Guanlin Gao, Ph.D.
Director, Economic Education Center for Excellence
Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Guanlin Gao is an Associate Professor of Economics at the School of Business and Communication and the inaugural Director of the Economic Education Center for Excellence at Chaminade University. Dr. Gao received her doctoral degree in economics in 2015 from Georgia State University and was a faculty member at Indiana University South Bend prior to joining Chaminade University in 2017. She believes that “a mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Dr. Gao has provided training services to K-12 teachers since 2016. She has received multiple awards in teaching, research, and student mentoring, including the Theodore C. Boyden Excellence in Teaching Economics Award, Fr. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award, and President Mackey Outstanding Mentor Award. Dr. Gao was recognized as a distinguished faculty by Chaminade University in 2021.
Autumn Fairall
EECE Student Trainee
Autumn Fairall is a senior in Chaminade University majoring in nursing. The EECE team has helped her to further her passion for helping people by teaching her new ways to promote health and wellness. She hopes to learn to identify the exact contributing factors that influence poor eating habits and implement new policies to assist in positive change.
Faith Chang
EECE Student Trainee
Faith Change is a senior at Chaminade university majoring in business administration. She’s a part of the EECE team focusing on educational research. She hopes to manage or work at a sustainable business after graduation. She chose this internship to learn more about history and economics and be able to create resources to help other teachers.
Timothy Johnson
EECE Student Trainee
Timothy Johnson, Tim for short, is passionate about living life to the fullest. Being able to have this opportunity with EECE has broadened his opportunities more than he could have imagined. He gets to experience in the field in which he is interested in a future profession which is economics. All in all, he’s happy to have this opportunity.
Elizabeth Devine
EECE Student Trainee
Elizabeth Devine, Liz for short, is a junior at Chaminade University majoring in business administration and minoring in international relations. EECE was just the opportunity she was looking for in search of business and professional experience. She loves the art of the business world and hopes her position with EECE leads her to great outcomes, life-long experiences, and connections to help in her future career.
Peyton Oshiro
EECE Student Trainee
Peyton Oshiro is a senior at Chaminade University majoring in business administration and minoring in marketing. Throughout his time at Chaminade, he’s loved learning about ways to problem-solve, communicate, and strategize in the business world. His experience with EECE allows him to apply what he’s learned, and facilitate his development as a student, professional, and leader in his community.
Mathew Tufele
EECE Student Trainee
Mathew Tufele is a freshman at Chaminade University majoring in business administration. Through his experience at EECE, Mathew expects to work toward the opportunities to give back to the people who helped him get where he is.
Myra Narruhn
EECE Student Trainee
Myra Narruhn is a first-year Business Major at Chaminade University. She is a part of the EECE research team and looks forward to working with her peers and mentors. EECE has given her the opportunity to learn and gain experience in the research field. She hopes that one day, she will be able to work a professional job related to this position.
Waioli Misajon
Affiliated Graduate Student
Graduated from Maryknoll High School, Waioli received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Digital Media Art from Saint Mary’s College of California. Currently, she is a candidate for Master of Science in Counseling Psychology at Chaminade University. Waioli is the founder of Mood USA, a nonprofit organization supporting mental health for children.
Anna Ezzy
Affiliated Graduate Student
Anna Ezzy is a Hauʻoli Mau Loa scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo pursuing a master’s degree in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science. Anna received her bachelor’s degree from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with a concentration in Environment, Economics & Politics and a minor in Food Studies. In 2020, she began working with FoodCorps Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative to promote the consumption and awareness of underutilized locally-grown staples. Anna is passionate about addressing inequities in the food system and restoring food sovereignty in Hawaiʻi.
Dylen Fujimoto
EECE Affiliate
Dylen Fujimoto is a sophomore at Claremont-McKenna College studying economics and Chinese. He is also a graduate of Punahou School. Outside of class, he enjoys hiking, traveling, aviation, playing volleyball, and watching Netflix. This is his second year researching financial education with the Economic Education Center for Excellence, and he is excited to contribute to this year’s research by building off the foundation developed by last year’s team.
Ryden Iwamoto
EECE Affiliate
Ryden Iwamoto is a freshman at the University of Chicago studying economics. He is the founder and former Executive Director of HI Econ and is a Director for the Oahu Economic Development Board. Ryden seeks to help others deepen their understanding of and appreciation for key economic concepts that drive their everyday lives and to support beneficial change in the realm of economics for future generations.
Ella Williams
EECE Affiliate
Ella Williams is a senior at Punahou School. She is an entrepreneur and co-founder of a biodegradable utensil venture, where she works to create durable, highly functional, and edible utensils. Her passion for all things business has given her considerable experience in entrepreneurship, macroeconomics, sustainability, and leadership, a diverse and broad skillset that translates well to the world of research.
Mira Kubo
EECE Affiliate
Mira Kubo is a junior at Punahou School and the Executive Director of HI Econ, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to immersing Hawaii’s youth in economics to catalyze real change. She enjoys investing and studying the stock market, in addition to hanging out with friends and writing. She is interested in the systemic complexities of economics, which was brought to her attention through reading news articles about economic situations that she didn’t understand.
