Chaminade University of Honolulu

Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research

Student’s Summer Research at Johns Hopkins University Earns Award

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Chloe Talana and fellow students

Chaminade junior Chloe Talana was one of eight students out of 103 to be named best poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students on November 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Talana studied blood samples from HIV infected individuals to document how their immune cells function as part of a summer research program at Johns Hopkins University. She first presented her research at the Leadership Alliance symposium in Connecticut and was invited to present her research again at the recent conference in Indianapolis. She attended the national conference with six other Chaminade students, three of whom also presented their research.

“I could never be more grateful to be part of that conference,” says Talana.  “I wasn’t even sure if I was actually going, but then I was fortunate enough to receive a full travel award from the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research. I was surrounded by bright people with the same passions, the same drive that want to do something good in STEM. I felt at home, especially since this is really what I want to do.”

Chloe Talana

Talana attributes her award to her ability to seize opportunities and the support she’s received from Chaminade professor Dr. Michael Weichhaus. Talana joined Dr. Weichhaus’s lab as a student researcher after she approached him after class one day and asked if he knew of any research opportunities.

“Opportunities don’t just fall into your lap nowadays, you have to take the initiative,” says Talana. “I took the initiative to approach Dr. Weichhaus, and now he’s my mentor and my advisor. He really takes the time to help me understand things, and he really listens. His mentorship has helped me evaluate what I want to do, what I can do and what I should do more.”

Dr. Weichhaus has encouraged Talana to pursue research opportunities outside of his lab, including the Johns Hopkins program. His mentorship has made such an impact on Talana’s experience as a student that earlier this year she nominated him for the President Mackey Prize, which he was awarded at the Na Liko Na’auao undergraduate conference at Chaminade University in March.

“Since I have started working with him, Dr. Weichhaus has validated what I want to do with my future,” says Talana. “A lot of people say doctor’s save lives, and they absolutely do. But if we really think about it, it all comes down to research. Without research, we wouldn’t have advances in medicine. I want to go to medical school to get a combined M.D. and Ph.D. and become a medical scientist.”

Na Liko Na’auao, Celebrating Student Scholars

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Established in 2002, Na Liko Na’auao is an undergraduate conference which celebrates student scholars from across all academic disciplines.

Hosted by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research, students participating in the conference deliver academic presentations showcasing a project from the past year through oral and/or visual presentations. A conference which celebrates all student scholars, students may present research projects as well as creative work in both visual and performing arts.

During this year’s event, President Dr. Lynn Babington, defined a scholar as “A person with a desire to pursue and learn new things; a person on a quest for knowledge and a dedication to learning.” By not focusing on one academic discipline Na Liko Na’auao gives all student scholars an opportunity to present their work in a formal setting and receive feedback from both faculty and other scholars within their field.

Projects presented at this year’s conference covered a wide range of academic disciplines and topics. Some of the presentations included “Zombie Transformable Safe House” by Helen Oclinaria, “Loving the Idea of Her: Fincher’s Feminist Film” by Madison McNamara, “Psychological Disorders as Grounds for Mitigation in Criminal Sentencing” by Michael Junker, and “Hawaiian Healing and Healers” by Cong Nguyen, Claire Hermosura, Haylee Bennett, Laura Hufano-Kravetz and Diamond Carter. The conference allows both individual and group projects to be presented.

Every year, after all the student scholars have presented their work, Na Liko Na’auao concludes with a presentation of certificates and awards. Given annually, the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognizes and encourages student scholarship.  The President Sue Wesselkamper Prize represents and helps build the tradition of the Na Liko Na’auao student conference.

In order to qualify for the prize a student must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, show scholarship beyond classroom requirements by undertaking their own independent research or study, and must have presented their work both on and off campus. Students must have a record of community service and hold leadership roles at the university.

Jarresa Kiyoko Harris was this year’s recipient of the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize. As a community volunteer and multi-cultural leader on campus, Harris was recognized for her outstanding work both on and off campus. During this year’s conference she presented her study “Exploring the Zone of Uncertainty Between Friendship and Romantic Relationships in Undergraduate Students.” She also presented this study at the 2018 National Council on Undergraduate Research in Oklahoma and Chaminade University’s 4th Annual Psychology Students Research Conference.

The President Sue Wesselkamper Prize was not only created to recognize outstanding student scholars, but the faculty members that mentor and guide the students here at Chaminade. “It’s about the close relationship between our faculty and our students both in the classroom and, judging from this wonderful work, outside the classroom,” said Babington. This relationship is part of the foundation at Chaminade University.

This year’s President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognized Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo. Dr Washburn-Repollo nominated Harris and mentored her throughout her years at Chaminade University.

Honoring the close student faculty relationships formed at Chaminade, the President Mackey Prize is an annual award presented to an outstanding faculty mentor, nominated by a student participating at the conference.

Nominated by Chole Adrienna Talana, this year’s President Mackey Prize was awarded to Dr. Michael Weichhaus. In her nomination submission Talana wrote, “Dr Weichhaus is an outstanding professor and mentor. He is a true educator who exemplifies a high level of commitment to teaching. Not only is he a good source of knowledge, he is very passionate in guiding students towards their career aspirations.

A World of Opportunity

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Nerisa Taua doesn’t believe in waiting for opportunity to come knocking, it’s time wasted. Instead, she hunts it down.

Taua – who will graduate from Chaminade University in May with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies – has knocked on a few of opportunity’s doors during the past four years.

On the academic front, she found her true passion through Chaminade’s Summer Research Program. While other students soaked up the sun, Taua spend her summer at Purdue University collaborating with experts in the university’s bat lab. Alongside Associate Professor of Wildlife Science Patrick Zollner – who became one of her mentors – she was able to get up close and personal with long-eared bats. Using acoustic monitors and echolocation, her research involved finding efficient and cost-effective ways to capture the animals.

With graduation on the horizon, Taua dreams of returning home to American Samoa to research the fruit bat, one of the country’s few native mammals. But before she does, there’s another stop on her journey before she returns.

She’ll be making a round trip back to Purdue University to further pursue her newly found passion at the graduate level, seeking a master’s degree in the Wildlife Science program, and continue working with Zollner and his team.

Paying for graduate school is never easy, but the cost for Taua isn’t a factor. Again seeking out opportunity, she found the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership grant and applied for its scholarship program. Taua was accepted, she is now a Sloan Scholar.

“I was beyond excited,” she says. “This was another step closer to opening a pathway for my people. As a Samoan, this is such a huge opportunity. The first thing that came to mind was ‘if I can do it, anyone from American Samoa can do better.’”

Although she’s been busy with her studies during her time at Chaminade, Taua has kept her culture alive in her heart and shared it with other through her experiences performing with her brothers and sisters of Lumana’i O Samoa.

There’s been personal growth as well and Taua says she’s grown immensely during her time at Chaminade. She now considers herself to be better at public speaking, more social, open-minded, approachable and professional.

A PERSONAL CHEERING SQUAD

It takes a village – and an enthusiastic cheering squad – to raise a child and Taua found hers since arriving in Honolulu four years ago. She’s has a team of dedicated and caring professors, advisors and staff encouraging her success and guiding her to individualized opportunities.

“I’ve received help from a lot of mentors who guided me toward a passion I didn’t know existed,” she says. “Their encouragement and belief in me is what motivated me to set and accomplish goals. Without mentorship, I would probably be lost and still searching for the next step to a brighter future.”

Taua leaves Chaminade with many great memories. She says she’s humbled and honored with the opportunities she’s been provided and that she’s proud to represent her home, family and those who’ve helped her along the way. Now she wants to give back to others as a mentor to help them grow and succeed in the ways she did. She especially wants to channel her energy toward the youth in America Samoa.

When Taua leaves Chaminade with her degree in hand, she’ll take with her a world of experience and lessons. She’s built a solid foundation at Chaminade and this is just the beginning.

The Environmental Studies minor offered by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics focuses on policy and environmental law to prepare students for careers in environmental science, ecology and conservation biology.

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research (OHPAUR) assists students interested in healthcare careers, regardless of their major. Services include: advising, test preparation, summer programs, guest speaker presentations, professional seminars, community service activities and internship/shadowing opportunities. OHPAUR also maintains articulation agreements with four ATSU campuses, as well as Boston University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Dayton and Western University School of Health Sciences.

Environmental Studies Major Nerisa Taua Interns at Bat Lab (the Real One) on Purdue Campus

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Comic book fans and TV watchers know all about the secret bat lab at fictional Wayne Manor in Gotham City.

But Nerisa Taua, a Chaminade University Environmental Studies major, knows about a real bat lab. It’s housed at Purdue University in Indiana, where she focused on three species of the flying mammals through the national Summer Research Opportunity Program.

Nerisa Taua“Spending the whole summer catching bats was fun, mostly because of the people I got to do it with,” according to Taua, who interned with Associate Professor of Wildlife Science Patrick Zollner and his Hoosier “bat crew.”

“Working with them has been a great experience,” said Taua, who plans to apply for graduate school at the West Lafayette campus.

Encouraging Taua to pursue the internship were Environmental Studies Director and Associate Professor Gail Grabowsky, along with Associate Provost Patricia Lee-Robinson from Chaminade’s Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research.

“I was interested in working with endangered species or wildlife conservation,” Taua said. “I found a couple of interesting internships. However, most of them didn’t provide board and/or transportation, which was a problem for me.”

Fortunately for Taua, the Purdue program fit her needs.

Taua’s research centered on the detection rate of bats using acoustic monitoring equipment and the subsequent capture rate of bats using mist nets. Similar to volleyball nets, mist nets catch birds and bats in flight so they can be tagged and studied by scientists.

“I found a significant relationship between detection rate and number of captures was only present for Indiana bats and not Big brown bats and Eastern red bats,” Taua explained. This can be because Indiana bats have specific habitat requirements, while Big brown bats and Eastern red bats are omnipresent in the landscape.”

Based on these preliminary results, Taua and her Indiana colleagues decided to expand their study with the goal of publishing a paper.

“So while I am here in Hawaii, the bat lab is sending me data to analyze,” Taua said. She also reunited with her colleagues recently through Purdue’s Graduate Diversity Visitation Program “to talk about where we are with the project and manuscript.”

Nerisa TauaTaua, who’s from American Samoa, learned about Chaminade when a team from the university visited her high school during senior year.

“I was attracted to the small classroom size because it made it possible for students to have a positive interaction with their professors,” she said. “I spoke with alumni and they all said great things about the Chaminade community.

“This was something I looked for in an institution – a university with a community that is home away from home.”

Taua said her professors – notably Dr. Grabowsky – “taught me a lot of important lessons that are not only useful in the classroom but also life in general.”

“Dr. Gail has helped my passion for wildlife, environment and my culture grow,” Taua emphasized. “Her enthusiastic personality always reminds me why it is important to love what you do and do what you love.”

Chaminade University’s Environmental Studies undergraduate program within the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics employs a multidisciplinary approach in exploring issues such as policy and law, science, economics, ethics and values.

Chaminade Students Present Abstracts at National Conference on Undergraduate Research

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Three Chaminade University students – Madison Choi, Alexander Jankowski and Kawehiokekai Moefu – were among the presenters at the 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. The 31st annual event, held at the University of Memphis, promotes research, scholarship and creative activity in diverse fields of study.

Choi, whose faculty mentor is English Professor Allison Paynter, gave an oral presentation entitled: “A Critique of American Reality T.V. in Collins’ The Hunger Games.”

“The entire process of preparing, editing and delivering my speech – both methodical and emotional – was a learning experience I definitely could not have received in a classroom setting,” Choi said.

“The pressure to deliver to an audience of people I don’t know was daunting, but now I know that I’m capable to doing it so next time I won’t be as nervous or apprehensive,” Choi continued.

“The positive feedback I got from other students and faculty was also encouraging to hear and gives me a newfound excitement not only for research, but also for the specific topic of pop culture, film and literature.”

Moefu, whose faculty mentor is Dr. Cheryl Edelson, gave a presentation entitled: “Disney’s Moana (2016) and Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke (1997): The Depiction of the Female Heroine in Film Spanning over Twenty Years.”

Moefu pointed out that the conference is “not just about research work” but also “acts as a stepping stone for graduate school.”

“I had the opportunity to talk with representatives from some universities that I have an interest in attending for graduate school – like Purdue University, University of Georgia and NYU – to gather contact and program information,” Moefu said.

Madison Choi, Professor Amber Caracol Noguchi, Professor Eva Washburn-Repollo, Kawehiokekai Moefu, and Alexander Jankowski
Madison Choi, Professor Amber Caracol Noguchi, Professor Eva Washburn-Repollo, Kawehiokekai Moefu, and Alexander Jankowski

“I would recommend that every undergraduate student take the opportunity to do research on a topic that they are interested in, and then go and present it to an audience,” Moefu added. “It will forever change the trajectory of their life’s course and possibly guide them to travel even further in their academic journey.”

Jankowski, whose faculty mentor is Communications Associate Professor Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo, gave a presentation entitled: “The Kids are Alt-Right: A Cultural Window Into the Disenfranchised.”

Choi and Moefu developed their abstracts through Chaminade’s Title III-funded Undergraduate Research Mentor Program, which helps students in the humanities and social sciences strengthen their applications to graduate schools.

Information is available at: https://chaminade.edu/undergrad-research/undergraduate-research/

Medical School Honors Chaminade Graduate Jacquelynn Pratt with ‘Diversity Excellence Award’

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Jacquelynn PrattChaminade University alumna Jacquelynn Pratt has received the “Diversity Excellence Award” from A.T. Still University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, where she graduated this spring. The annual award recognizes her commitment to diversity and inclusion in graduate healthcare education.

Born and raised on Oahu, Pratt majored in Biology and English at Chaminade. She earned both bachelor’s degrees in May 2006, while receiving the “Outstanding English Graduate” award.

Pratt participated in numerous research programs at Chaminade in the fields of psychology, cancer biology, ecology and epidemiology. She was also highly involved with campus clubs and organizations, including the Delta Epsilon Sigma and Sigma Tau Delta honor societies.

After graduating from Chaminade, Pratt worked with the Ministry of Health on the Cook Islands to computerize patient data and thereby more accurately calculate the incidence and prevalence of cancer among the native Maori population.

She later returned to Chaminade and served as the Assistant to the Associate Provost in the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research.