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Blessing Our New EdD Program

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Doctor of Education inaugural cohort

The gathering celebrated the end of a long journey—and the beginning of so many others.

In a special ceremony on campus recently, some of the members of the inaugural cohort of Chaminade’s Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change joined with faculty members, administrators and others to mark the much-anticipated kickoff of the new program. 

Kumu Keahi Renaud delivered a Hawaiian blessing followed by Father Marty Solma, SM, Chaminade’s chaplain, who led attendees in prayer. Several Chaminade administrators then took to the microphone to touch on just how much planning and commitment it took to make the day a reality.

Speaking to incoming cohort members, Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington said that the new doctoral degree program is “all about leadership.” She continued, “You come from such different perspectives. The richness of your learning together will be something very, very special.”

Indeed, the 33 members of the program’s first class hail from a diversity of backgrounds and professional interests. Dr. Hans Chun, director of education leadership programs, added there was particularly strong interest in the program in Hawaii. The majority of participants are in the islands.

Doctor of Education commemorative pin

The first term for the doctoral students, who will be learning fully online, begin July 6.

At the ceremony, students were given a commemorative coin with the Chaminade seal to mark the special day along with a kukui nut lei, signifying wisdom and enlightenment. Dr. Dale Fryxell, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences dean, also dedicated a turtle-shaped bench honoring the launch. He said the turtle represents knowledge and he hoped the symbolism inspired the doctoral students.

Dr. Lance Askildson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the journey students are embarking on is an exciting—and important—one. The program’s inaugural cohort will learn, work, and grow together over the course of three years, the expected completion time for the degree.

Askildson said the doctoral program is focused on leadership development across disciplines.

“But it’s also about leadership by some very courageous faculty and administrators—to bring this program forward after a number of years of advocacy,” Askildson said, speaking to the group. “The legacy that underlies … Chaminade University is of a brand of education holistic in nature, dedicated to educating the whole person, but driven by something more than just a transaction of knowledge.”

He said that individualized, whole-of-person experience is integrated into the program’s very curriculum.

And that, he added, is exactly what attracted so many professionals to the program.

To those incoming students, he said, “I applaud you and I congratulate you.”

Future Healthcare Professionals: Nursing Pinning Ceremony

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Members of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions gathered virtually earlier this month to celebrate the time-honored Nursing Pinning Ceremony together, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another—our nursing graduates’ careers as healthcare professionals serving our communities.

A total of 59 Nursing students were pinned May 7.

Dr. Rhoberta Haley, dean of the School of Nursing of Health Professions, offered her hearty congratulations to the graduating seniors and thanked them for their hard work, sacrifice and resilience.

“I believe that Nursing is a calling—and the nurses who have served on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic for more than a year have illustrated that point,” Haley said. “I am so incredibly proud of our Nursing students, they have experienced many challenges because of the pandemic and have overcome them all to get to graduation day.”

The Pinning Ceremony was an opportunity for family members, friends and mentors to recognize the significant achievements of each Nursing graduate. The ceremony has a history in the Nursing profession dating back centuries and symbolizes each student’s initiation into the global fellowship of nurses.

“In addition to congratulating each member of our Class of 2021 Nursing students, I would like to personally thank you all for your pledge to serve in this noblest of professions,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade president, who is also a former nurse and healthcare administrator.

“As someone who served in healthcare for many years, I can tell you that there is nothing more rewarding than knowing you have made a significant positive difference in the lives of your patients and their families. I wish all of our graduating seniors the greatest success in their future endeavors.”

Nursing graduates 2021

Participants in the Pinning Ceremony said they were honored to mark the end of their academic journeys and the start of their Nursing careers with peers, professors, family members and friends.

“This Pinning Ceremony means a lot to me for all the long years of education I have done and to make my family proud, especially my Dad, who is definitely looking down at me from up above,” said graduate Oscar Tomas, adding that the experience feels “surreal” after so many long days and nights of studying.

“It’s an honor to reflect on all that I’ve learned and all who I’ve met on this special journey as I go forth in my career,” he said. “And I look forward to making a big difference in the lives of many while exemplifying Chaminade University’s Marianist characteristics and Native Hawaiian values.”

Graduate Kimberly Aguada said the Pinning Ceremony felt like the culmination of all her hard work.

“Being able to share this moment with my loved ones feels like a way I can give back to them for sacrificing time with me, for being patient with me and for being understanding of the strenuous process we have been under since day one of Nursing school,” she said. “I cannot wait to spread my wings!”

Aguada also called it “humbling” to be entering a profession whose critical role in society has been highlighted again and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You realize how important yet dangerous healthcare can be,” Aguada said. “I look forward to working with the many healthcare heroes who have been the champions of this pandemic and I hope to be half the nurse they are. Knowing that I can change someone’s life in a positive way just by doing my job, it just blows my mind.”

Errlyn-Jan Sejalbo called the gathering moving and symbolic.

“To think that I will be going into the real world is super surreal and exciting for me!”

Sejalbo said she was especially honored to be able to choose a loved one to affix the pin for the ceremony. “It is like a stamp of accomplishment from the person who has supported us the most,” she said. “In my case, it was my mom. She has been my biggest supporter throughout this journey.”

Sejalbo added the pandemic made her final year in school even more difficult. But she said it also opened her eyes to the incredible sacrifice nurses make each and every day. “It really challenged me to focus on the bigger picture of being that ‘hero’ to those around me,” she said.

Jasmine Joy Pineda joked that a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the Pinning Ceremony.

“Mostly tears,” she added.

“The Pinning Ceremony signifies the end of one of the hardest things I ever went through,” she said. “Simultaneously time flew yet the end couldn’t have come any faster. I have carried the identity of being a student for almost my entire life and to have this chapter come to a close is bittersweet.”

Pineda added that it has always been her dream to become a nurse and the pandemic doubled her resolve to serve in a profession that helps people every day—and when they need it the most. “In light of the pandemic, anxieties have increased for everyone,” she said, “but it is so reassuring to be reminded that the profession of being a nurse never fails to be gratifying and respected.”

Beyond Academics: Co-Curricular Awards

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2021 Co-Curricular Awards at the Silverswords Student Appreciation event

Every year, the Co-Curricular Awards recognize members of Chaminade’s student body, clubs and organizations, and staff and faculty members whose efforts to make the campus and the community a better place go above and beyond—and embody the University’s mission of public service.

This year’s in-person awards presentation was particularly poignant, honoring those who truly exemplified the Silversword spirit despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. Honorees were recognized during a Silversword Student Appreciation event on April 28, which was also an opportunity to thank all students for their resilience and flexibility in grappling with COVID’s many impacts.

This was the 16th annual Co-Curricular Awards event.

The recipient of the Silversword Award, which recognizes a student-athlete who represents the Marianist philosophy with sportsmanship, integrity and respect for others, was Chaminade women’s tennis captain Catrina Liner. In addition to her hard work on the court, Liner serves as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has also provided input on COVID safety procedures and protocols as the student-athlete representative at athletic department meetings on the topic.

Her efforts in the classroom are also impressive. She is a three-time member of the Pac-West All-Academic, which recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA after completing at least two semesters at their institution while participating in regular season competition.

Silversword Student Appreciation event and Co-Curricular Award presentation

Meanwhile, there were two recipients this year of the Service Award: Connor and Lillie Flynn. The Service Award acknowledges those who demonstrate outstanding servant leadership, specifically in the areas of restorative justice and service for the people and lands of Hawaii. And the Flynn twins have done just that, working on countless community service projects to make a positive difference.

Both are part of the Chaminade Scholars program, through which they have sought to pursue their shared passions of protecting Hawaii’s environment while using what they’ve learned to help others.

Student leader Reyna Riesgo was honored with the Outstanding Peer Mentor Award, which recognizes upper-class students who work tirelessly as peer mentors to ensure that first-years feel supported as new members of the Chaminade ‘ohana. Peer mentors commit significant hours of their time as co-teachers of CUH 100 First-Year Experience Seminar, and prepare for the position with training and class preparation.

Riesgo has not only shown herself to be an outstanding peer mentor. She has served as a leader, collaborating with her fellow CUH 100 team members to make the first-year experience even better.

This year’s Tutor of the Year is Rachel Reedy, a student-athlete who has managed to help her fellow students make progress in their academic journey as she also juggles her own studies and excels on the volleyball court. The Tutoring Center has lost count of the number of students she’s helped.

Dominic Coffey was honored with the Dean of Students’ Special Recognition Award for his strong leadership skills, including as a Resident Assistant. The award spotlights those whose contributions have helped build a better community. Coffey has done that while preserving his affable leadership style.

Five students were recognized with the Bro. Joseph Becker Award of Excellence. The award acknowledges undergraduates who display exceptional leadership, demonstrate strong initiative and motivation, and show outstanding character, service, integrity and scholarship.

The freshman honoree was Sean Lorenzo, whose peers and Chaminade mentors can attest to his uncanny ability to motivate others around community service, including through his tireless work with the Student Government Association and Office of Student Activities and Leadership.

There were two sophomore honorees: Pamela Oda and Montserrat Lanfranco. Mentors say Oda has provided exceptional Office of Student Activities and Leadership virtual programs during the pandemic to ensure members of the Chaminade can connect and feel supported. Lanfranco, similarly, has demonstrated a tireless work ethic—and is always willing to help a fellow Silversword.

The Junior honoree was Celine Mesiona-Perez, who has proven to be a key asset to both Campus Ministry and the Office of Student Activities and Leadership. She has embraced her role as a servant leader, stepping up to the responsibilities before her and making sure she isn’t leaving anyone behind.

Finally, the senior honoree was Keahealailani Takushi, who has put in innumerable hours as part of student leadership activities since her very first year at Chaminade. Takushi, who has secured several internships and conducted research projects, has also been recognized for her scholarly achievements.

Among the faculty and staff members recognized was School of Nursing and Health Professions Professor Denise Cooper, who received the Rev. David Schuyler Award. The award acknowledges faculty or staff members who advise a student organization, supporting them in their endeavors, expanding their horizons and demonstrating a commitment to meeting the community’s needs.

Cooper serves as an advisor to Chaminade’s HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter, and has helped to expand its membership significantly and bolster participation in innovative projects. HOSA members are particularly excited about the organization’s future growth and community service opportunities.

2021 Co-Curricular Awardees:

Male Athlete of the Year: Isaac Amaral-Artharee
Female Athlete of the Year: Randi Fontes
Athletics’ Silversword Award: Catrina Liner
Campus Ministry Award: Edward-James Adachi
Liturgy Award: Kamaile Aipa and Taylor Skye Diego
Retreat Leader of the Year: Keanu Whitfield and Sierra Murobayashi
Service Award: Connor Flynn and Lillie Flynn
Outstanding Orientation Leader: Martina Segura
Outstanding Peer Mentor: Reyna Riesgo
Tutor of the Year: Rachel Reedy
Resident Assistant Award of Excellence: Tihani Rivera
Residence Hall Association Award of Excellence: Marianna Oka
Dean of Students’ Special Recognition: Dominic Coffey
Bro. Joseph Becker Award of Excellence: Sean Lorenzo, Pamela Oda, Montserrat Lanfranco, Celine Mesiona-Perez and Keahealailani Takushi
Bro. Elmer Dunsky Outstanding Student Organization Award: Chemistry Club
Rev. David Schuyler Advisor of the Year Award: Professor Denise Cooper
Fr. Stephen Tutas Program Award for Excellence: Taste of Culture (CSGA)
Frederick K.K. Kauhane, Sr. Aloha Spirit Award: Kamaile Aipa
Henry Halenani Gomes Alaka‘i Award: Edward-James Adachi

Student Recognized as a 2021 Red Cross Volunteer Hero

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In 2009, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean generated a massive tsunami that roared onshore in American Samoa and Samoa with wave heights of up to 55 feet. Nearly 200 people were lost and dozens of homes and buildings were destroyed. The price tag of the damage exceeded $200 million.

Timothy Dunstan, who grew up in American Samoa, remembers the unfathomable scale of devastation.

He also remembers the American Red Cross swooping in to help, bringing needed supplies, disaster management expertise and counseling support for families who had lost so much. He says the incredible work of the nonprofit, helping people when they needed it the most, inspired him to join the Red Cross as a volunteer himself when he moved to Hawaii in 2017 to attend Chaminade University. 

Timothy Dunstan volunteering with the Red Cross Hawaii

And he’s stuck with it ever since, putting in hundreds of hours of volunteer work even as he also completes the extensive studies needed to earn a double major in Psychology and Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Dunstan, who is set to graduate in December, has responded to dozens of crises and disasters for the American Red Cross. He’s helped families displaced by house fires and assisted in overseeing emergency shelter operations during several close calls from hurricanes and in the wake of major flooding.

In 2020, after the fatal shooting of two Honolulu police officers and an intentionally set blaze that destroyed several homes in Diamond Head, Dunstan worked with impacted residents and served as a liaison between families and the police. Also last year, he helped a family from Alaska who had been stranded in American Samoa for three months because of the territory’s COVID-19 lockdown.

The 22-year-old’s selfless work for the Red Cross has made him a hero to countless people.

And this year, he’s also been recognized as an American Red Cross of Hawaii “Volunteer Hero.” In naming him for the award, the nonprofit said Dunstan “embodies the heart of the Red Cross mission, stepping up to take the lead in a variety of casework” and ease the suffering of those in crisis.

Timothy Duston standing in front of the Red Cross van

Dunstan, who was born in New Zealand, said his family has always contributed to the community in “different roles of servitude.” And so when he moved to the islands to attend Chaminade, he decided to “give it a go” as a Red Cross volunteer “and see if it fits.” He found a nonprofit that allowed him to serve the community in a powerful way. And at Chaminade, he found a university that supported that work.

“A lot of our work is based on comforting clients. If people need help, we’re there,” Dunstan said.

He added Chaminade’s mission of public service has not only helped drive him in his Red Cross volunteering, but has also inspired him to apply what he’s learning in the classroom—especially in psychology—to his service for the community. “Having someone who has lost everything be able to just say, ‘Thank you,’ it’s when you know you’ve made a difference,” Dunstan said.

“It’s really something that opens your eyes to the world.”

After graduation, Dunstan hopes to pursue a career serving others. He’s weighing potential options now, but says he may consider law school—to become a prosecutor—or seek a career in forensic psychology. In the meantime, he said, he also wants to get others involved with Red Cross work. So he’s working with other students to start a Red Cross club at Chaminade and is recruiting new participants now.

Students Showcase Work at Annual Na Liko Na‘auao

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Na Liko Naauao virtual event 2021 screenshot

Chaminade undergraduates across all disciplines gathered virtually in early April to present their ongoing research across a broad array of exciting areas, from Native Hawaiian traditional medicine to data science database development to the microbiome, coral bleaching and cancer cell research.

The undergraduate conference, Na Liko Na‘auao, is an annual event at Chaminade to showcase exceptional original work by students seeking bachelor’s degrees and underscores the breadth and depth of academic scholarship at the University. Fields represented at this year’s conference, which included 23 presentations in all, ranged from Biology to Data Science to the Forensic Sciences.

The Na Liko Na‘auao symposium was first held at Chaminade in 2002.

Among the impressive topics students tackled this year:

  • “Modeling The Microbiome Of Aa In Vitro Taro Digestion Model,” from Ava Dysarz
  • “Seasonal Difference In Carcass Decomposition On Oahu,” presented by Marietta Lee
  • And “Keawawa Water Analysis And Restoration,” from Dorie Sanborn and Trinity Young

Organizers say Na Liko Na‘auao not only gives undergraduates an opportunity to offer the broader University community a glimpse into what they’re working on. It also gives them a chance to hone their presentation and speaking skills, synthesizing their research for a general audience.

The public forum also gives students an opportunity to take questions, giving them insight into their research strengths along with potential areas for improvement, further exploration and collaboration.

Also at Na Liko Na‘auao, the recipients of two prestigious Chaminade awards were announced.

Dr. Lynn Babington, Darian Balai and Dr. Rylan Chon

The President Sue Wesselkamper Prize, which recognizes a student who has displayed academic scholarship beyond the classroom and has a record of service learning volunteerism and leadership, was awarded to Data Science student Dairain Balai, who is also minoring in Biology and Criminal Justice.

In nominating her for the award, Data Science program Director Dr. Rylan Chong said Dairain has participated in a host of leadership and research growth opportunities—and excelled in each of them.

And her work is already getting noticed. To continue her research on Native Hawaiian women’s health, Dairain was selected for a competitive spot as a paid research assistant at the University of Texas in Austin Texas Advanced Computing Center, where she is also serves as a mentor to other students.

Chong said Dairian, who graduated from Waianae High and is a Ho’oulu Scholar, “represents what Chaminade is all about locally, in her community, and on the mainland by going beyond the expectations of her service to community and education, development of her moral character, personal competencies, and commitment to build a more just and peaceful society.”

Danson Oliva, Dr. Kate Perrault and Dr. Lynn Babington

Also announced at the event: the recipient of the President Mackey Prize, which recognizes a faculty member at Chaminade with a record of student mentoring and a strong, ongoing commitment to providing students with research or creative experiences that go beyond the classroom.

This year’s awardee: Dr. Kate Perrault, an assistant professor of Forensic Sciences and Chemistry.

Undergraduate researcher Danson Oliva nominated Perrault for the honor, saying the professor is “extraordinarily passionate about the course material and wants every student to succeed.” Oliva added that working in a lab under Perrault has been a wonderful growth experience, allowing her to flex her scholarship muscles while also getting helpful and instructive feedback and mentoring.

“As a research mentor, she guides us but also helps us troubleshoot problems when they arise,” Oliva wrote. “With the help of Dr. Perrault, I have gone on to give two conference presentations on my project. It wouldn’t have happened if Dr. Perrault didn’t truly believe in our ability to succeed.”

Finding Solutions Through Data Science

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Dairian Balai '22, Data Science major

Dairian Balai ’22 peers into data to find solutions. That’s where she found her passion, too.

The Data Science major likes to say that all those numbers—on everything from community health disparities to poverty to race and education—represent people, with hopes and dreams, just like her. She’s on a mission to tell their story (and hers) by spotlighting the data that speaks to real experiences.

“I want to shine a light on the problems we’re facing,” she said.

And even though she hasn’t yet graduated, Balai is already making her mark. Thanks to a series of programs at Chaminade, Balai scored a paid remote internship with a University of Texas lab to research maternal and infant mortality and co-morbidities in Native Hawaiian communities.

She hopes to use data science to spotlight what factors can help protect moms and babies.

Balai grew up in Waiʻanae and graduated from Waiʻanae High. During her junior and senior year, she applied to a long list of potential universities in Hawaii and on the mainland. And she was pretty set on going out-of-state for her undergraduate education. But then her high school counselor told her about the Hoʻoulu STEM Scholarship, which covers 100% of Chaminade tuition and offers support services.

Dairian Balai '22, Data Science major

The scholarship convinced Balai to take a tour of Chaminade—and she’s glad she did.

“Off the bat, I liked how it was a small community. The campus was small,” she said, adding that she later spoke to her high school adviser and realized that the financial support offered through the Hoʻoulu STEM Scholarship far outweighed other aid universities on the mainland were offering her.

“I decided to stay. If I went back in time, I would make that decision again,” she said.

Balai said the thing she appreciates most about Chaminade is the one-on-one support she gets from professors and advisers, who have connected her with key opportunities. “They really make it a point to help you plan out your future,” she said. “They say ‘Chaminade is a family.’ I really believe that.”

Balai originally majored in Biology because she planned to go into healthcare.

But the course of her studies changed after she was participated in Chaminade’s Supporting Pacific Indigenous Computing Excellence (SPICE) program. The intensive, immersion experience, in partnership with the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas at Austin, is designed to help train students to lead in data science and visualization efforts that support social justice projects in Hawaiʻi.

Balai said she learned coding in the SPICE program and worked with other students to create visualizations that helped illustrate her research area—how socio-economic status impacts healthcare.

From the SPICE program, Balai participated in a Computing4Change event in Chicago. The national competition challenges students to use computing for positive social change. Balai said through SPICE and the Computing4Change conference, she learned that data science wasn’t just about highlighting problems “but helping to solve them.” That, she realized, was the career she wanted to pursue.

Dairian Balai '22, Data Science major

So Balai switched majors to Data Science, taking the plunge even though it meant a little more time completing her undergraduate degree. She also started considering how she could eventually bring Data Science home—back to Waianae and the community she loves and eventually wants to serve.

She said Data Science helped her understand that having vulnerable populations doesn’t define Waiʻanae (and other communities with larger concentrations of low- and moderate-income families), but that socio-economic and other factors have a significant impact on the lives of Waianae residents.

She is especially interested in uncovering the factors that contribute to health disparities in her hometown. Data Science solutions to those gaps, she said, will help build a healthier community. And ultimately, that will help build a healthier state and nation, Balai added.

In 2019, Balai was offered a paid internship studying maternal health in Native Hawaiians. She said as a Native Hawaiian, the research feels personal—and all the more important given the healthcare challenges the community faces. She’s continuing that work and hopes to build on it.

In fact, Balai is now planning to go to graduate school.

She’s working with her adviser weekly to consider programs, and on crafting her long-term dream: returning to Waiʻanae to “build a better, a more aware community”—with Data Science.