Bro. Edward Brink, S.M. is the Vice President for Mission and Rector at Chaminade, but he prefers a simpler title: Teacher. These days, while he spends less time in the classroom, he still looks for every opportunity to counsel and advise students on campus or in the community.
So it is of little surprise that Brink says what he’ll miss the most about Chaminade when he takes on a new role with the Marianist Province of the US this summer is mentoring students at all stages of their academic careers, from freshman year to graduation day.
“I really like being able to introduce myself to young people and try to help them make connections about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” Brink said. “It will be that regular contact with students that I will miss the most. That ability to guide and inspire.”
Brink has been selected to serve as Director of Novices for the Marianist Province of the United States, a role that requires him to relocate to Dayton, Ohio. He plans to wrap up his work at Chaminade by June 2025. And while he is looking forward to his next adventure, he is also sad to be leaving a place and a university ’ohana that has meant so much to him.
Brink joined Chaminade in July 2016, after previously serving on the Board of Regents.
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He recalls that when he first started, his office was undergoing renovations so he was temporarily located in what is now the tutoring center, known as Kokua Ike. The placement gave Brink an early advantage—a chance to meet students throughout the day and hear directly from them.
“It was a great way to ease into it,” Brink said.
But before long, Brink was hitting the ground running, including as part of the welcoming committee for the University’s 10th president, Dr. Lynn Babington. She officially took on the role in August 2017, and Brink helped organize a tour for her to visit O’ahu sites that are important to Marianist and Chaminade history. Stops included ’Iolani Palace and the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, plus the original home along Nu’uanu Stream of Saint Louis School.
Babington so enjoyed the tour that she encouraged Brink to make it available to new faculty.
And so he did—and even got interest from longtime employees.
“Many people who have lived in Hawai’i for years told me that it was their first time visiting ’Iolani Palace”—and learning about the important history of Marianists in the islands, Brink said. “It really is about helping history come alive, just getting a bigger sense of everything.”
Brink said the tours are designed to help participants reflect on Chaminade’s mission, connecting important dots, including the importance of ensuring access for all students.
Before joining Chaminade, Brink served as Assistant for Education for the Marianist Province of the US, assisting Marianist universities and high schools nationwide. He began his career in education in 1985, teaching at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton.
At Chaminade, despite his busy schedule, Brink couldn’t stay out of the classroom. He has taught several sections of CUH100, Chaminade’s First Year Experience Seminar. He also led the Chaminade Scholars Program. The scholars are students chosen because of their strong academic background, their commitment to service to the community and their desire to continue to grow in their faith while attending Chaminade University.
And he has spearheaded the Marianist Educational Associate program at Chaminade, which seeks to inspire members of the faculty and staff to become stewards of Marianist values and the University’s mission.
Brink says while he’ll be leaving Chaminade, he will remain in the Silversword ’ohana and expects to maintain many of the relationships he has formed while in the islands. And he is also looking forward to his new role, which requires him to once again put on his teaching hat as he seeks to lead novices through a rigorous journey of reflection and spiritual development.
“There are people who are coming up to me and saying, ‘You can’t go!’” Brink said.
“It’s not that I want to go but I remember very clearly that part of my exploration of Marianist life was hearing stories about brothers who got to do really cool jobs and multiple cool jobs. Some brothers stay and do the same job, but the ones who caught my attention were people who did different things in different places. So I feel this is God’s way of reminding me of one of the things that made me want to be a Marianist.”
