Chaminade University of Honolulu

Student Life

Four Chaminade Veterans Find New Paths After Military Service

Three Chaminade students and an adjunct professor reflect on their transitions from military service to college and new careers.

By Justin Siliva

For military veterans, leaving the service can mean adjusting to a different routine, returning to school, or preparing for a new career. 

At Chaminade University of Honolulu, four veterans have taken different paths after serving in the U.S. Army and Air Force. With Veterans Day approaching on Nov. 11, they share how their experiences have shaped their Chaminade education, leadership, and career goals. 

Victoria Francois (second from left and top photo).

Victoria Francois: Bringing Army Lessons to Chaminade

Victoria Francois, 40, grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she enlisted in the Army at 18 in April 2004. She served nearly 19 years before leaving in February 2023, reaching the rank of sergeant first class (E-7). Francois spent about 17 years of her military career as a surgical technician, assisting with operating room procedures.

The Army brought Francois to Hawaiʻi in 2017, where she was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center. She later became the perioperative noncommissioned officer in charge, overseeing four departments: same-day surgery, the operating room, post-anesthesia care, and sterile processing. 

While she was still serving, Francois enrolled at Chaminade in 2019 and attended evening classes at Tripler. She began taking classes on campus in 2023. 

Initially concerned about returning to college as an adult learner, Francois has found opportunities to get involved. She served as a senior senator in the Chaminade Student Government Association (CSGA) and participated in the university’s Sustained Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program. 

Through the program, Francois met Dr. Abby Halston, who became her mentor. Halston later nominated Francois for the 2024 Sue Wesselkamper Award, which she won. 

Francois earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chaminade in May 2024 and is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology. She also serves as president of Chaminade’s Psi Chi chapter, a psychology honor society, where she applies her military leadership experience to working with other student officers.

“I may know how to get things done and execute, because that’s just what the military has taught me over and over,” Francois said. “But collaboration is everything, right?”

Francois expects to finish her master’s program in May 2027. Then, she plans to pursue a doctorate in educational psychology while continuing to work as a behavioral health specialist with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education. 

Jonah Martell (back row, second from left).

Jonah Martell: Finding His Way Back to School

Jonah Martell, 22, of Las Vegas, Nevada, joined the Army in 2023 and served as a cavalry scout at Schofield Barracks on Oʻahu. He reached the rank of specialist (E-4) before an injury led to his medical discharge in 2025, ending his military career after about two years. 

As a cavalry scout, Martell conducted reconnaissance, monitored potential threats, and provided security for infantry units. His training also included clearing buildings and operating as a gunner on a Humvee.

One of his most memorable experiences came during a five-day training exercise in Georgia. Martell spent four days in heavy rain, responding to simulated nighttime attacks with little to no sleep. The exercise ended with a 12-mile overnight march carrying a roughly 30-pound rucksack.

After leaving the Army, Martell decided to stay in Hawaiʻi and attend Chaminade because it offered a Sports and Event Management program; that option wasn’t available at other universities he considered.

Now a freshman, he hopes to work in the front office of a professional sports team or become a college athletic director. He also plans to add criminal justice as a second major, giving him another career option in law enforcement. 

Before joining the Army, Martell hadn’t seriously considered attending college. He said his military experience changed how he approached school, leaving him more focused on preparing for a career.

“So, ever since I joined, now I’m more focused and, like, okay, I need to get this done, to start my career, and help myself,” Martell said. “So I think the military really changed my mindset.”

Adam Haley (center).

Adam Haley: Discovering a Passion for Psychology

Adam Haley, 28, grew up in Madison, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama from fall 2017 to spring 2018, studying management information systems. He left college to join the Army to gain job skills, travel, and avoid student loan debt.

Haley spent six and a half years in the Army working in communications and information technology. He achieved the rank of sergeant (E-5), then worked supervising junior soldiers and maintaining communication networks used during military operations. The Army brought him to Hawai‘i for his first duty station.

After leaving the military, he became a network engineer, putting the technical skills he learned in the Army to use.

But he soon realized the work wasn’t as fulfilling as he’d expected.

While serving in the Army, Haley often found himself listening to fellow soldiers who came to him for advice or needed someone to talk to. As a noncommissioned officer (NCO), he held monthly counseling sessions but preferred talking to people over formal paperwork. He enjoyed those conversations and began to recognize his interest in understanding and helping people.

That interest eventually brought him to Chaminade, where he is now a junior majoring in psychology.

Haley chose the university for its smaller classes, psychology program, and opportunities to interact with professors. He hopes to become a psychologist and pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

Compared with his previous experience at a larger university, Haley said he now enjoys being back in college and studying something he cares about.

“I never thought I’d be the type to say I love coming to school, love school, or anything like that, but I genuinely look forward to coming to Chaminade,” Haley said. “I really look forward to all my psychology classes.” 

Michael Rose: From the Air Force to the Classroom

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Michael Rose joined the U.S. Air Force in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks. He served for 20 years before retiring in 2021 as a senior master sergeant (E-8).

During his military career, Rose worked in special operations and completed several deployments. His service took him to 58 countries, where some of his most meaningful experiences involved providing humanitarian assistance to women and children in war-torn areas.

Rose said his time in the Air Force helped him develop leadership skills and changed how he viewed his responsibilities to others. After retiring, he initially pictured himself using those skills in the business world, possibly as an executive or someone managing a company division.

With family connections to Hawai‘i, Rose eventually made Oʻahu his home and enrolled at Chaminade to further his education in business and leadership.

During his graduate studies, Rose worked closely with Dr. Eduard “Eddie” Merc, an assistant professor of business analytics and supply chain management and director of Chaminade’s MBA program. Merc’s dedication to teaching and research encouraged Rose to explore opportunities in higher education.

Rose earned his Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Chaminade in 2023. From 2023 to 2025, he worked as a researcher at the university’s School of Business and Communication, studying technology, leadership, and business operations.

Although Rose initially planned to pursue a career in business leadership, he eventually found himself on the other side of the classroom.

He now serves as an adjunct professor at Chaminade, teaching EC 201, Principles of Macroeconomics, through the university’s Early College program at Sacred Hearts Academy.

Not too long ago, Rose was the one sitting in class, listening to lectures and preparing for exams. Now that he’s the one leading the lessons, Rose said the experience has shown him how much preparation goes into teaching, especially when students have questions he needs to answer.

As Veterans Day approaches, Rose hopes people remember the sacrifices military members make throughout their service.

“I think it’s just to not take it for granted,” Rose said. “And to really think about the sacrifice that military members make on a daily basis.” 

Chaminade MFT Student Headed to India After Winning Scholarly Award

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) graduate student Eden Nasher has been on a long journey throughout his life and career, and that path eventually led him to Chaminade University.

It was a road worth traveling, he said.

In recognition of his scholarship in Chaminade’s MFT graduate program, Nasher was awarded an esteemed prize that will take him to a major conference in India this week.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) recently awarded Nasher the Diversity Award for Emerging Leaders, which earned him a coveted role and participation at the Global Systemic Therapy Summit in Bengaluru, India, from November 10-13.

Nasher said he’s looking forward to learning more about advancements in therapeutic work at the India conference, only this time from multiple cultural perspectives.

“A lot of the issues we face in the present day are very complex. They’re very multifaceted, and we cannot forge them from one place or from one angle, one perspective,” Nasher said in looking ahead to his India adventure. “There have to be multiple approaches, and that means being able to join forces with other communities, other spaces across the globe, to be able to tackle these.”

AAMFT’s Diversity Award for Emerging Leaders recognizes Nasher’s compelling international and diverse life story, as well as his success in Chaminade’s MFT program.

Born and raised in Sanaa in northern Yemen to parents of West and North African descent, Nasher traces his true roots to southern Yemen and the port city of Aden–the origin of his first name, Eden, where his parents first lived.

Nasher said Aden is known as a more multicultural and multiethnic city given its proximity to Africa, whereas Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, is home to a more homogeneous population and culture.

Raised by diverse parents but living in an undiverse city, Nasher said he’s always felt a desire to better understand himself and where he comes from, and this yearning has, ironically, sent him on a journey far from home.

“I have to occupy a lot of identities where there are so many pieces that don’t quite fit in,” he explained. “So I basically ended up going on that journey for it. I wanted to leave where I grew up because I wanted to understand myself better and really be able to connect.”

Nasher’s first stop overseas was Egypt and the American University in Cairo, to study anthropology.

While living in Cairo, Nasher said he worked with refugees, mainly people fleeing parts of Africa, his first exposure to therapeutic work.

Trained in anthropology and gaining experience supporting vulnerable populations, Nasher again looked west for a new adventure; a Fulbright scholarship led him to the University of San Diego to pursue graduate studies.

His time in San Diego frequently took him to Hawaii for further study and research. Steeped in academic therapy work, Nasher said he eventually came across Chaminade University’s dual-track Master’s and Doctoral program in Marriage and Family Therapy.

He was sold.

“I was born and raised in a country and corner of the world that has really dealt with a lot of challenges,” he said. “Chaminade stood out. And in understanding that there is a program that does exist and that I might be able to find, that I fit in, I reached out.”

He said Chaminade’s staff immediately responded to his request for information.

“That, to me, is probably the reason why I ended up in the program,” Nasher added.

Nasher said the dual-track MFT program–working on his master’s and Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at the same time–is a perfect fit for his interests, research tempo, and study style.

One day he’s taking foundational courses, learning theories and practices that underpin the relatively young MFT discipline. Next, he’s diving into work that encourages him to propose new ideas and new insights, contributing to the field’s ongoing growth.

Now he’s looking forward to his travels in India, where he will be recognized for his academic achievements.

Nasher credits Chaminade and his Marriage and Family Therapy instructors for helping him get this far. He says he would recommend Chaminade’s dual-track MFT program to anyone looking to walk a similar path.

“You’re not only going to be part of a really unique experience, but you’re also going to be part of a community where there is a hub, and there are all sorts of offshoots, people who are doing really cool work,” he said.

“I would encourage folks to reach out and ask if they can connect with others who have gone through this experience, who are familiar with Chaminade, and speak to them about what that’s like.”

Chaminade Drama Club Entertains the Island With ‘Much Ado’

Chaminade University students and community members are invited to enjoy a quirky modern play based on a William Shakespeare classic.

‘Much Ado’ opens on November 14, and the box office is already busy. Tickets for opening night have sold out, but the Chaminade Drama Club is staging five more performances at the Vi and Paul Loo Theatre on campus, with chances to view the show during the week and on weekends.

The play is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ the 14th Century romantic comedy that’s as funny and relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago.

This modern rendition, ‘Much Ado,’ features a smaller cast, shortened script, and some revised dialogue, while keeping true to the source material.

“It’s a bit shorter than the original,” said Patrick Block, an Instructor at Chaminade University’s Department of Visual & Performing Arts and Advisor to the Drama Club. “Characters have been edited out or merged to suit the cast size that is right for Chaminade, and the dialogue has been trimmed or gently modified in places to make it clearer.”

Set in Messina, Italy, during the Renaissance, the play tells the story of a group of friends returned from military victory and in the mood for celebration. The group’s attention quickly turns toward rumors of love surrounding two couples: Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero.

Supporting characters spend the play trying to either fan the flames of romance or snuff them out entirely.

“The play revolves around these two couples and various schemes to either get them together or break them apart,” Block explained.

Andrew Erwin, a member of the cast and graduate student in the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program, said the play will appeal to modern audiences despite the root material.

“It’s been translated by our wonderful director, Patrick Block,” he said. “Patrick translated it so the audience will get the jokes. It’s funny.”

‘Much Ado’ has been in production for months; the first rehearsal was held September 4. The cast is composed mainly of Chaminade Students, members of the Drama Club who have worked tirelessly around their busy schedules, rehearsing lines, studying choreography, and hitting their marks on cue.

Two community members are also lending their talents to the production.

“These students are really outstanding,” Block said. “They are bringing their A-game to this production, and they are joined by two community actors who are incredible talents. The production environment has been so positive thanks to the cast’s innate positivity.”

“I think the audience will feel the joyfulness and the love,” he added.

Members of the Chaminade Drama Club rehearsing a scene for the forthcoming production ‘Much Ado’.

Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 at 7 pm at the Loo Theatre inside Clarence T.C. Ching Hall.

Curious members of the Chaminade community and the public will have further chances to see the play on Sunday, November 15 at 2 pm; Thursday, November 19 at 7 pm; Friday, November 20 at 7 pm; Saturday, November 21 at 7 pm; and finally Sunday, November 22 at 2 pm.

Tickets to ‘Much Ado’ are on sale now.

Addie Nash, a cast member and freshman majoring in English, said she’s looking forward to taking the stage and entertaining the crowd in her debut performance.

“This group has really brought me out of my shell,” she said.

From Paper Fish to Banana Bread, Campus Marketplace has it all

From paper fish to shell bangles to banana bread, the Fall Campus Marketplace had a little something for everyone—and plenty of reasons to linger.

Held Wednesday in the Ching Conference Center, the annual event transformed the space into a lively collection of pop-up shops featuring crocheted bags, homemade baked goods, matcha making, thrifted T-shirts and more. More than 300 people stopped by to browse, shop and support student entrepreneurs. Some left with shopping bags full of goodies; others may have left empty-handed, but few could leave without a smile and a renewed appreciation for the creativity and camaraderie that make up the Chaminade community.

Promoting the theme “Campus Made, Campus Inspired,” the College of Arts & Sciences hosted its sixth annual Marketplace under the leadership of Sr. Malia Wong, who works tirelessly to bring this fun, family-oriented event to campus each year.

“Marketplace is unique because it really brings the entire Chaminade ‘ohana together, from students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff,” Wong said.

And what an ‘ohana marketplace it was. Forty sellers filled the conference center with their creations and carefully curated finds, sporting names as imaginative as the goods themselves. “Designs by Baibai,” “MJ Stickers,” “Something Fishy” and “She Shells Sea Sells” were just a few of the memorable names drawing shoppers in. When the Marketplace first launched six years ago, it featured just 23 pop-up shops. Today, that number has grown to 40—a testament to the event’s growing appeal and the entrepreneurial spirit thriving on campus.

For fourth-year psychology major Evan Cepeda, the business model was refreshingly simple. His booth, “Everything $1:D,” offered a little bit of everything: T-shirts, books, highlighter pens, a neck massager and more. The price? One dollar. No haggling required.

A self-described thrifter, Cepeda said he believes in reducing, reusing and recycling rather than constantly buying new things from big-box stores.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Cepeda said, proving the point as one of his classmates purchased a plastic bin cover for a buck.

Across the conference center, Adrienne Senining and Ava Walker helped showcase another kind of student talent: handmade ceramics. Senining, a nursing student who also serves as a teaching assistant in the ceramics department, explained that ceramics students create an inventory of bowls, plates and other pieces to sell at the Marketplace each year.

“This is a great opportunity for students to show off their talents,” Senining said.

And that is part of what makes the Marketplace more than just a place to shop. Behind every crocheted bag, ceramic bowl and secondhand find is an opportunity for students to share their interests, put their ideas into action and learn by doing. Running a booth can mean practicing communication, building confidence, managing money, thinking creatively and connecting with customers—all skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Just as importantly, the Marketplace creates space for the Chaminade community to come together in support of one another. Students get to showcase what they can do, shoppers discover the people and stories behind the products, and the campus ‘ohana grows a little closer in the process.

Whether shoppers came looking for a bargain, a handmade gift or a slice of banana bread, they found something more: a celebration of student initiative, creativity and community. At the Fall Campus Marketplace, the merchandise may have been made by hand, but the connections made along the way were just as valuable.

Wellness Week is a Wrap!

The first-ever Wellness Week at Chaminade University ended Friday with positive reviews from the campus community and calls for another one next year.

Organized as a way to help students reduce stress and recharge halfway through the Fall Semester, Wellness Week featured dozens of campus events organized by colleges and departments.

Instructors also organized mini wellness-themed activities with their classes, taking a break from regular lectures and instruction.

Cheryl Edelson, Ph.D., co-Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, said she heard very positive things about Wellness Week from students attending the wellness sessions. Her college organized a handful of events, including a “sound bath” in Loo Theatre, a lunch at the Conference Center featuring games and a scavenger hunt, and movie screenings.

“They appreciate the break,” Edelson said, sharing the reactions she’s been receiving from students.

“We were prepping for the midterm exam but also talking about their papers,” she added. “And so, for them, a slower pace, I think, is giving them a little bit of time to catch a breath. The idea is to basically help them kind of recharge.”

The week kicked off with guided meditation sessions at the Mystical Rose Oratory and Zuberano Lawn. Yoga lessons were on offer, along with cooking demonstrations, including lessons on making the perfect onigiri and Spam musubis hosted by Aramark Dining Services.

Carlson Fitness Center guided students on how to design suitable workouts depending on their fitness goals.

Meanwhile, the campus chapter of the Psi Chi honor society of psychology majors organized the “Plant, Paint, and Pause” event on Wednesday. The hour-long gathering was held “to support student wellness by creating an intentional moment to slow down during the semester,” Psi Chi explained.

Pizza was also offered at that special Psi Chi event.

Other Wellness Week activities were more educational in nature. “We tried to put together some arts and humanities-related and science-related activities throughout the week,” Edelson explained.

Wellness Week also saw the return of therapy dogs to Chaminade University. Organized by Campus Ministry, students were invited to the “Puppy Love” therapy dog session held over the Thursday lunch hour, an opportunity to unwind with the official therapy dogs while enjoying rock painting.

Shannon Sheehy, a junior Sports and Event Management major, said she and her friends really appreciated the week-long opportunity to unwind.

“I think it’s been very beneficial,” Sheehy said. “I play volleyball here, so I feel like for our team, it’s been nice to get out and see puppies and have time to take care of ourselves and put the students first.”

Sheehy admitted that a busy first half of the semester had her feeling a bit overwhelmed earlier, but Wellness Week was a good fix for that. “It’s been pretty stressful, but after this week, I feel that it was a good reset to have,” she said.

Mahina, a freshman nursing student, said she and her fellow students were enjoying Wellness Week but that some students suggested a simple break from classes might have been better.

“I feel like it’s going pretty well,” she said.  “But from what I’ve heard, from both my classmates and also just being around, some students preferred to just have a fall break.”

Still, Mahina said Chaminade students were happy with the schedule of activities and of the opportunity to pause mid-semester. “The events have been very well received from what I have seen,” she said. “A lot of people had fun at the events.”

Wellness Week emphasized students’ academic wellness.

Organizers hoped that the mid-semester pause would help students who may be struggling to have a chance to take a break and get the help and attention they needed. With the pause in regular course instruction, faculty members were afforded chances to reconnect with their students and lend assistance to anyone who may need additional support.

Edelson said Chaminade’s leadership plans to poll students afterwards to see what worked well, what didn’t, and how Wellness Week may be operated differently should it return in Fall 2027. She said the concept of a Wellness Week is relatively new but starting to spread rapidly at college campuses across the United States.

“It’ll be interesting to see the data at the end of it,” she said.  “This is really a time of the semester where we can help students kind of turn things around if they need to, or if they’re doing great, they can continue that way and still get a breath,” Edelson added.

Sheehy said Chaminade should definitely consider holding another Wellness Week next year.

“I think it’s very beneficial for everyone.”

Chaminade Student Turns Hogan Award Into Cambridge Experience

By Justin Siliva

When an invitation to study literature at the University of Cambridge in England landed in Momi Mae Ham’s email, the Chaminade University junior nearly passed it up.

It wasn’t until English professor Justin Wyble, Ph.D., forwarded the opportunity and encouraged her to apply that Ham began considering spending part of her summer abroad.

“I didn’t think I was gonna get in,” Ham said.

The Sigma Tau Delta–Cambridge Undergraduate Summer Program gives undergraduate members of the international English honor society a week at Girton College. Participants take two literature courses taught by Cambridge instructors, studying poetry and prose through small-group discussions, close reading, and essay writing.

About a week after submitting her application, Ham received an acceptance email for the weeklong summer program at Cambridge’s Girton College. She initially mistook the message for a confirmation that her application had been received.

“It was really nice to kind of see that what I want to do is something that was recognized and was good enough for a program like that,” Ham said.

Wyble, Assistant Professor of English and adviser to Chaminade’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter, an international honor society that recognizes students for academic achievement in English language and literature, learned about the Cambridge program through the organization. In her second year as chapter president, Ham was the first student he recommended.

A Maui native and Kamehameha Schools graduate, Ham is double majoring in English and Integrated Marketing Communications, with minors in Education and Hawaiian and Pacific Studies. Wyble said she brings her knowledge of Hawai‘i’s culture, history, and sense of place into classroom discussions.

Although Ham had secured a place at Cambridge, she still needed to cover the cost.

At the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program’s annual kick-off the previous year, Ham received the Hogan Alakaʻi Scholarship, an award she later used to help pay for her Cambridge trip. 

Roy Panzarella, Ph.D., director of the Hogan Program, said he learned about Ham’s experience only after she returned to Hawai‘i. Hogan had not helped arrange her studies abroad.

“Perhaps most importantly, she demonstrated that entrepreneurship is not always about starting a business. Sometimes it is about recognizing an opportunity, taking the initiative, and finding a way to make it happen,” Panzarella said.

Cambridge was part of Ham’s first trip outside the United States. Before arriving at Girton College, she spent time exploring Switzerland and London with her cousin.

She began preparing for the program while still taking 19 credits at Chaminade. Alongside her regular coursework, Ham read five novels and assigned poetry materials for her Cambridge classes.

At Cambridge, Ham had to get used to writing essays without the detailed outlines she was familiar with at Chaminade. Her professors wanted students to examine the literature closely, form their own interpretations, and use evidence from the readings to support them.

“We were all shocked because we’re used to everything being so structured,” Ham said. “But for them, it was really, really just show, and really look deep into it.”

Ham was particularly nervous about her poetry class. Although she was comfortable analyzing literature, she had little experience with creative writing. The class gave her opportunities to examine how history and culture influence the way people interpret poetry.

“It’s not that you’re right or wrong. It’s really just what you think,” Ham said.

During the program, Ham studied poetry under Alex Wong, Ph.D., a poet and former fellow at St John’s College, Cambridge, who spent much of his childhood on O‘ahu.

Wong, who has more than 12 years of experience teaching English Literature at Cambridge, led the program’s Poetry: Practical Criticism course. His sugarcane poetry sparked discussions about Hawai‘i’s environment, giving Ham an unexpected connection to home.

“It was really cool to be able to make that connection and see how my life here was still somehow involved all the way in Europe,” Ham said.

Outside the classroom, Ham visited a rare books collection, where she could handle historical works after washing her hands. Among the books she encountered were a parchment volume dating to the 1400s, a first edition of Charles Darwin’s work, and rare editions of Shakespeare. She examined how books were produced centuries ago and how their appearance changed over time.

Wyble hopes Ham will share what she learned with other Chaminade students and encourage more Sigma Tau Delta members to apply to the Cambridge program.

Applications for the 2027 Sigma Tau Delta Cambridge Undergraduate Summer Program are open to undergraduate members through Nov. 2.

Ham hopes to return to Kamehameha Schools as an English or public speaking teacher, giving back to the community where she received her education. Although she still wants to build her career in Hawai‘i, studying abroad made her more open to opportunities elsewhere.

“For me, it was really kind of just comforting to see everything that education can be, and to be immersed in it, because that’s something that I’ve always enjoyed,” Ham said.