Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching

Two Chaminade professors have been recognized for excellence in teaching and academic scholarship.

Jolene Cogbill

Dr. Jolene Cogbill, assistant professor of Biology, was named the inaugural recipient of the 2020 Chaminade University Excellence in Teaching Award. The honor celebrates teaching that has lasting and positive impacts on students and exemplifies innovative or transformative teaching practice.

Chaminade Provost Dr. Lance Askildson helped establish the Excellence in Teaching Award to underscore Chaminade’s commitment as a teaching institution. Award recipients receive $1,500 and public acknowledgment with a permanent display at Sullivan Family Library.

“Teaching excellence can make all the difference in a student’s academic career and should be recognized for its incredible importance to our University and broader community,” Askildson said.

“Great teaching can inspire students, challenge them and ignite their academic passions.”

Cogbill specializes in in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology and the teaching and design of biological lab techniques. She is also a Ho’oulu STEM academic navigator and coordinator of academic enrichment and outreach programs at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Her accomplishments in the classroom include:

  • Developing a central theme to connect the semester and various lab units;
  • Focusing each lab around the scientific method with an emphasis on hands-on learning;
  • And creating a place-based curriculum that intentionally—and authentically—incorporates Native Hawaiian culture and ways of knowing, allowing for points of connection for all students.
Guanlin Gao

Dr. Guanlin Gao, assistant professor of economics, was also honored for her work.

Gao was named the 2020 recipient of the Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award, which recognizes Chaminade faculty members who have contributed substantial scholarship to their field of study. Awardees also receive a $1,500 prize and acknowledgment in a permanent display.

Gao is an applied microeconomist who conducts policy-driven research in behavioral, public and experimental economics and the economics of education. She seeks to deploy research-based evidence to help policymakers make decisions that benefit society, and in the last 12 months has published four papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented at five academic conferences.

Gao said she has also a strong commitment to innovative pedagogical approaches.

“I encourage the development of my students’ moral character and personal competencies,” she said, adding that she seeks to educate her students for adaptation and change but also challenges them to be the change. “I deeply believe that everyone can do their share to make the world a better place.”

Askildson congratulated both Cogbill and Gao for their achievements. “These two professors exemplify excellence in teaching and scholarship,” he said. “These awards recognizing their outstanding efforts are well-deserved and I look forward to all they will bring to our academic community—and to our students—in the years ahead.”

Design for the Community

In a significant honor, the Interior Design Education Council has awarded Environmental + Interior Design Associate Professor Joan Riggs its Community Service Award in recognition of her many contributions to the field, to her students and to the broader community.

Joan Riggs

Riggs will be presented with the award at a virtual ceremony in February during IDEC’s annual conference.

In notifying Riggs that she had won, IDEC President Ellen Fisher praised the professor for incorporating interior design into a long list of community service projects. Over the years, Riggs has challenged students to incorporate their interior design skills in community-centered spaces, from youth correctional facilities to safehouses for human trafficking victims to training centers.

She has also helped students reimagine interior design in nursing homes and healthcare facilities.

“The essence of Joan’s character, as well as her approach as an educator, is to serve the greater public good through design,” wrote Professor Dr. Elizabeth Lockard, in nominating Riggs for the community service award. “Service-learning is at the core of her pedagogical philosophy.”

Lockard added that Riggs sees interior design as a profession with an obligation to serve the underserved, elevating everyone’s wellbeing and quality of life. She has a particular passion in “universal design,” which seeks to underscore the social value of designing for inclusivity.

Riggs, who joined the Environmental + Interior Design faculty in 2003 and has served as its program director for the last 12 years, said placing service learning and community service at the center of design education gives students an awareness of their impact—and a greater compassion for those they serve.

“In partnerships, they deepen their ability to adapt—their thinking, their perspective and their understanding—with respect to how diversity is a strength and problem solving is a gift to be shared,” she said. “As an educator, what greater reward than to see students emerge as skilled, compassionate and successful designers? I am truly blessed to be part of this process.”

Her award, she added, is icing “on a marvelous multi-layered cake.”

Joyce Yang Receives Kathy Kawaguchi Award

Each year, the Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership is presented to an exemplary leader in the field of education in Hawai’i. This year’s award went to Joyce Yang, Vice-Principal at Holomua Elementary in ‘Ewa Beach.

Joyce Yang receives Kathy Kawaguchi Award 2020
Dr. Hans Chun (Assistant Professor, Education), Dr. Dale Fryxell (Dean, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences), Joyce Yang (Kathy Kawaguchi Awardee) and Gary Yasui (Principal, Holomua Elementary)

“Ms. Yang is a dedicated leader in Hawai’i’s educational community,” says Dr. Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University. “She leads with intelligence and integrity, and she helps instill these attributes in others. We are honored to be able to present her with this cherished award this year.” 

The Kathy Kawaguchi Award was created in 2016 in honor of the late Katherine Takeko Kawaguchi. Before passing, Kawaguchi held an extensive career in education and served as director of Leadership and Education Projects at Chaminade University for nearly a decade. She launched and led two major programs at Chaminade: the Castle K-16 Engineering Pipeline Project and the Office of Naval Research Project and Educational Leadership Program.

At her celebration of life at Chaminade University in 2016, Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM, then-university president, and Dr. Dale Fryxell honored Kawaguchi with a special plaque that inaugurated the annual award.

The award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in education and has served as an exemplary leader and stellar role model. Ms. Yang joins Derek K. Santos (2017), Thomas J. Cox (2018), Ken Kakesako (2018) and Diann “Dolly” Wong (2019) in receiving this award.

Vice President and Dean Receives National Award for Outstanding Performance

Allison Jerome, Chaminade University Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, has received the Region VI Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean/Vice President from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

Allison Jerome, VP of Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Named for NASPA’s founding Chair of the Board of Directors and former dean of men at the University of Wisconsin, the Scott Goodnight Award recognizes sustained professional achievement in student affairs work, innovative response in meeting students’ needs, effectiveness in developing staff, and leadership in community and college or university affairs. The recipient is also someone who has earned stature among and support of students, faculty, and fellow administrators on campus, and made a significant contribution to the field through publications or involvement in professional associations.

“Allison is incredibly deserving of this award for her contributions to our school, our community, and most importantly, our students,” said Chaminade University President Dr. Lynn Babington. “She is well respected by everyone, including her peers.”

With more than 20 years of higher education administration experience, Jerome joined Chaminade University as a Program Counselor in 2004. She has held a number of student-facing positions, including Director, Academic Achievement Program; Associate Dean of Students; and Director of Retention, Advising and Career Preparation. She was named Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students in 2016. 

Jerome will also serve as a NASPA mentor to one of two Chaminade students who were accepted into the 2020-2021 class of NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program. The highly competitive fellowship gives students from traditionally underrepresented and historically disenfranchised communities a chance to learn more about careers in student affairs and higher education.
Each year, NASPA recognizes the outstanding contributions of members who are transforming higher education through exceptional programs, innovative services, and effective administration. 

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year

Growing up, the library was always a place where Laurel Oshiro felt safe. It was a place where she could just be herself and explore her own interests. So when her friend introduced her to a master’s in library science program, it felt like a natural fit. Oshiro was in her final semester of student teaching at the time, about to graduate with her bachelor’s, and fell in love with the idea of becoming a school librarian.

“I prayed and prayed for guidance before I graduated,” recalls Oshiro when asked about her decision to become a librarian. “One day, while I was praying, I went to the library and the librarian was super nice. I’ve always loved the library, and I decided to apply for a school librarian graduate program. As soon as I did, it felt like all these doors opened up. My interest in learning was reawakened.”

Laurel Oshiro, the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year awardee

Fast forward to 2020, and Oshiro has obviously made the right career choice. She was recently named the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year, an annual award that’s presented by Chaminade University, Catholic Schools Hawaii and John C. and Mary Lou Brogan. The recipient receives a golden pine“apple” trophy and $1,000.

Oshiro’s passion and love for her job are evident the moment you start talking with her. She is the school librarian for grades JK-6 at Sacred Hearts Academy and she is known for her creative programming and knack for bringing new ideas and programs to the school.

“One of my administrators joked that I’m a Jill of all trades,” says Oshiro, laughing. “But that’s why I love Sacred Hearts so much…my principals give me so much freedom and so many resources to try to influence and create new programs.”

In 2010, Oshiro started a digital media club on campus for grades 4-6. They produce movies that are shared with the entire school community and host an annual red carpet event that is open to the public. Several students have gone on to careers in broadcast journalism. In 2013, she established the iTeach808: Empowering Hawaii’s Teachers in Technology conference, a free educational technology conference that reaches over 150 teachers from 40 schools across Hawaii each year.

More recently, Oshiro has been spearheading efforts to create a STREAM Innovation Center on campus and is piloting a new program that has already shown to increase student reading achievement and motivation. An avid sports fan and certified yoga instructor, she’s also been known to coach the school soccer and track and field teams and offer free yoga classes for colleagues. In the summer, she teaches yoga classes at the Sacred Hearts high school for students. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the Hawaii Association of School Librarians in her spare time.

Oshiro became a mother this summer and is currently taking some time off to spend with her new baby. But she misses her Sacred Hearts community dearly and she’s treating this time away as a sabbatical, a chance to discover new books and catch up on new trends in the field of library science.

For Oshiro, there’s something very special about being in the Catholic school system that she’s excited to return to after maternity leave. She’s a devout Christian and finds fulfillment in being able to share her faith with her students.

“I look forward to mass every month and being able to talk to the children about God,” says Oshiro. “I love praying with them and helping them. It’s one thing to raise kids to be really smart and have high scores, but it’s another thing to develop their hearts.”

She has a profound respect for the teachers that surround her and attributes much of her success to the incredible work that they do every day. “I look at my neighbors, the teachers on my left and the teachers on my right, and I’m like ‘boy, they are working so hard,’” she describes. “I think managing a classroom of 25 kids is much harder than what I do. I have the one place on campus where students don’t get graded. That’s why I decided to become a librarian.”

As for the teacher-of-the-year award, Oshiro is truly honored. “It was so nice of Chaminade, it felt like the Heisman of teacher’s awards—that trophy was enormous!”

But she views the award as something her whole school earned. She believes it’s the result of the support network that she has found at Sacred Hearts Academy and it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the support of her fellow colleagues and administrators.

“It’s such an honor, I’m very humbled by it,” she says. “I hope to steward it well.”

Chaminade Adjunct Receives Compassion Award

On August 18, 2020 Chaminade Adjunct Rev. Dr. Gary C. Augustin was awarded a Ho’omenemene (Compassion) Award by the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii. The Ho’omenemene Awards are presented every other year to individuals and organizations that exemplify the benefits of interfaith advocacy and promote hope and healing within Hawaii communities. Augustin was one of two individuals recognized for his compassion and service.

“The service, passion, and compassion of our Ho’omenemene honorees is truly inspiring,” said Rev. Dr. George Clifford, President of the Board of Directors of the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii. “They have worked tirelessly to enhance the quality of life of others by nurturing peace, community resilience, and social justice.”

Augustin is an adjunct professor in the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University and also serves on the advisory board for the Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy program. He is a therapist with Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii and specializes in pastoral counseling and critical incident stress management. He is also an ordained minister and works as a military family and life counselor.  In 2017, after Hurricane Maria, he deployed as a volunteer to Puerto Rico with the Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, and he deployed again to Saipan in 2018 after Typhoon Yutu.

“We are thrilled that Augustin was one of this year’s recipients,” says Dr. Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University. “He is a tremendous and selfless individual who regularly dedicates himself to serving others. This award is very much deserved.”