Chaminade University of Honolulu

Alumni

MBA Alumni Gather for Pau Hana

The gathering was a celebration of growth and connection

The MBA Alumni Pau Hana last week was more than a gathering, says Vice President of Advancement Jill Higashi. It was a celebration of growth, connection and the lasting impact of a Chaminade education.

“Events like this allow us to acknowledge the significant contributions that our alumni have made in their communities,” Higashi added.

The 39 MBA alumni who attended the gathering on October 24 graduated between 1980 and 2023.

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In addition to hearing from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, attendees also got the latest developments on the MBA and MBA Professional programs from MBA Director Eddie Merc, Ph.D.

Alumni mingled and networked at the Oahu Country Club event, enjoying wines donated by Chaminade Regent Rodney Harano MBA ’84 and gourmet pupu. One of the evening’s highlights was hearing about the journeys alumni had undertaken since graduation.

At the event, Chaminade Director of Alumni Relations Jodi-Anne Yoshida MBA ’23 encouraged alumni to continue to engage with their alma mater—and keep connected with fellow Silverswords.

She also invited alumni to join her as a member of the Chaminade Fund Society, which aims to help shape the future of Chaminade and the lives of its students.

Chaminade Hosts Seattle Reunion

The event drew a diversity of attendees, from recent grads to professionals

Nikki Carrido MBA ’09 says attending Chaminade’s first reunion held in the Pacific Northwest was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She’d never met any of the other alumni in attendance, but immediately felt a special bond with her fellow Silverswords, she said.

“My biggest takeaway was the realization that Chaminade has such a strong and supportive alumni network,” Carrido said. “It was inspiring to see how successful and engaged our fellow graduates are, and how much we all value the education and experiences we received at Chaminade.”

The reunion in Seattle was held Sept. 26, and Chaminade President Lynn Babington was in attendance.

Alumni who came out ranged from recent graduates to experienced professionals.

Barbara Jeanne “BJ” Whitman ’74, MBA ’79 was initially afraid she would feel out of place at the event, held at Ivar’s Salmon House on Lake Union. “I thought they were going to be all these young alumni,” she said, with a chuckle. “But there was actually someone else who was a year older.”

Months in the planning, the Seattle reunion was organized by Chaminade Director of Alumni Relations Jodi-Anne Yoshida MBA ’23 and Director of Development Heidi Bow. They had modest expectations for the event, saying they hadn’t anticipated the appetite for a Silversword reunion in the Pacific Northwest.

The purpose of the gathering was to foster relationships, share university updates, and offer a networking opportunity, said Bow, adding that the event exceeded their expectations.

During the course of the evening, attendees introduced themselves and shared their favorite Chaminade memories. Meanwhile, Babington updated alumni on new initiatives at the University.

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She described the event as a success, noting the impressive diversity of the group—with class years from 1973 to 2009 in attendance.

Carrido thought the reunion was a “fantastic networking opportunity.” She even met a potential sponsorship connection for her nonprofit, all from a simple conversation.

“It truly showed me the power of the Chaminade community,” Carrido said.

Whitman and Carrido hope that another reunion will be organized in the future, a sentiment echoed by Rev. Kizzie Elizabeth Jones ’90. She said the event sparked an important memory for her from her time at Chaminade, when she learned in her classes about the impacts of inequality in society.

“It was a huge ‘aha’ moment for me as I realized it was my education at Chaminade that fueled my commitment to work for change,” Jones said. “I was in awe as I listened to each alumni as he or she shared where and how they were now serving in society.”

Nicole "Nikki" Carrido '19 MBA posed with Chaminade Vice President of Advancement Jilll Higashi.
Nicole “Nikki” Carrido ’19 MBA posed with Chaminade Vice President of Advancement Jilll Higashi.
Sabrina Sullivan '19 was thrilled that Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D, was able to attend the Seattle Reunion on Sept. 26.
Sabrina Sullivan ’19 was thrilled that Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D, was able to attend the Seattle Reunion on Sept. 26.
Kizzie Jones '90 updated alumni on her achievements and new projects.
Kizzie Jones ’90 updated alumni on her achievements and new projects.
Jacqueline Cano '15 addressed fellow alumni during a gathering at Iver's Salmon House on Lake Union.
Jacqueline Cano ’15 addressed fellow alumni during a gathering at Iver’s Salmon House on Lake Union.
Alumni and guests, including, from left, John "Jack" Culmer '73, Sue Bumgartner and BJ Whitman, '74 '79 MBA, shared stories and memories during the Seattle Reunion.
Alumni and guests, including, from left, John “Jack” Culmer ’73, Sue Bumgartner and BJ Whitman, ’74 ’79, shared stories and memories during the Seattle Reunion.
Kizzie Jones '90 is flanked by Chaminade Director of Development Heidi Bow, left, and Advancement Vice President Jill Higashi.
Kizzie Jones ’90 is flanked by Chaminade Director of Development Heidi Bow, left, and Advancement Vice President Jill Higashi.
Fourteen alumni showed their true Silversword blue when they attended a Seattle Reunion on Sept. 26 at Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union.
Fourteen alumni showed their true Silversword blue when they attended a Seattle Reunion on Sept. 26 at Ivar’s Salmon House on Lake Union.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Immersion

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program helps to address a shortage of healthcare providers

Members of Chaminade’s newest Doctor of Nursing Practice cohort gathered on campus this week for a series of seminars, trainings and social events aimed at starting their new academic journey off right.

The DNP Immersion agenda included a special welcome address from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, who congratulated the new students for advancing their education to better serve others. “Chaminade is proud to play an important role in educating our future leaders in healthcare and expert clinicians,” Babington said, speaking to the nine new students in this year’s DNP cohort.

Three recent Silversword nursing graduates—Ashley Jardine ’24, Lisa Kawamura ’24 and Daniel Gardner ’24—are among the new DNP candidates and said they’re motivated to help address the shortage of healthcare providers in Hawaii and help prepare the next generation of nurses for the islands.

“I always wanted to be in healthcare,” said Gardner, who currently serves as a registered nurse at Kalihi Elementary. “My dad was a Green Beret medic and he helped a lot of people, which is what I want to do.”

Cohort member Jacqueline “Jacquie” Bassett is focusing on the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track of the DNP, which is the highest clinical degree available in the nursing field. A nurse with the oncology ward at Straub Medical Center, Bassett hopes to relocate to Hawaii Island after completing her doctoral degree because so many communities are healthcare deserts.

“They desperately need mental healthcare workers there,” Bassett said.

“My parents own a homecare facility on the Big Island, and they see firsthand the need for—not just physical healthcare but mental healthcare, as well.”

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., congratulated the new cohort of Doctor of Nursing programs for advancing their education.
Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., congratulated the new cohort of Doctor of Nursing programs for advancing their education.
Maryann Kaiwi Salvador, FNP-BC ’23 gave a ZOOM presentation to the new cohort of Doctor of Nursing Program students.
Maryann Kaiwi Salvador, FNP-BC ’23 gave a ZOOM presentation to the new cohort of Doctor of Nursing Program students.
Doctor of Nursing Program students listened as Maryann Kaiwi Salvador, FNP-BC ’23 talked about her capstone DNP project.
Doctor of Nursing Program students listened as Maryann Kaiwi Salvador, FNP-BC ’23 talked about her capstone DNP project.

A two-day program, the DNP Immersion on campus was led by School of Nursing Associate Dean and DNP Director Pam Smith, with the help of faculty members Linda Malone, Sandra Bourgette-Henry, Dana Monday and Marife Aczon-Armstrong. The agenda over the two days included introductions, faculty-led discussions about goals and motivation, scholarly writing and the significance of Hawaiian culture.

Maryann Kaiwi Salvador, DNP, FNP-BC ’24 also presented her capstone project to the group via Zoom, explaining that she focused her research on chronic kidney disease. She told students it’s critical to find an area of interest that keeps them interested—and drives them to contribute more to the field.

“When you think about the development of your DNP project, ask yourself: What is your passion?” Salvador said, during her presentation. “There will be bumps on the road and setbacks, but persevere and be ready to switch gears. Remember that your professors, your instructors, your clinical advisors and your mentors all believe in you. So believe in yourself.”

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Designed for registered nurses or advanced practice nurses, Chaminade’s DNP program emphasizes clinical expertise, leadership and the ability to translate research into practice, making DNPs well-suited to address the healthcare needs of isolated or marginalized populations, program leaders said.

The DNP’s newest cohort members kick off their doctoral journeys amid an ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals across the state, including for nurses—and particularly in specialties like primary care and mental health. Program leaders said DNPs bring advanced training to the field, giving them the ability to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of health conditions.

During her presentation, Salvador told students she will be joining Na Pu’uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems on Molokai next week. “So when you think about your DNP project, think of where it might lead you,” she said.

In Chaminade’s DNP program, students can choose from one of four concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Post-Master’s Executive Leader. 

“This DNP program will help you enhance your leadership skills,” Salvador said.

“You’ll get all the encouragement and support you will need from faculty and advisors to continue furthering your education. Congratulations on choosing to pursue your DNP.”

From Silversword to Olympian

Kuany Kuany ’17 says he proud to represent South Sudan ‘in a positive light.’

From proud Silversword to Olympian!

Kuany Kuany ’17 is set to make his Olympics debut at the 2024 Paris Games after recently being named to South Sudan’s national team—which has qualified for the Games for the first time.

Kuany, 30, has been playing for the country for four years—and is team captain.

He said he’s proud to be generating positive headlines for South Sudan.

“It brought so much joy for us,” he told GoSwords.com.

“The war in Sudan, famine, a lot of negative things that the media portrays our country. But we are a nation blessed with great athletes and natural resources. It shows the world what we have to offer in a positive light.”

Keany played guard on Chaminade’s basketball team from 2013 to 2017, and is one of the most decorated players in school history. As GoSwords notes, he was Chaminade’s first four-time All-Pacific West Conference honoree and ranks third in all-time scoring.

After leaving Chaminade, he has played professionally, including in Australia and Croatia.

Kuany Kuany ’17 is set to make his Olympics debut in Paris after recently being named to South Sudan’s national team, which qualified for the Games for the first time.

“My time at Chaminade was great,” Kuany told GoSwords.com.

“As a Division II school playing against top opponents in the Maui Invitational, people saw us as the underdogs every time. I feel the same with South Sudan as being the underdogs each game. We believe in ourselves and work really hard to accomplish our goals.”

For details on how to watch South Sudan compete in Paris, click here.

Harnessing the Power of Supercomputers

In an innovative summer research institute, Chaminade students used data science to tackle big research questions.

For four intensive weeks this summer, 25 Chaminade students used supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center to analyze complex data sets. They were looking to test hypotheses to complex research questions. And along the way, they got valuable hands-on experience in data science, one of the nation’s fastest-growing fields in a long list of sectors, from climate science to healthcare.

The Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) Data Science Summer Institute allows students to take a deep dive into their research interests, giving them access to tools and supercomputers that can help synthesize complex data sets into understandable, manageable variables.

“This is not theoretical learning,” says Connor Flynn ’21, a data scientist with Chaminade’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Flynn participated in ALL-SPICE as a student and now serves as a group leader. “This is literally experiential since some of the students’ research projects require that they go to actual sites to verify what they’ve captured in their data is accurate.”

ALL-SPICE, now in its sixth year, is the product of an innovative Chaminade partnership with the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center. ALL-SPICE is one of just four new National Science Foundation INCLUDES Alliances, and organizers say the ALL-SPICE program helps level the playing field for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) students, who are woefully underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

“The program is transformative for students from Hawaii and the US-affiliated Pacific, from Chaminade and many other colleges,” said Dr. Helen Turner, biology professor and principal investigator for Chaminade’s NSF ALL-SPICE program.

“Students come in with curiosity and a passion to solve their islands’ challenges. They leave as card-carrying data scientists with a high-demand skill set that they can use to change the future.”

Wilneris Carrion-Colon ’25 and Johnny Bae ’26 were among the students who participated in this year’s ALL-SPICE summer intensive program. They are both excited about pursuing careers in STEM.

In the summer program, the two Data and Computer Science majors used imaging technology to detect marine debris found off Windward Oahu. Carrion-Colon said satellite technology has become a valuable tool for detecting and classifying environmental phenomena on both land and aquatic environments.

The data science classroom was the main hub for the ALL-SPICE Summer Institute.
Thirty-two students were divided into three groups then into sub-groups as they pursued their research interests.
For four weeks, students researched their interests in environmental management and health disparities.
Students share their research with Kumu Kahoa Keahi-Wood.
Kumu Kahoa Keahi-Wood serves as the Environmental Project Lead and has been with SPICE's first cohort since 2019.

“By analyzing reflectance and absorption of light, spectral bands enable machines to differentiate material classes,” said Carrion-Colon, during her final presentation.

“Notably, the Windward side was chosen because it is particularly susceptible to marine debris accumulation due to prevailing ocean currents.”

Carrion-Colon noted there are limitations to her analysis, but added that’s reason to do more research.

In his research, Bae mapped out ocean plastics using machine learning in waters northeast of Oahu.

Also using multispectral satellite imagery and statistical learning algorithms to detect floating marine debris, Bae sought to underscore the critical role of technology in environmental management.

“Ultimately, this work contributes to protecting marine ecosystems, supporting economic stability and safeguarding public health,” said Bae, in presenting his findings.

“Future research and initiatives—stemming from detecting and mitigating plastic marine debris in Hawaii’s ocean using machine learning and AI—can significantly contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production; and SDG 13, which involves evaluating the carbon footprint of plastic debris.”

Open to all majors, from nursing and business to biology and interior design, the ALL-SPICE Data Science Summer Institute also teaches students how to code and use other cutting-edge tech.

Organizers say ALL-SPICE participants represent the region’s diversity, and include significant numbers of women and veterans. Students work in thematic areas that are of central importance to the Hawaii-Pacific region, including climate analytics, health inequity and the impacts of misinformation.

The summer institute also has a strong cultural component and culminates in a ho‘ike—a showcase of student projects). SPICE mentors include faculty, analysts and peers. To learn more, click here.

The SPICE program was funded by NSF INCLUDES ALL-SPICE Alliance #HRD-1744526. Student places were sponsored by ALL-SPICE and the following additional grants (Primary Investigator Dr. Helen Turner): NSF EPSCoR Hawaii (#OIA-2149133), the Pacific Intelligence Innovation Initiative, the Sullivan Family Foundation and NIH grant 3U54GM138062-03S1 (Primary Investigator Dr. Youping Deng, University of Hawaii).

Cutting-edge GIS Certification

The certification is designed to tailor data science training with community and workforce needs.

Biology Professor Dr. Helen Turner is the Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.
Biology Professor Dr. Helen Turner is the Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.

When Chaminade University introduced its Data Science & Analytics degree in 2018, the University became among the first in the nation to offer such a curriculum at the undergraduate level.

Today, in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Pacific Intelligence Innovation Initiative (P3I) and Chaminade University’s United Nations CIFAL Honolulu Center for Sustainability, the University offers various sought-after certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are accredited by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the NSF.

“GIS leads to a very desirable skill set with applications relevant to the Department of Defense sector and defense contractors, and nonprofits and agencies working in agriculture, on sustainability and resilience,” said Dr. Helen Turner, Biology Professor and Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.

“It also has applications in public health (geospatial mapping of outbreaks, provider and resource allocation, and health disparities and inequities), and policy and planning (State and Federal planning efforts in transportation, housing, natural resource management and disaster/emergency management.”

According to P3I co-chair Jason Chung, the company’s mission is about developing careers for the people of Hawaii, allowing island residents to work, live and stay in Hawaii.

It’s also about building a more resilient economy through diversification, and creating opportunities for the growing demand for information technology, cybersecurity, data science and intelligence professionals within Hawaii’s defense sector—the second leading economic driver in the state.

Prior to interning with P3I, Kawailani Luat ’23 was resigned to the fact that she would have to leave her home state to find a job in her field of data science that would pay her a decent wage.

However, the experience with P3I changed her mind, opening her eyes to the many potentials, locally, where she can focus her career toward.

Now working as a data analyst with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)—an all-domain defense and technologies partner, recognized worldwide as America’s largest shipbuilder—the Mililani native credits her internship with P3I as leading to this opportunity of a lifetime.

“By providing opportunities locally, I could stay in Hawaii, and I know a lot of local kids who want to stay home,” Luat said. “Without P3I, I would not have the career that I have today.”

Managed by the Hawaii Defense Alliance (HDA) and supported by Hawaii congressional delegates, P3I is committed to supporting economic development in Hawaii by creating jobs and opportunities for Hawaii’s students, businesses and military.

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babingto presented Kawailani Luat with her President Sue Wesselkamper Award during last year's Na Liko Na’auao.
Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington presented Kawailani Luat with her President Sue Wesselkamper Award during last year’s Na Liko Na’auao.

“P3I connects individuals to educational and certificate programs, and internships, to prepare them with the experience and skill sets needed to succeed in these high-paying careers,” Chung said. “P3I is a collaboration with public, private and academic institutions across the state.”

Over the past five decades, geographic information systems have transformed from a simple concept into a sophisticated science. This remarkable evolution, from a basic tool to a powerful platform for comprehending and planning our world, is one of the fastest growing—and highly consequential—technological tools.

GIS, by definition, is exclusively used to refer to a particular kind of geospatial technology that stores geographic information in layers and integrates that data with software programs.

These software programs can then create, store, manipulate, analyze and even visualize the data for further use. Conversely, geospatial studies and practices set themselves apart with three unique practices: a particular focus on the management, analysis and representation of geographic data.

These elements create the three essential levels of geospatial practice:

  • Data management naturally includes acquiring, cleaning and integrating data into a system.
  • Data analysis refers to choropleth mapping, overlay and spatial query.
  • Data representation refers to producing representational maps, charts and graphs of geographic information.

“While data science analytics and visualization has been around for 15 to 20 years, it was only a decade ago that it really impacted higher education,” said Dr. Lance Askildson, Chaminade’s Provost and Senior Vice President, during a Hawaii Defense Alliance-hosted webinar about geospatial analytics careers and workforce development.

“From my perspective, I can see that we’re reaching a point where there’s so much data to disaggregate that we’re having to develop new tools, new methodologies and new credentialing pathways for professionals to make sense of it.”

In response, universities, like Chaminade, are fulfilling this niche demand by offering comprehensive curricula that blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills gained through experiential internships. Also a panel member of the geospatial analytics career webinar, Data Science Professor, Dr. Mark Speck, addressed the lack of supply of good candidates who are trained in the geospatial field.

“It’s difficult enough to find one person trained in a certain discipline, like geospatial and geospatial intelligence,” Speck said.

“It is even more difficult to try to find more of them on an island. Local contractors can hire people from the mainland, but they have trouble keeping them on island, and it’s also very expensive for them to bring people to Hawaii.

“So, it’s much easier and cheaper for them to train and invest in candidates who are from Hawaii and who are more likely to stay,” Speck added. “One of the focus of HDA is to hire local kids and keep them on island with good-paying jobs.”