Chaminade University of Honolulu

Institutional

Dean’s Speaker Series

Dr. Crissy Gayagas discusses sustainability for good

Citing the words of the late American comedian, actor, author, television host and artist, Jonathan Winters, Col. Christine “Crissy” Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D., told attendees that, “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it!” In other words, don’t become apathetic. Take action.

As Regional Program Lead (RPL) for the Indo-Pacific, which is part of the Advising and Consulting (A&C) Division at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), the self-described Army brat plays an important role in engaging partners in the vital Indo-Pacific Region.

“Eighty percent of goods are transited by water and 60 percent of that goes through the Indo-Pacific Region,” said Gayagas, Chaminade Board of Governors chair. “If conflict broke out in that region, it would create instability, and you probably wouldn’t receive that Amazon order you placed.”

As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean’s Speaker Series, Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region. In recent years, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic strides to restore American leadership in the Indo-Pacific and adapt its role for the 21st century. A few years ago, the United States modernized its longstanding alliances, strengthened emerging partnerships, and forged innovative links among them to meet urgent challenges, from competition with China to climate change to the pandemic.

As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean's Speaker Series, Dr. Crissy Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean’s Speaker Series, Dr. Crissy Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region.

Stretching from the Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean, the area is home to more than half of the world’s people, nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy and seven of the world’s largest militaries. And in the years ahead, as the region drives as much as two-thirds of global economic growth, its influence will only grow—as will its importance to the United States.

“In a 2021 address during the East Asia Summit, President Biden said he envisions an Indo-Pacific that is open, connected, prosperous, resilient and secure,” Gayagas quoted to attendees. “We want to build our collective capacity with partner nations throughout the region. The more people who are empowered, the better we are for it.”

With a military career that spans across 24 years and three deployments, Gayagas became the only battalion commander who was a mother when she saw action in Iraq. She considers her service in the Army as the first phase of her life. The second phase was exploratory, and the third and current phase are convergent, allowing her two initial stages to come together to form a new whole.

“Within these three phases, I was always guided by five elements: passion, people, persistence, priority and pivot,” Gayagas explained. “Identify your passion and keep chipping away until you’re ready to take a deep dive. In the Army, we have a saying: Mission First, People Always. Seek out a support system. Persist and do what works for you. Assess your position and ask if it’s moving your North Star. Be ready to recognize diminishing returns and be open to pivot.”

After multiple Army command and staff positions around the United States (101st Airborne Division and 25th Infantry Division) and in Germany (8th Infantry Division), and operational and strategic experience in the Army’s Human Resources Command and with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Texas and in Iraq, Gayagas retired in 2008 and started her own consulting firm MMGT Consulting, LLC.

“I wanted to create space for my daughter,” said Gayagas, citing the reason for her retirement from the Army. “In this third phase of my life, I am going to pivot and enjoy full-time retirement or a quarter retirement so I can create more lunch space with my parents (gesturing to her dad Ed and mom Norma Gayagas who were seated in the front row), and pursue more hobbies.”

Opening the floor to questions, John Barayuga ’25 asked Gayagas if her passions evolved over time or did it remain the same. “I really appreciated her answer about how her passion stayed relatively the same but with a few tweaks over time,” said Barayuga, an Accounting major with minors in Hawaiian Studies and Business Administration. “It reassured me of how our paths are a constant adventure of self-discovery.

“My biggest take-away was the five P’s [principles] that Dr. Gayagas shared,” Barayuga added. “I feel the lecture exceeded what I was expecting from it. And I am looking forward to future events!”

Ocean Protection

Martina Sagapolu ’88 helps enforce ocean regulations

When she first entered Central College in Pella, Iowa, in the early 1980s, Martina Sagapolu’s interest was largely in political science. However, as she quickly found out from one of her professors, she was woefully behind in her knowledge of current events, and it would require a lot of hours to get on par with most of the other students on campus.

“I grew up in American Samoa so our AP News and television broadcasts were all pre-recorded and two weeks late,” says Sagapolu ’88. “So, when I arrived on campus, I learned for the first time that a woman (Kathryn D. ‘Kathy’ Sullivan) had just gone to space, yet that happened at least a month prior to my arrival.”

Sagapolu, though, wasn’t late in choosing a major. Because her heroine was the fictional teenage sleuth Nancy Drew when she was growing up in Pago Pago, she decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice. After spending a bitterly cold winter in Iowa, the American Samoan native decided to leave Central College for Chaminade University of Honolulu.

“Central College was in the middle of nowhere,” Sagapolu says. “I remember there were only 19 minorities on the entire campus. One of the first mornings I woke up in the dorm, I could smell someone cooking SPAM and rice, and I knew that person had to be from Hawaii. It turned out there were three girls from Kauai and we’ve all kept in touch ever since.”

NOAA's Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement helps enforce ocean regulations in the Pacific Islands region.
NOAA’s Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement helps enforce ocean regulations in the Pacific Islands region.

Now wholly committed to the Criminal Justice major, Sagapolu decided to participate in a U.S. Department of Justice co-op program that the then-Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) had just rolled out. The program was designed to attract talented individuals—particularly college students—to gain work experience and potentially pursue careers in government service as civil servants. Students were provided with opportunities for internships or part-time employment during the academic year, as well as full-time employment during summer breaks.

“The pilot program started in San Diego and then came to Chaminade,” Sagapolu recalls. “There were seven of us who decided to participate, and we first had to travel to Arizona for a one-week training period.”

With the mentorship of such professors as Dr. Greg Mark and Dr. Mel Masuda who helped Sagapolu with her writing skills, the future Criminal Justice graduate was well on her way to becoming part of the law enforcement field. Meanwhile, she was nearing graduation and eyeing a position with INS. Because of her participation in the co-op program, she could be fast tracked through the usually slow federal hiring process, skipping the civil servant exam, interviews and other required bureaucratic steps.

“I graduated on December 8, 1988,” Sagapolu recalls, “and I was sworn in on January 3, 1989. There was no time to holoholo.”

Five years in as an INS agent, Sagapolu received a call from one of the students who also participated in the same INS co-op program, asking if she was interested in working in the Field Office of the National Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in American Samoa. Returning home had always appealed to Sagapolu but she had her reservations about moving from one federal agency to another.

“It was going to be a huge learning curve,” Sagapolu says. “I was going to go from chasing illegal immigrants to investigating infractions in the ocean. Going to fisheries was definitely intimidating.”

But as dedicated Sagapolu was to INS, she has been fiercely entrenched with NOAA for more than two decades. As the Administration’s Assistant Director for the Pacific Islands Division’s Office of Law Enforcement, Sagapolu oversees the protection and management of the largest geographic area of NOAA’s five divisions. The Pacific Islands, comprised of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. Pacific Islands, span a total of 583,000 square miles of ocean, teeming with marine wildlife and dotted with sanctuaries, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

“In concert with the Coast Guard, and other federal and state agencies, our mission is to ensure the laws and regulations protecting and conserving our nation’s marine resources are followed,” Sagapolu says. “I also serve as an enforcement advisor to domestic and international stakeholders on enforcement-related matters.”

She’s now also updated on the world’s current events.

Office of Student Success

The emergence and significance of universities’ Offices of Student Success

Trachelle Iwamoto ’26 wasn’t quite sure what to expect when she arrived on campus from Kapa‘a, Kauai. Nor did Kryzandreah Español ’26 and Easton DelaCruz ’26. As freshmen, Iwamoto, Español and Dela Cruz felt anxious about the transition from high school to university, uncertain about the rigors of academia and their own self expectations.

Dani Masuda provides some academic advice.
Dani Masuda provides some academic advice.

However, it’s not uncommon for freshman to feel nervous when experiencing what many consider a rite of passage from the teen years to early adulthood. In response, universities have undergone significant transformations in recent years, marked by an increased focus on student success.

“In 2020, we re-evaluated our support services and designed a one-stop center—Office of Student Success—that includes academic advising, career development, tutoring and learning services, military student benefits, registrar and records, and study abroad,” says Jennifer Creech, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success. “We’re committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to ensure that students not only excel academically, but also thrive in their overall collegiate experience.”

The concept of student success has evolved from a narrow focus on academic achievement to a more holistic approach, which encompasses personal growth, career readiness and well-being. Historically, universities primarily concentrated on instructional and administrative functions, with less emphasis on proactive student support. The changing dynamics of higher education, including shifting demographics, technological advancements and an increased awareness of the diverse needs of students, prompted the establishment of dedicated offices to address these challenges.

“If I have a question or experience any difficulty, I’ll go to the Student Success Office,” says Español, who is studying to be a nurse and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. “I feel truly supported in every aspect of my academic journey here. Chaminade has created a supportive environment that extends beyond just academic assistance, making me feel connected and valued.”

Before the start of their freshman year, Español, Iwamoto and Dela Cruz all attended the Apo Haumana Retreat, a program introduced in 2021 as a faculty-led initiative to help first-year students transition to Chaminade through building connections with faculty and peers outside of the classroom.

“It gave me a foothold into the university,” Iwamoto says. “I met a lot of other students, mentors, staff and faculty who were all welcoming and personable. I felt like they wanted to know who I was as a person.”

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington welcomes incoming freshmen during the New Student Orientation.
Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington welcomes incoming freshmen during the New Student Orientation.

Now a peer advisor with the Apo Haumana program, DelaCruz works closely with the Office of Student Success to create helpful workshops for first-year students. He also assists program participants with different obstacles they may face throughout their first year.

“Having been a member of the program during my first year, I felt that it benefited me as I transitioned from high school to college,” says DelaCruz, who has ambitions to run for the Governor’s office when he returns to Saipan. “This is my way of giving back to Chaminade since I’ve personally received so much support in my academic journey.”

Many institutions offer programs specifically designed to support students during their first year, helping them smoothly shift into the university environment. At Chaminade, that support is tailored to each student. Unlike the past, according to Creech, interactions between advisers and students seemed transactional; students were being told what classes to take and what to do as opposed to the student owning his/her own educational journey.

“We’re here to help them navigate that journey,” Creech says. “Everything is tailored; it’s not one size fits all. We triage and assess the problem to make sure that our Chaminade students succeed. We complement what the faculty are already doing—mentoring, advising and counseling. The Office simply adds another layer of support.”

Research has shown a positive correlation between the presence of robust student success initiatives, and improved retention and graduation rates. By addressing challenges early, providing targeted interventions, and cultivating a supportive community, the Office of Student Success plays a crucial role in ensuring that students persist through their academic journeys and successfully attain their degrees.

“When we re-structured the office, we leveraged technology and we updated our student portal,” Creech explains. “Today, we use predictive analysis to identify students who may be at risk and we intervene before they drop out. Our fall 2023–spring 2024 retention rate is 88.3 percent, and our enrollment numbers for undergraduate FTE (full-time equivalency” is up by eight percent. All positive news.”

Honorary Luncheon

Students share the meaning of their scholarships with donors

Her voice quivering with emotion as she described the meaning of being awarded a scholarship during an annual honorary luncheon for donors, Audrey Pilar ’24 cited her mom and dad for instilling a belief in herself, sharing her parents’ story as a young couple struggling to make ends meet but never giving up and wanting more for her and her brother. Graduating in May with a major in Forensic Sciences, and minors in Chemistry and Data Science, Analytics and Visualization, the Mililani native admitted that, without her Dr. Feung Lee and Mrs. Mew Sin Lee Endowed Scholarship, she probably would have had to work three or more part-time jobs just to pay her tuition.

“When my mom wanted to come to America to have a better life for me and her, she did,” Pilar said. “When my dad was belittled for having a young family, he and my mom hustled, got an education, and successfully raised my brother and me. What I am trying to get across here is that someone gave them a chance in their lives. Someone gave my mom and dad a chance to succeed in life, and they took it. This is what receiving a donor scholarship means to me. Hope and a chance for a better future.”

In the pursuit of higher education, many students face formidable barriers, with financial constraints being among the most prevalent. For many individuals from low- to even middle-income backgrounds, the dream of attending college or university often seems like an unattainable aspiration. However, scholarships serve as beacons of hope, illuminating pathways to academic success and unlocking doors to opportunities that would otherwise remain shut.

“This year, between individual and Foundation scholarships, we supported 332 students with over $2 million, for an average scholarship award of $6,100, which is huge,” said Chaminade President, Lynn Babington, Ph.D. “Today, you’ll hear some of these students’ stories, and you’ll get a sense about their ambitions, their areas of academic interest and what they may have overcome to get here.”

Scholarship Luncheon attendees include, standing from left, Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Michael Monroe, Tiannah Ohta and Genie Reutirez, and, seated from left, Bella Frasure, Alyssa Mori, and Keven and Diane Matsuura.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Michael Monroe, Tiannah Ohta and Genie Reutirez, and, seated from left, Bella Frasure, Alyssa Mori, and Keven and Diane Matsuura.
Scholarship Luncheon attendees include, standing from left, Jill Higashi, Kimberly Kameshige, Brianna Gutierrez Aceves and Easton DelaCruz, and, seated from left, Jeannine Wiercinski, Estelle Kelley, Jeannie Rolles and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington.
Scholarship Luncheon attendees include, standing from left, Jill Higashi, Kimberly Kameshige, Brianna Gutierrez Aceves and Easton DelaCruz, and, seated from left, Jeannine Wiercinski, Estelle Kelley, Jeannie Rolles and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Janice Glade, Peter Jan Ramos and Anastasia Tangatailoa, and seated from left, Leila Casison, Caitlin Bocobo and Paige Garcia.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Janice Glade, Peter Jan Ramos and Anastasia Tangatailoa, and seated from left, Leila Casison, Caitlin Bocobo and Paige Garcia.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, William Bernaldez, Amber Milsap and Greg Lagapa, and seated from left, Natasha Flores, Nicole Tanabe and Kelsey Nakagawa.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, William Bernaldez, Amber Milsap and Greg Lagapa, and seated from left, Natasha Flores, Nicole Tanabe and Kelsey Nakagawa.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Tyanna Hemmings, Leah Carrington and Kaimipono Abella, and seated from left, Keila Anderson, Tessa Stanley, Aniyah Hazen and Ana Isabel Aranda.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Tyanna Hemmings, Leah Carrington and Kaimipono Abella, and seated from left, Keila Anderson, Tessa Stanley, Aniyah Hazen and Ana Isabel Aranda.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Adrienne Aquino, Katherine Liu, Erica Tiwari and Alani Meltel, and seated from left, Jessica Schlais, and David and Christne Arita.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Adrienne Aquino, Katherine Liu, Erica Tiwari and Alani Meltel, and seated from left, Jessica Schlais, and David and Christne Arita.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Kendra Sia, Nicole Kegine, Aleeyah Lemons and Heidi Bow, and seated from left, Sally and Michael Coovert, and Susie and John Field Jr.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Kendra Sia, Nicole Kegine, Aleeyah Lemons and Heidi Bow, and seated from left, Sally and Michael Coovert, and Susie and John Field Jr.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Debbie Ng Furuhashi, Michalla Burtado, Aloha Lei Garo, Bro. Alan Pacquing, Jodi-Anne Yoshida and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, and seated Bernard and Lolita Lum Hoy.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Debbie Ng Furuhashi, Michalla Burtado, Aloha Lei Garo, Bro. Alan Pacquing, Jodi-Anne Yoshida and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, and seated Bernard and Lolita Lum Hoy.
Debbie Ng Furuhashi and Cathy Ching share a laugh before the start of the Scholarship Luncheon.
Debbie Ng Furuhashi and Cathy Ching share a laugh before the start of the Scholarship Luncheon.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Angelica Tangatailoa, Nathaniel Leomiti, Wayne Tanna, JD, and Jazzy Yasuda, and seated from left, Dorie Sanborn, Bro. Thomas Jalbert, Jasmine Mondelo and Pono Riddle.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Angelica Tangatailoa, Nathaniel Leomiti, Wayne Tanna, JD, and Jazzy Yasuda, and seated from left, Dorie Sanborn, Bro. Thomas Jalbert, Jasmine Mondelo and Pono Riddle.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Nagem Uiagalelei, Patricia Takamiya, Bro. Allen Pacquing and Richard Uiagalelei, and seated from left, Napua Rosehill, Carol Gouveia, Kawila and Kyla Castro.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Nagem Uiagalelei, Patricia Takamiya, Bro. Allen Pacquing and Richard Uiagalelei, and seated from left, Napua Rosehill, Carol Gouveia, Kawila and Kyla Castro.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Lauren Moriarty, Constance Keao, Huong Pham and Mame Hideyos, and seated from left, Alyssa Torres, Junelle Tangalin and Diane Peters-Nguyen.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Lauren Moriarty, Constance Keao, Huong Pham and Mame Hideyos, and seated from left, Alyssa Torres, Junelle Tangalin and Diane Peters-Nguyen.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Heather Kate Jarmillo, Marlon Francisco and Audrey Pilar and seated, from left, Kryzandreah Espanol, Tertia Freas, Elizabeth Hokada and Dr. Janet Davidson.
Scholarship Luncehon attendees include, standing from left, Heather Kate Jarmillo, Marlon Francisco and Audrey Pilar and seated, from left, Kryzandreah Espanol, Tertia Freas, Elizabeth Hokada and Dr. Janet Davidson.

Seated with students, Adrienne Aquino ’26, Katherine Liu ’26, Erica Tiwari ’24 and Alani Meltel ’25, donors David and Christine Arita with daughter Jessica Schlais discussed each one’s goal, inspiring them to continue their education even long after they’ve graduated. The Aritas’ and Schlais’s American Floor and Home Foundation Scholarship is specifically earmarked for majors in the Environmental + Interior Design program.

An aspiring elementary education teacher, Aquino believes that early schooling provides a strong foundation for future learners. “Our graduation rates are getting lower and lower,” said the Kaneohe native. “We need more teachers if we want a better future for our keiki.”

Applauding Aquino for her dedication to becoming an elementary teacher, David Arita dispensed a bit of advice to her: “If you inspire them, they will always remember you,” he told her. “I still remember the teachers who made a major impact in my life, and I will never forget them.”

A sophomore Communication major, Easton DelaCruz ’26 has taken advantage of all the opportunities afforded to him since arriving on campus two years ago. He has been fortunate enough to engage in experiences that have enriched his education and broadened his perspective.

“Your commitment to financial assistance has allowed students like me to engage in transformative experiences, shaping us into well-rounded individuals prepared to contribute to society,” DelaCruz said in his address to donors. “With the wealth of past and current experiences, and the ones to come at Chaminade, I plan to return home and become a public servant to help my home become a better place for my parents’ generation, my generation and generations to come.”

In this landscape of financial uncertainty, scholarships emerge as powerful catalysts for change. These financial awards, often based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both, play a pivotal role in dismantling barriers to higher education. By providing financial assistance, scholarships enable deserving students to access resources, facilities and opportunities that would otherwise remain beyond their grasp.

Beyond financial assistance, scholarships also offer myriad opportunities for academic and personal growth. Many scholarship programs provide mentorship, networking opportunities and career development resources, empowering students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, scholarships may fund internships, study abroad experiences and research projects, allowing students to broaden their horizons and cultivate valuable skills that enhance their employability and competitiveness in the job market.

“We know education transforms lives; our students set out to change the world, and they are making a difference,” said Babington. “Our reach is all over the world. And we are proud of our Chaminade students and alumni.”

Heritage Awards

Honoring those who personify the Marianist Values

Overcome by emotion, tears cascaded down the cheeks of Victoria DelaCruz ’24 as Bro. Ed Brink named her as this year’s Founders’ Award winner, describing her traits of selflessness, commitment, hospitality, graciousness, faith and her family. A Chaminade Scholar majoring in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization (DSAV), DelaCruz ’24 exemplifies the Marianist education and values.

“Faith has been a part of her journey before coming to Chaminade,” said Brink, Vice-President of Mission and Rector. “This year, she joined the new Student Ministry Team and made a suggestion about having a praise and worship evening at the end of one of the meetings. Although it was one of the last ideas talked about at the meeting, it was one of the first events to move from an idea to an actual event. And that was because of Victoria’s commitment to it.”

Every year during Founders’ Week, the Rector’s office presents the Chaminade Award, the Marianist Award and Founders’ Award to a faculty member, supporting staff member and student, respectively, who embodies the Marianist values.

His voice crackling at times while reading the achievements of the winners of the Heritage Awards, Brink announced the other two honorees: Chaminade Award recipient Dr. Janet Davidson, Vice Provost and professor of criminology, who was described by one of her nominators as resilient, reliable and consistent; and Amy Takiguchi, Director of Financial Aid, Marianist Award, whose efforts to help students go beyond and above a simple answer.

“It was a chicken-skin moment when Dr. Babington informed me of the award,” said Takiguchi ’02, an alumna who started her career at Chaminade as a student worker with Human Resources and has since moved up the ranks. “I have a great team and that’s what makes working here such a rewarding experience.”

For Davidson, the Chaminade Award is not an individual feat, but one that belongs to her team. “I am honored and humbled, but I don’t like the attention,” she said. “But I could have never done it alone. The accolades and attention I receive are because of a great supportive team that works collaboratively to accomplish a lot.”

In his presentation during a special mass ceremony to celebrate Founders’ Week, Brink said these awards are meant to remind all of us of the mission of this University, and the importance of trying to live out that mission on a daily basis. “We gather today to be inspired and to hopefully recommit ourselves to being the best member of this community that we can be,” he added. “Fr. Chaminade wanted those who got caught up in the work that he inspired to be ‘a spectacle’—to give witness to others of how a life based in faith and service could make a difference in the world.”

Artificial Intelligence

Embracing the use of AI in education

Dr. Denise Dugan believes that AI will only continue to progress and evolve as new data flows in.
Dr. Denise Dugan believes that AI will only continue to progress and evolve as new data sets flows in.

Long before it was reduced to an uppercase two-letter acronym, artificial intelligence (AI) was already present in education with early systems focused on using simple algorithms to automate certain educational tasks. In the 1970s, the emergence of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) was designed to provide personalized instruction based on individual student needs, more commonly known today as Individual Educational Plans. These days, OpenAI dominates the conversation and headlines.

“AI has been in education in some iteration for decades now,” says Denise Dugan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education and Elementary Education. “The danger of AI these days is that current students have too much reliance on it, rather than simply using it as another available resource.”

In an op-ed to the “Chicago Tribune,” Chaminade Provost Lance Askildson opines that recent advances in artificial intelligence have given rise to hyperbolic predictions of the decline of many human roles and professions.

“In fact, purported AI platforms such as ChatGPT will never be meaningful replacements for writers, educators or people in general,” Askildson writes. “To understand why this is true, it is critical to remind ourselves of what ChatGPT is and how its architecture and capabilities relate to the science of human learning and the arts of writing and teaching, respectively.”

The conversation around AI didn’t just begin in 2023. The U.S. Department of Education initiated a project exploring the use of generative AI in 2020, partnering with Digital Promise to collect information and insights. Recently, the outcomes of that work were released by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology. Titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations,” the new report addresses the clear need for sharing knowledge, engaging educators, and refining technology plans and policies for artificial intelligence (AI) use in education.

The report further describes AI as a rapidly-advancing set of technologies for recognizing patterns in data and automating actions, and guides educators in understanding what these emerging technologies can do to advance educational goals—while evaluating and limiting key risks. This paper also explains AI in education and gives a pros-and-cons summary, and suggests districts develop a policy defining parameters for AI use in education.

During an educator workshop hosted by Hawaii Education Association, Dugan and Chaminade students Abigail Eli ’23 Gabe Zapata-Berrios ’24 were among the attendees who discussed not only the ethical dimensions of AI, but also its legal ramifications.

“I can see how AI is having an impact on educators and students,” says Eli, who is pursuing her master’s in counseling psychology at Chaminade and is one of three Community Homeless Concerns liaisons with the Hawaii Department of Education in the Nanakuli-Waianae Complex Area. “I think it could be beneficial for our Waianae students who struggle with the concept of writing. I think they can learn from seeing something that’s well written.”

Starting his student teaching in Kailua, Zapata-Berrios has experimented with AI in his own studies, using it, for example, to create lesson plans, which typically take a lot of time.

“AI will write a complete lesson plan in less than 10 seconds,” Zapata-Berrios says. “This lesson plan is typically pretty good as a first draft. If I want I can ask the AI to revise it for me or I can just take that draft and revise it myself. I would always recommend revising it yourself because AI is not perfect.”

Abigail Eli '23 is now pursuing her master’s in counseling psychology at Chaminade.
Abigail Eli ’23 is now pursuing her master’s in counseling psychology at Chaminade.

While academic dishonesty tops the list of educators’ concerns about AI in education, teachers also worry that increased use of AI may mean learners receive less human contact. It’s a valid point that Askildson succinctly affirms in his letter to the editor, noting that “the science of human learning has shown us that students learn not only through their abilities of reasoning, interpretation and creative expression—which ChatGPT lacks— but also with the help of teachers who engage them in a two-way dialogue accompanied by feedback that is adjusted to their understanding and overall needs.”

From a student’s perspective, the use of AI in education comes with both benefits and potential pitfalls. Some view AI-powered tools as a way to provide additional support to students with diverse learning abilities, making education more inclusive. It can then assist in addressing specific challenges students may face.

Others are skeptical about its accuracy and its susceptibility to spread misinformation and disinformation. It’s also biased since AI can only be as smart or effective as the quality of data it is provided, and algorithms can be manipulated and skewed.

“Some of the teachers we heard from said they wanted to stay away from AI all together, that it was too controversial,” Dugan says. “They were afraid of plagiarism and cheating, and not being able to detect it. But I say AI is here to stay; it’s not going to go away and it will only progress.”

“AI is going to keep growing and infiltrating more parts of our lives,” adds Zapata-Berrios. “It’s already all over the place and constantly analyzing and improving. It will become more prevalent in classrooms, however, I don’t think it will become something that the students use to outsource their thinking. I think it’ll be present without the students knowing it’s there.”