Honorary Degree Recipients

HONORARY DEGREE

Vaughn Garner Akimeka Vasconcellos

Doctor of Humane Letters

Vaughn G. A. Vasconcellos was born in Honolulu and raised in Ho'olehua, Moloka'i and Papakōlea, O'ahu. He attended Kamehameha Schools and the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a B.S. in Engineering. Vasconcellos later went on to earn a M.S. in Personnel Management from Troy University and an Executive MBA from Northeastern University.

He founded Akimeka, LLC in January 1997 and served as its president and chief executive officer. He also co-founded the Alaka'ina Foundation in 2012, a not-for-profit Native Hawaiian Organization that focuses on building leadership programs for native Hawaiian youth in rural areas and Hawaiian Homestead communities. The Foundation supports programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) across the United States.

Vasconcellos served on the Maui Economic Development Board, Mālama Nā Keiki Foundation, the Pacific American Foundation and the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce.

In 2000, Vasconcellos was selected as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the State of Hawai'i; and in 2009 he was named SBA's Small Business Person of the Year for Hawai'i.

He committed his time and expertise to Chaminade University serving as chair for the Board of Regents from 2014–2018 and is currently a member of the Board of Governors. In 2016 Vasconcellos was named to the Silversword Hall of Fame. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and was honored in 2019 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He and the Alaka'ina Foundation support student education through two major scholarships at Chaminade University for student athletes and Native Hawaiian scholars. Vasconcellos and his wife Suzie recently funded an endowed Leadership Institute within the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program.

HONORARY DEGREE

Kathleen “Kitty” Sullivan Wo

Doctor of Humane Letters

Kitty Sullivan Wo was born in Hong Kong and raised in Honolulu, Hawai'i, where she graduated from Punahou School and earned a B.S. Business Administration degree from the University of the Pacific. She later joined her family’s business as an owner and director of the Sullivan Family of Companies, which includes Foodland Super Market, Ltd.

Sullivan Wo has been a volunteer and philanthropist involved in many community organizations including chairing the Punahou School Board of Trustees, the St. Francis Healthcare System Board and currently the Honolulu Museum of Art Board. Sullivan Wo was honored in 2009 by the Girl Scouts of Hawai'i as a Woman of Distinction, and was named an Outstanding Volunteer by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Aloha Chapter in 2013 for her long-standing contributions to Chaminade and Punahou. In 2018, Kitty received the St. Francis of Assisi Spirit Award and in 2021 received the “O” in Life Award from Punahou School.

Sullivan Wo was named to the Chaminade University Board of Governors and in 2005 was named chair. In 2009, she joined the Board of Regents as chair. She has committed her time and expertise to supporting Chaminade University. During her time as a governor and regent, Sullivan Wo led a major fundraising campaign, dedicated the Sullivan Family Library, recruited new regents, served on the Presidential search committee and chaired the inauguration committee. She was named to the Silversword Hall of Fame in 2014 and continues to support Chaminade students’ education through philanthropy.