Chaminade University of Honolulu

Institutional

Chaminade to Offer Free FAFSA Workshops

Chaminade University will offer a series of free financial aid workshops next month at various high schools on Oahu to assist Hawai‘i students and their families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Completing the FAFSA is a critical step in securing financial aid for college or graduate school and in determining eligibility for federal, state, and institutional funding.

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Workshop participants will receive guided support to complete their applications from Chaminade’s financial aid counselors.

The FAFSA for the 2025–2026 school year was released earlier this month, returning to its usual schedule after a delayed launch in 2024 due to a major form overhaul.

With the application process now back on track, Chaminade is making it easier for families by providing in-person assistance. The workshops are open to all Hawai‘i students and their families.

Workshops will be held at the following locations:

• November 3 from 6:30 p.m. at Calvery Chapel Christian School
• November 4 from 5:30 p.m. at Assets High School
• November 5 from 5:30 pm. at Radford High School


“These off-campus workshops reflect our commitment to serving Hawai‘i’s communities and ensuring that all students have access to the support they need,” said Chaminade University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. “By bringing these resources directly to families, we’re removing barriers and helping them navigate what can be a confusing and overwhelming process.”

In addition to offering FAFSA support, Chaminade continues to expand financial opportunities for local students. Through the Hawai‘i Guarantee, the University matches Hawaii’s flagship tuition for all qualified residents. Chaminade also increased merit-based scholarships this year to help offset tuition expenses for all undergraduate students, reaffirming its commitment to affordability and access.

To learn more about Chaminade University’s financial program, click here.

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.

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.

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)

Employee Milestones Celebrated

Chaminade employees were recognized for years of service milestones at a University luncheon this week.

Also honored were five team members retiring at the end of the academic year, including a philosophy professor who has taught at Chaminade for nearly six decades.

Three years of service honorees are celebrating a quarter century or more at Chaminade.

Huo Chen, a maintenance worker, marked 25 years with the University. Rui Huang, also in maintenance, was recognized for 30 years with Chaminade, and Caryn Callahan, a professor of Finance, is celebrating 35 years.

Meanwhile, Philosophy Professor Chitha Unni is marking his 58th year with Chaminade as he prepares for retirement. Other retirees include Psychology Professor Tracy Trevorrow, Communication Professor and Discipline Coordinator Clifford Bieberly, Communication Professor Eva Washburn-Repollo, and Emelda LaForteza (in Facilities).

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The years of service honorees and retirees were celebrated at Chaminade’s annual End of Year Employee Luncheon on April 14. In all, 36 employees were recognized as they marked from five to 35 years of service with the University, including Provost Lance Askildson, Ph.D. (five years).

Tai Arakawa, Library Technical Services Supervisor
Lance Askildson, Provost & Senior VP for Academic Affairs
Jane Chang, Assistant to VP Mission and Rector
Katie Chun, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Meghan Hazen, Assistant Teacher-L. Robert Allen Montessori
Jim Heller Sutton, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development
Amber Noguchi, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs
Wera Panow-Loui, Senior Lecturer of Business
Lianne Philhower, Director of Clinical Training & Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Dustyn Ragasa, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies & Director MPT Program
Claire Reddy, Lead Montessori Teacher
Ariz Sanchez, Director of Student Success
Sean Scanlan, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Psychology
Jeff Stern, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Joy Tanji, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Lisa Trumbull, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Community Partnerships
Scott Wylie, Assistant Provost of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Leiko Bedoya, Assistant to Vice President for Student Affairs
Mefleen Billy, Custodian
Maxine Nihei, Mail Specialist
Andrew Perez, Grant Specialist
Junghwa Suh, Associate Professor of Arts and Design
Michael Weaver, Lecturer of Historical and Political Science
Tina Yamamoto, Assistant to the President

Jolene Cogbill, Associate Professor of Biology
Seiko Kulliano, Custodian
Lori Shimoda, Research Associate
Justin Wyble, Assistant Professor of English

Tom Galli, Senior Lecturer of Communications
Allison Jerome, Vice President of Student Affairs
Choong Lim, Assistant Vice President and Controller
Cassandra Sakamoto, Program Manager for Chuuk Programs
Eva Washburn-Repollo, Professor of Communication

Huo Chen, Maintenance Worker

Rui Huang, Maintenance Worker

Caryn Callahan, Professor of Finance

Scholar: Catholic Bioethics Must Evolve

Dr. Therese Lysaught is an influential voice in Catholic healthcare

Dr. Therese Lysaught, professor at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Care Leadership at Loyola University Chicago, argues Catholic bioethics must embrace the fullness of the Catholic social tradition and pay more attention to ethical dimensions of healing that are relevant to people’s lives.

Addressing attendees at the latest Marianist Lecture, which was held Oct. 13 at the Mystical Rose Oratory, Lysaught also said a broadened Catholic bioethics has the ability to play a critical role in society.

In an introduction before the lecture, Chaminade’s Dr. Dustyn Ragasa applauded Lysaught’s encyclopedic knowledge of Catholic bioethics and the healthcare system while also praising her for a “big heart and unwavering compassion and commitment” to help patients.

Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.
Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.

“In her work, she holds theology, medicine, ethics and bioethics in profound dialogue,” said Ragasa, director of the Pastoral Theology master’s degree program.

“She’s addressed such issues as the anointing of the sick, gene therapy, genetics, human embryonic cell research, end of life, neuroscience, global health, bioethics and social justice.”

In her lecture, titled “Catholic Bioethics: Catholic Social Tradition and Human Flourishing,” Lysaught detailed three different healthcare scenarios: One involved a Guatemalan man with kidney failure, the second was an elderly Black suffering from end-stage congestive heart failure, and the third involved an 8-year-old gunshot victim.

“Open up any textbook or journal on Catholic bioethics and you will find no mention of such scenarios or of a myriad of similar issues,” Lysault said. “They don’t count as topics for Catholic bioethical analysis.”

Yet they need to be, she said.

Lysault added Catholic bioethics must incorporate a broader analysis of poverty, race and ethnicity.

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She also argued that the Catholic social tradition could help expand and re-orient Catholic bioethics around a foundation of caring for the sick and approaching the moral dimensions of health and medicine.

Lysault asserted the COVID pandemic exposed many bioethical questions like: How should few effective treatments, such as ventilators, be allocated to patients? How should scarce protective equipment be allocated among frontline healthcare workers? Could patients’ advance directives be overridden?

Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to the audience.
Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei from Emmalee Bugado after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to attendees.

According to Lysault, there was nothing in the literature of Catholic bioethics to address these questions.

And four years later, she added, while secular bioethics has begun to attend to these questions, you’ll still find almost nothing in the Catholic bioethics literature about these issues.

Tackling questions such as these “will require the theoretical and practical tools of social analysis in the Catholic social tradition,” she concluded.

In her address, Lysaught also touched on a 2022 study in which researchers interviewed 10 kupuna from rural Hawaii communities about their experiences with healthcare barriers. When asked what advice they had for providers about how to improve healthcare for Native Hawaiians, the elders did not list the standard bioethical principles or any of the principles of Catholic bioethics, Lysault said.

“Rather, they appreciated providers who, to quote, ‘took the time to talk story and to get to know them as people and community members,’” Lysault said.

“They appreciated providers who shared information about themselves.”

At the end of her lecture, Lysault was presented with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought, which honors scholarly, community and faith leaders whose body of work advances the spirit and educational mission of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family.

Presenting her with an ‘umeke, Chaminade Student Engagement Coordinator Andrew Ancheta told Lysault the significance of the koa bowl in Hawaiian culture and remarked, “Today, you filled it with spiritual and intellectual food.”