade Magazine, scroll through the pages below or click here.

Also in this issue:

• In a touching remembrance, Men’s Basketball Head Coach Eric Bovaird pays tribute to the one and only Merv Lopes, who lived the University’s mission of service on and off the court.

• Read about how a new partnership between Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions and Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools is advancing public health and nursing practice.

• Meet Christine Baleto ’91, president and CEO of a large telecommunications firm on Guam, who says she is modeling servant leadership for her team members and her island.

Entrepreneur Seeks to Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders

Connie Kramer, MBA ’24, EdD ’28 craves new projects—and her resume proves it.

For more than two decades, she worked in the fast-paced world of media production, film and television before launching her own event planning company, collaborating with local businesses to put together high-end destination weddings, corporate and nonprofit events.

She took her company far and then, as a young mother, sold it to return to marketing and a more predictable work schedule. In 2013, she landed a role as director of sales and marketing at a Hawaii hotel chain—a position she held until 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was an unexpected departure.

But it gave Kramer a chance to do what she does best: Find a new challenge to take on. “Getting a master’s degree was always in the back of my mind,” she said. “And then the opportunity came up.”

She enrolled in the Professional MBA program at Chaminade, a year-long program designed for experienced professionals that includes online and in-person instruction and an international study trip. Kramer said she was nervous about going back to school, but quickly found her Chaminade classes were a perfect fit.

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“The classes really pulled from real-world case studies,” Kramer said. “That allowed me to bring my own experiences while broadening my leadership skills. That was one of the big sellers for me.”

Kramer said she not only enjoyed learning from her professors, but collaborating with her classmates. She was also challenged to think about the next steps in her career. “I thought I was going to use the MBA for director-ship roles,” she said. “But the faculty at Chaminade inspired me by making learning relevant in the classroom. I realized I wanted to give back through education.”

Kramer said she realized that she had trained teammates throughout her business career.

Why not, she asked herself, use her skills to prepare the next generation of leaders?

That’s why Kramer now finds herself pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change at Chaminade. She started her first doctoral classes in July, while also tackling a lectureship role at the University. Her ultimate goal is to become a professor.

“I never thought this would be something that would be on my radar,” she said. “But because of the warm relationships I’ve established with my professors at Chaminade and joining the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, it’s inspired me to pursue this new passion.”

At the same time, Kramer is still juggling other roles, including as an entrepreneur.

Coming from a family of avid golfers, she started a business selling fun plush golf covers with Hawaii themes. Golf Plush Paradise sells almost exclusively online, but Kramer also makes time to get to a few fairs and markets as she’s looking to build the brand.

“There’s so much golfing in Hawaii, but these speak to the female golfer like me,” she said.

At the same time, Kramer is looking to expand her volunteer work. She said while her resume reflects a diverse set of skills, at the core of all of her work has been a desire to give back.

For 20th Anniversary, Student Center Gets New Look

There are many favorite gathering places at Chaminade.

But there’s just something special about the Vi and Paul Loo Student Center, said Victoria Zembik ‘27, Chaminade Student Government Association president for the 2024-25 academic year.

So in celebration of the center’s 20th anniversary, the association decided to go big.

The student leaders oversaw and funded a major makeover of the space, replacing the old look with a sleek new one and making sure there were spaces for socializing, studying and fun.

On Sept. 10, an official grand opening was held at the redesigned space to mark the 20th anniversary milestone.

Students, faculty members and staff attended the bash, which also included a blessing.

Zembik said the redesign was based on student surveys and other input.

“We wanted to take on a project that really mattered to us. Our goal was to create a space on campus where our peers could truly enjoy themselves,” she said. “The Loo has always been a hotspot on campus, and it just needed a little revamping.”

She added, “We kept the desk with the whiteboard tabletop, but everything else was upgraded with newly refurbished furniture. Outlets were added in different areas, the layout was refreshed, and overall, it has become exactly what it needs to be—a thriving, welcoming space for students.”

The center is named after the late philanthropist, businessman and Chaminade Regent Paul Loo and his wife, Vi, also a strong supporter of education and the arts. The two supported the University in countless ways, including in helping make the student center a reality.

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Junghwa K. Suh, D.Arch, associate professor at Chaminade and co-chair of the Environmental + Interior Design program, said what makes the Loo Center redesign so special is that students and graduates were instrumental in making it happen—and executing a vision from start to finish.

Suh said she was also honored to add her own direction and guidance to the project.

“I recommended several aspects of interior design, including updated wall colors, improved lighting, varied seating options, spatial reconfiguration, and new furniture and accessories,” she said. “My primary goal was to bring vibrancy and meaning to this space for the students.”

One particularly meaningful touch: Ceramic leis crafted by students were integrated into the center’s sconces. The leis were created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the bridge to the Kalaepokahu campus and represent collaboration, creativity and community.

“This feature brings new life to the space and infuses it with the spirit of aloha,” Suh said.

She added, “What stands out most to me is the spirit of collaboration that made this project possible. Art and Design faculty and students, the Student Engagement directors, and our incredible facilities team all worked together with openness and enthusiasm.”

Air Force Honors Silversword for Leadership, Service

Yazmine Esquivel, MBA ’24 is accustomed to wearing many hats.

As a maintenance management analyst for the Department of Defense in Honolulu, she helps supervisors and senior managers improve unit performance, equipment condition, fleet health and personnel skills. The Air Force veteran also has nearly a decade of experience in supply chain management, logistics planning, inventory forecasting and import/export compliance.

Perhaps most importantly, Esquivel is a leader—and she’s thankful to Chaminade for that.

She says her MBA studies at the University and her participation in Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program helped her build confidence, broaden her perspectives and translate her extensive knowledge into opportunities for innovation and process improvement.

That dedication is now getting noticed.

This summer, Esquivel was recognized as among the “best and brightest” of the Pacific Air Forces with a Civilian of the Year Award, which honors those who exemplify excellence in their work, participate in educational opportunities off the clock, and give back to their communities.

Esquivel says the award was “deeply meaningful,” reminding her of the long hours she put in and moments of self-doubt she overcame to achieve her education and career goals. “I am grateful that others see value in the work I care so much about, and I feel encouraged to keep growing,” she said.

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An average work day for Esquivel is, well, anything but average.

“I help the U.S. Air Force keep nine Boeing C17 cargo jets ready to fly,” she said.

“My role is part planner, part problem-solver. I pull data from our maintenance system, double-check every detail lines up, make sure the right parts are on the shelf before work is due, and map out each aircraft’s maintenance schedule up to a year ahead. Then I brief our production team so everyone knows what is coming next. It’s a behind-the-scenes job … but it never stops being exciting.”

She said her MBA experience at Chaminade was like a “rehearsal” for her day job.

The courses in human resources, leadership, finance and marketing helped build a “technical toolkit” to rely on, she said. But her biggest takeaways from the program came from the leadership values that her professors instilled, including bringing a solutions-oriented attitude, always showing up prepared and remembering that people always come first in every project.

Yazmine Ezquivel, MBA ’24 says her experiences at Chaminade helped her develop as a leader.

“Beyond that, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program took those lessons beyond the classroom,” Ezquivel added. “Through volunteer projects and mentorship in the local community, I learned to connect business goals with service, to listen before acting, and to stay adaptable at all times.”

She said she’s grateful to many of her mentors at Chaminade, including Marketing Senior Lecturer Wera Panow-Loui, M.B.A., who recruited Esquivel into her Women in Leadership Development program, and School of Business and Communication Interim Dean Annette Santos, D.B.A.

Esquivel said Santos connected her with the Soroptimist International of Waikiki, a volunteer organization where she now serves as a delegate, “paying it forward” by working to empower women and girls to reach their goals of economic empowerment through higher education.

Professor Participates in Interfaith Learning Seminar

Peter Steiger, Ph.D., a Religious Studies associate professor at Chaminade, joined scholars from around the country this summer for a prestigious seminar focused on deepening interfaith learning and cooperation across Council of Independent Colleges campuses.

The Teaching Interfaith Understanding seminar was held in Chicago, and included robust discussions on scholarly frameworks, reviews of syllabi and case studies, and special sessions on topics in higher education. Steiger said a key focus of the seminar was collaboration.

Selection for the interfaith seminar is competitive, and participants must be nominated.

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Organizer Interfaith America said the gathering “provides a multidisciplinary space for participating faculty to explore the theoretical foundations and practical pedagogies of interfaith engagement in higher education.”

Peter Steiger, Ph.D., a professor of religion at Chaminade, participates in an Interfaith America seminar. (Photo Credit: Kelly Feldmiller/Courtesy of Interfaith America)

This was the program’s 11th year.

Steiger said what he appreciated most about the seminar was the opportunities for engaging dialogue. “Hearing the speakers and faculty participants at the seminar gave me greater hope for the future of religious pluralism and interfaith understanding in America,” Steiger said.

“University campuses, both public and private, small and large, should be committed to bringing about greater interfaith understanding and respect for the diversity of religion in the world.”

Chaminade Celebrates Fall Convocation

It was a day of spiritual celebration.

With the kickoff of the new academic year fresh on everyone’s minds, Chaminade students, members of the faculty and staff gathered September 3 for a special Fall Convocation. This year’s gathering, which is a longstanding tradition at Chaminade, not only celebrated the beginning of the school year but marked 25 years since the University’s namesake was beatified.

It was on September 3, 2000, that Pope John Paul II designated Fr. Chaminade as “Blessed.”

Fr. Martin Solma, S.M., vice president of Mission and rector, said Fall Convocation typically happens during the first week of the new school year but was moved to include the Silver Jubilee celebration for Chaminade. He added that honoring Chaminade in this way, as a campus community united around service, values the educational project he started.

“This is a man who had a wonderful charisma of forming a community of faith and then expressing that in an educational faith,” Solma said.

Classes were canceled for two hours so all students had the opportunity to attend the convocation, which was held in the Ching Conference Center and also included a recognition of the newest cohort of Marianist Educational Associates (MEAs) at Chaminade.

Participants in the MEA program, which includes representative from sister institutions the University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University, go through a one-year formation program filled with readings and reflections. The goal is to instill a deep understanding of the University’s Marianist character and encourage faculty and staff to weave those values into their work.

Chaminade has 38 active MEAs, with seven in the newest cohort.

The newest MEAs are:

  • Hubert Brown, audio video coordinator
  • Kumu Kahoali’i Keahi-Wood, cultural engagement specialist
  • Elisabeth Mather, MSCP ’18, mental health counselor
  • Kristopher Martin, MBA ’17, director of Admissions
  • Lorin Ramocki, DNP, RN, School of Nursing & Health Professions dean
  • Ariz Sanchez, assistant vice president for Student Success / Office of Student Success
  • Jodi-Ann Yoshida, MBA ’23, director of Alumni Relations

Martin says he’s honored to have been selected for the program.

“I want to be able to share my experience as both a Chaminade alumnus and MEA with prospective students so they feel a sense of purpose and belonging,” he said, adding that he’s greatly enjoyed the experience so far—including an MEA formation retreat at St. Mary’s University in Texas this summer.

“Also, it has reframed the way I think about my own purpose and how I can positively impact others,” he said. “I look forward to explaining our campus and community through the lens of an MEA, and seeing prospective students begin to understand and embrace our Marianist culture.”

Mather says she’s long been interested in the connection between faith and learning.

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“Personally, I believe deeply in our common human need to seek transcendence or the divine in community,” she said. “At their best, both religious faith and institutions of higher education recognize our human need to connect with a story larger than our individual selves.”

Mather added she looks forward to continuing to learn from the program, and her fellow MEAs.

“To be honest, I’m a bit of a nerd, so I absolutely love learning about history, religion, and philosophy, and the opportunity to do this kind of learning with cross-disciplinary colleagues was really fun,” she said. “I also really appreciated getting to know colleagues at the University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University who share so many experiences and goals.”

For Solma, that’s a key point.

The MEA program gives participants “a language to talk about what we do here,” he said. “They’re really collaborators with the leadership of the University and with the Society of Mary.”