Environmental + Interior Design

Top 40 Under 40

February 7, 2023 by University Communications & Marketing

Katelynn Perrault makes “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022”

Lab coats buttoned up and goggles on, Katelynn Perrault, Ph.D., instructs her students in the FS 430L class at Henry Lab 5. For the past five years, the Canadian native has taught aspiring forensic scientists the techniques and forensic methodologies for qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical evidence. Making “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022 – Top 40 Under 40,” the Associate Professor of Forensic Sciences and Chemistry is passionate and proud of her achievements, which include a 2021 Fr. John F. Bolin Award for scholarly work, a 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award, as well as the 2021 President Mackey Award for outstanding mentorship.

“I was always intrigued by science outreach events when I had access to them, and eventually did a career project in high school on Forensic Sciences,” recalls Perrault, “I was also curious about the thought of using the sciences to solve crime and contribute to serving justice.”

Perhaps popularized by CBS’s NCIS program, employment of forensic scientists is expected to grow 17 percent by 2026, which is quicker than the average of all U.S. occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, there were 16,640 forensic scientists, also known as crime scene investigators or forensic science technicians. The BLS projects that 2,500 new forensic scientist jobs will be added to the market each year through 2030.

Katelynn Perreault made “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022.”

And growth has also occurred in the Chaminade program. So, too, has interest and breadth.

“When I started, we did not have a chemistry major,” says Perrault, who teaches across the department’s Forensic Sciences, Biochemistry and Chemistry majors. “It is exciting to see more students considering chemistry as a major. I feel that we have seen more positive perception shifts towards the utility of chemistry in other disciplines during my time, which is always exciting to see.”

Perrault is also the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, which focuses on using multidimensional chromatography to uncover volatiles as mediator chemicals in processes associated with life, health and death. Through her research, she has cultivated an international network of collaborators in academia, police and government agencies.

Marking the second time she has appeared on the “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022 – Top 40 Under 40,” Perrault says it’s affirmation that she continues to do novel research in the field of analytical chemistry that is contributing to society.

“I think as scientists, this is one of the things we are always striving for—to use science in service,” Perrault points out. “This recognition helps me to reflect on the fact that others see this applied chemistry as being meaningful and worthwhile, and that means a lot to me. This motivates me to continue to use chemistry as a means to solve important challenges in our world.”

Now entering her sixth year at Chaminade, Perrault has discovered a passion for training the next generation of scientists. “It brings me great fulfillment thinking about the work they will do beyond their time with us,” she says. “Receiving emails from our alumni about the exciting things they are doing always brings a smile to my face.”

Scents and Sensibility

January 26, 2023 by University Communications & Marketing

Chaminade freshman turns her love of candles and Hawaii into a business

Part science, part apothecary, the art of candle making can be traced as far back as 1000 BCE when ancient Romans would use tallow—a rendered form of beef or mutton fat—to make molded candles. The idea intrigued Chaminade freshman, Tahiya Kahaulelio ‘26, so much so that she established her own candle-making enterprise, Kahaulelio Candle Company.

“It wasn’t the first idea I had for a business,” says Kahaulelio, who plans to major in Environmental + Interior Design. “At first, it was actually to establish a clothing business but, knowing myself, I knew I would get bored, so I needed to find something that I could stick [no pun intended] with for a long time.”

The young entrepreneur, though, knew she wanted to continue her education and attend college. Chaminade beckoned over Saint Joseph’s and La Salle, two universities located closer to her hometown of Philadelphia. A devout Catholic, Kahaulelio chose to leave The City of Brotherly Love to get in touch with her island roots. Her Nigerian mother had already taught her the values and customs of her West African home country, but she wasn’t familiar with her father’s Hawaiian heritage.

Tahiya Kahaulelio poses with her finished candle.

“I had questions about my Hawaiian side,” Kahaulelio says. “I feel like I was missing a piece of my heritage and I needed to get answers.”

Having never been to Hawai‘i, Kahaulelio was understandably nervous. She knew it would be challenging to be 5,000 miles away from her mother, step-father and siblings, but she was also comforted knowing that her biological dad’s family lived on O‘ahu. Questions of not being good enough, meeting new friends, college life and all the doubts associated with the responsibility of a young adult, all swirled in her mind. She was anxious.

And then she arrived on campus.

“I immediately felt comfortable and the people were so nice,” says Kahaulelio, with an infectious smile. “I didn’t feel like an outsider because everyone was so welcoming. I no longer see Chaminade as a school but as a family that I can reach out to for guidance and help.”

Now in her second semester, Kahaulelio juggles between being a student and running a business. When she’s not designing interior spaces with colors and texture for class, she’s experimenting with different combinations of scents, infusing her bees-wax-based candles with such local-inspired essential oils as hibiscus, coconut, cucumbers, papaya, mango and rosewood.

Using a digital scale to precisely weigh 12 ounces of wax, Kahaulelio places the wedges in a pitcher and slowly melts the wax over a Nesco stainless burner for four minutes. She then incorporates four teaspoons—two teaspoons at a time—of essential oils, stirring the elixir to release the fragrances. Now to the tricky part: cutting the length of the circular wick so that it’s not too long nor too short.

“My stepdad is so much better at this than I am,” admits Kahaulelio, while eyeballing the length of the wick. “He’s a chef so he has a really keen eye and an excellent sense of aroma.”

Freshman Tahiya Kahaulelio has developed a variety of island-fragrant-infused candles.

Environmental + Interior Design’s new program coordinator challenges students to think outside the box

November 4, 2022 by University Communications & Marketing

The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what’s in or what’s out.
– Albert Hadley

Working with his students, Tina-Marie Dust, Alyssa Hofilena and Amisha Singh, on the interior space of a Chinatown restaurant, Matthew Higgins carefully reviewed their choices of color and textiles, reminding them that a room is a behavioral space that sets the mood.

Higgins started at Chaminade University as a visiting professor with the Environmental + Interior Design program a year ago and only recently accepted the position as its program coordinator. In his new role, he will help set the vision for the department and ensure that it retains its Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) accreditation.

“I never take anything for granted,” says Higgins, referring to the program’s CIDA accreditation. “It’s a rigorous process, which requires a three-day on-site review by a visiting team to determine whether a program meets the standards for interior design education.”

A significant element in this peer review process is evaluating student work to determine achievement levels as an indicator of the adequacy of the required curriculum. Additional factors include academic and professional qualifications of the faculty in relation to the purposes and objectives of the program; adequacy of the facilities for the educational program; administrative structure of the program and its relationship to the institution as a whole; and program assessment methods, and the program’s continued development and improvement as a result of assessment.

“The scope of design has expanded and much broader now,” Higgins explains. “Here at Chaminade, the program added ‘Environmental’ to the curriculum in attempt to breakdown barriers, and to think beyond windows and doors.”

A licensed Realtor, Ruth Simmons decided to attain her BFA at the university, citing that she wanted to be able to offer her clients interior design recommendations. “I see it as complementing my skills as a Realtor,” she says. “The more you can provide your clients, the better.”

Also in their last semesters, Angela Huber and Laura Flor both hope to land jobs with an interior design firm when they graduate. The two seniors agreed that they’ve learned real-world skills that will help them execute the design process.

“Students can consider a room as behavioral space and change the mood of that room with interior design,” Higgins explains. “They can play with different materials, forms and hues. They get a really good grounding on the principles of interior design in this program.”

Higgins also appreciates the fact that Chaminade students are working toward a BFA (Bachelor’s of Fine Art) instead of a BA, distinguishing that the former demands more diligence and detail, and encompasses a host of topics, including color theory, textiles, sustainability in design, the history of furniture and much more.

“Chaminade has the only CIDA-accredited interior design program in Hawai‘i,” Higgins points out. “And, if for some reason, you didn’t want to stay in Hawaii, the next closest programs are in California or Japan.”

E+ID Class Project Becomes Career-Launching Opportunity

February 14, 2022 by University Communications & Marketing

It’s not every day an assignment in class turns into a career-launching opportunity.

But that’s exactly the kind of project Kailani Torres is just wrapping up—and her good work (and innovative design) will be appreciated by countless members of the community for years to come.

Torres, who is from Mililani, Hawaii, is now a senior in the Environmental + Interior Design program and is leading a major makeover of the main conference room at Sacred Hearts Academy. The project had her doing just about everything a professional does, from working with contractors to incorporating feedback into her design.

“It was very empowering to do this project,” Torres said. “Being able to work with and learn from professionals as well as building connections was so incredible. What better way to gain some exposure than while I’m still completing my degree? This gave me the confidence to know I’m on my way.”

The project was born when Sacred Hearts Academy reached out to Chaminade’s Environmental + Interior Design program to solicit proposals from students to redesign a key conference room on their Kaimuki campus. Students in Professor Junghwa Suh’s EID 271: Materiality in Interior Design class were invited to take up the project for class credit—and the chance to work on a real-world design.

Torres jumped at the opportunity to participate but tried not to get her hopes up.

“I thought it was just a wonderful opportunity to gain some experience with a real client,” she said, adding students visited the Sacred Hearts campus, “feel out the space,” and interview those who use the conference room. After putting everything together, she set to work on a design proposal that would not only reflect the school’s identity but be practical and flexible for conference room users.

Envisioning what she wanted and actually finishing her proposal turned out to be two different things.

Just as she started jumping into the design software required to craft her proposal, the pandemic started and lockdowns went into place. Virtual learning meant Torres had to troubleshoot more than she was used to. But she says the experience helped her build confidence in her skills.

At the end of the semester, it was go time: students in the class presented their conference room proposals to Sacred Heart’s board and leadership. Torres was nervous about her final product but knew she’d done her best. After that final presentation, she waited for news. And waited. And waited.

It was several months later that Torres received an email from her professor that her design had been selected. Her reaction: “Complete disbelief.” She added, “I read that email over and over again trying to make sure I had read it right. I even had moments of denial,” she said. Torres later got a follow-up message that Sacred Hearts was proceeding with the renovation and ready to work with her.

“Needless to say, excited was an understatement,” she said.

In the weeks that followed, Torres would find herself working directly with Sacred Hearts Academy President Scott Schroeder and the school’s leadership on changes to her design to meet new needs. She made a new presentation to the board in September 2021—and they loved it. From there, Torres was connected with the project’s contractor to make her conference room design a reality.

Kailani Torres (E+ID major) presenting her design to Sacred Hearts Academy

The rectangular space is about 1,500 square feet with 11-foot-high ceilings. Torres’ challenge was to make the conference room feel warm but not stifling, flexible without feeling temporary, and completely in line with Sacred Hearts’ character as a school and a community.

To make that happen, Torres’ design includes chairs at long tables that can be easily reconfigured.

Her favorite part of the design: acoustic ceiling wave tiles that not only serve a great function—preventing sound from echoing—but evoke a strong sense of place. She said her original design also incorporated a wave element in the carpet, but that was changed based on client feedback.

Torres is okay with that. After all, it’s her design but it’s the client’s space.

“Design is not just about how the space looks, it’s also the feeling of changing somebody’s life,” Torres said. “I am filled with an immense amount of gratitude knowing that professionals in the field see potential in me. Sacred Hearts Academy took a chance on a small-town girl with big dreams.”

Torres added she still gets chicken skin when she thinks about all the thousands of students and educators in the coming years who will use the conference room and get some joy from her design. “And who knows?” she said. “Maybe one of those students will be a daughter or a niece.”

E+ID Alumna Makes Positive Impact in Community

February 1, 2022 by University Communications & Marketing

Nicolle Soriano ’18 believes good design should be universal.

“Whether you’re rich or poor, it’s for everyone to enjoy,” said Soriano, who has a degree in Environmental + Interior Design from Chaminade and now serves as a junior interior designer at WCIT Architecture. “Everyone should be able to enjoy a space that is beautiful.”

It’s an approach that drives Soriano at work and in life—and that passion has gotten noticed.

Soriano was named the International Interior Design Association-Hawaii Chapter’s Emerging Professional as part of the 2021 Ho’ohuli Awards. The recognition honors a junior design leader who has helped advance interior design in Hawaii and made a positive impact in the community.

Interviewed recently, Soriano said she’s humbled by the award. She also gave credit to her colleagues at WCIT, her mentors in the field and her professors at Chaminade, saying they’ve helped her grow professionally and given her the confidence to explore meaningful and exciting projects.

“My office environment is so family-oriented,” she said. “It actually reminds me of Chaminade.”

Soriano didn’t always know what she wanted to do with her life—or where she wanted to study.

Born and raised in Washington State, Soriano was active in the Catholic Church throughout her high school years and was set on choosing a university that would help keep her “grounded and connected to my faith.” She was also interested in the arts and interior design, and so was searching for campuses with strong interior design programs. In doing her research, she learned about Chaminade.

“It just became a perfect fit,” said Soriano, whose mother’s side is from the islands.

Nicolle Soriano '18 posing in front of her display at Na Liko Naauao 2018

In the Environmental + Interior Design program at Chaminade, she found the only program in Hawaii with Council for Interior Design Accreditation. And at the university, she embraced the supportive, warm and fun campus community that allowed her to pursue her other passions and her faith.

While a student, Soriano was active in Campus Ministry and attended several retreats. She also volunteered her time regularly with community projects. And she helped revive the Filipino Club, including as its vice president, recruiting friends and classmates to share cultural performances.

“Looking back, I don’t know how I did it all,” she quipped. “It was just a joyous experience.”

Soriano also said she thrived in Chaminade’s small classes and a strong emphasis on hands-on learning. “You really get to know your professors and have a close relationship,” said Soriano, adding her mentors—including associate professors Junghwa Suh, DArch, and Joan Riggs—“really inspired me.”

“They pushed me to be the best I can be. They really prepared me,” she said.

Soriano added that several projects she worked on at Chaminade still resonate with her, including an innovative assignment to reimagine the modern shopping mall—which has faltered as more and more shop online—and a partnership with a nonprofit to design housing units for homeless people on Oahu.

Her group project on the “death of the mall” even earned an AIA Honolulu design award in 2018.

“At Chaminade, I learned about the importance of interior design to everyone,” Soriano said. “It’s definitely not like what you see on HGTV. It’s a lot more work than you imagine. You’re creating spaces that people work in, that people play in, where they live. Being a part of the design industry taught me how we all function in our daily lives and how big an impact design really has on our communities.”

During her senior year at Chaminade, Soriano landed an internship at WCIT Architecture.

She loved it—and was ecstatic when they asked her to come back for the spring semester.

She was even more thrilled when they offered her a full-time junior designer position right before graduation. “It just worked out so perfectly,” she said, adding she loves her WCIT Architecture team and has enjoyed adding elements of Hawaiian culture and storytelling into her designs.

At WCIT, Soriano has gotten the chance to work on everything from hospitality and timeshare renovations to restaurant makeovers and corporate and office designs. While she builds her portfolio, Soriano is also working to secure her National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

“Put simply,” Soriano said, “it’s a certification that you are an interior designer who knows what they’re doing.” To get the qualification, applicants take several exams that cover a wide variety of industry practices and standards, including building codes, design application and professional practice.

Additionally, Soriano serves as vice president of student affairs for the Hawaii chapter of the International Interior Design Association. It’s a role that’s allowed her to talk about her own experiences as a young designer and serve as a mentor to others pursuing a career in the field.

She hopes to recruit other alums to serve as inspiration to current and future students. “Once you graduate from Chaminade, you are always a part of this bigger ‘ohana,” she said. “It’s very special when you meet other people who went to Chaminade. There are definitely so many of us who have accomplished so much in our careers. Building that alumni network is so important.”

Looking ahead, her biggest focus is on continuing to grow as a designer and community leader—and taking on new opportunities and challenges that allow her to have a positive impact. “I love what I do,” she said, “and am so grateful for the people who helped me become the designer I am today.”

Immersive Experiences Through Summer Institutes

August 13, 2021 by University Communications & Marketing

Dozens of Hawai’i public high school students converged on Chaminade’s campus over the summer for a host of immersive learning opportunities—trying their hand at everything from spoken word poetry to marine conservation to designing a safehouse for a zombie apocalypse.

Chaminade’s Summer Institutes 2021 offerings, part of the University’s ongoing commitment to early college programming, gave rising juniors and seniors at two public high schools the chance to do a deep dive into disciplines of high interest.

The intensive, 10-day courses were free to McKinley and Kaimukī high school students and also included standalone college preparatory sessions on how to pay for higher education, apply for financial aid, select an academic pathway and build leadership skills.

Dr. Janet Davidson, Chaminade Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, said 37 students participated across five Summer Institutes courses. The offerings were made possible in part thanks to a US Department of Education GEAR UP grant.

Davidson said GEAR UP is focused on boosting college attendance among low-income students. To promote that goal, she said, the Summer Institutes program at Chaminade offered participants a high-quality, engaging college-level experience.

“The students had rewarding experiences on our campus—with each other and with their faculty and peer mentors,” Davidson said, adding that enrollees also benefitted from co-curricular sessions with the University’s advising, financial aid and admissions offices.

“Through our Summer Institutes, we aimed to support the academic growth of students, but also provided a series of college readiness sessions. We look forward to growing on our successes this year and provide even more institutes next summer.”

Doing It Yourself: A New World

high school students working together on a business plan project during the business summer institute

Among the available academic sessions was a course—taught by Accounting Professor Aaron Williamson—on entrepreneurship, business modeling and communication skills. “Doing It Yourself: A New World” also included an emphasis on leadership and team building.

Williamson said he wanted the immersion program to give students a “taste of what business really is. At its root, business is the thoughts, dreams and initiatives of a multitude of folks from history to present who simply had an idea and acted on it.”

He added that he was most excited to watch students tap into their passions and personal interests—and then figure out how to direct that energy into a business plan.

“I fully expect to be walking into a few of their establishments one day,” he added.

Word Wizards: The Magic of Poetry and Hip Hop

high school students at the museum of art during a field trip for the english summer institute

English Professor Dr. Allison Paynter drew from English 256 (Poetry and Drama) to design her summer institute course entitled, “Word Wizards: The Magic of Poetry and Hip Hop.” In addition to analyzing hip hop lyrics, traditional poetry and verse-driven dramas, students wrote poetry and then put on spoken word performances.

Paynter, herself a performance poet, said she most enjoyed seeing her student participants collaborate with one another on writing.

“I also loved watching my students perform their original poetry during our Spoken Word event,” she said. “I would like to believe each student felt empowered through the process of writing creative pieces.”

Marine Science Immersion

high school students at the beach looking at marine life during the marine science summer institute

Dr. Gail Grabowsky, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Chaminade, co-taught a “Marine Science Immersion” summer course with Dr. Lupita Ruiz-Jones, an assistant professor of Environmental Sciences. Students in the session spent the first week exploring the ocean environment from the perspective of a marine scientist and the second considering the impacts of humans on marine ecosystems.

Participants spent time in the classroom, lab and, of course, the ocean.

Ruiz-Jones said students took field trips to Waimea Bay, Sharks Cove, Makapuu, Makaha and Ala Moana Beach. They even took a walk from campus to nearby Pālolo Stream, inspiring three students to return the following weekend for a stream cleanup project.

Grabowsky said a central takeaway of the course for students was just how incredible marine systems are—and how important they are to preserve.

“I wanted them to walk away with a knowledge of the ocean, of course, but also a feeling that college is wonderful and an understanding of how it works,” she said. “I hope they all came away loving Chaminade!”

Psychology Studies

Psychology Associate Professor Dr. Darren Iwamoto led a course in Psychology Studies, challenging students to take a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness to understand the importance of mental health in everyday life.

Iwamoto, who is clinical director of the School Counseling and Undergraduate Psychology programs at Chaminade, said he kicked off the course with two questions: Why do we do what we do? And why do we think what we think?”

It was through those lines of inquiry that Iwamoto encouraged students to consider how they tackle stress, handle change and plan for the future—and how they might apply new and healthier coping strategies in their own lives to promote personal wellbeing.

“It was so memorable to watch so much personal and academic growth in just two weeks,” he said, adding that he also learned so much about his own teaching from the experience.

“I had to learn different strategies of student engagement because I didn’t have grades being the underlying motivator,” he said. “I really like how this Summer Institute flowed and how students experienced psychology versus being told about it.”

Visualizing the Future

high school student working on their zombie apocalypse safehouse during the art and design summer institute

The fifth offering over the summer was called “Visualizing the Future.”

Dr. Junghwa Suh, an associate professor of Arts and Design at Chaminade, led the course—modeled after Art 103 or Visual Design. Students were introduced to the power of visualizations and used problem-solving skills and design tools to create models.

After learning the basics of hands-on modeling tools, Suh set the students to work in groups to create a zombie safehouse—yes, you read that right. Suh said the engaging project required students to think about space planning while trying to figure out how to protect the safehouse’s occupants from a decidedly horrific fate.

“I wanted my students to get a clear and dynamic overview of arts and design, see the connection of arts and design to various disciplines … and use their creativity and logical processing to execute design solutions to given problems,” she said.

Suh added that the students’ final safehouse designs were impressive.

“I hope these creative minds gained some new perspectives in arts and design and understand various possibilities they can pursue with this study,” she said.

And she’s already looking forward to next summer’s courses. “It is so beneficial for students to see how different disciplines come together to solve world problems,” she said. “These types of institutes help high school students in making decisions on what they want to study.”