PROGRESSMAKING TOGETHERPRESIDENT’SREPORT2022
At the same time, we have not ignored COVID’s impacts on our communities, especially those underserved and disproportionately burdened by the pandemic’s ongoing fallout. Rather, we have embraced our kuleana—our obligation—to redouble our efforts to live our social service mission, seeking out ways to expand our reach in order to meet new needs with an urgent energy.
I hope you enjoy reading about Chaminade’s initiatives, growth and successes through the 2021–2022 academic year. Together, with our community, I am proud to share this report with you.
In April, we gathered to celebrate the founders of the Marianist Family—whose strong message and mission played a foundational role in the birth of Chaminade University. These Founders’ Week events are an opportunity to honor their legacy. But they are also a chance to underscore our approach to education—as a call to act and as our way of helping to build healthier, happier communities.
We know that education cannot solve all the world’s problems. As our University’s namesake once wrote, “As long as you are on Earth, you will have problems.” The real test is what you do to solve them and how you inspire others to do the same. In that important work, we can once again turn to Blessed Father Chaminade for guidance. “We must not become discouraged if we encounter some obstacle in the way of necessary change,” Chaminade wrote. “Never has change been done without difficulty.”
Our in-person gathering for our most recent Founders’ Week events was intentional—a representation of our priority to safely return to face-to-face learning and a vibrant, fullyengaged campus. We are proud to have been among the first Hawai'i universities to do so, recognizing how incredibly critical in-person experiences are to our students and their development as tomorrow’s leaders.
As we make clear in this report, we have learned to live with COVID-19, navigating new twists and turns with an eye on our University’s mission, our duty to our students and the community, and on our belief that education in motion can bring us together, can enlighten and can broaden our understandings.
ALOHA FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES,
Lynn Babington, Ph.D. President Mahalo,
BROADENSEDUCATION KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING . SERVING OTHERS IS IN OUR DNA.
The Chaminade family is a global one, with alumni and supporters scattered near and far. Regardless of our physical distance, though, we remain strongly united around a shared mission to help build a better world. At Chaminade, we embrace excellence, innovation and relevance across our academic programs. But at the core of all our efforts is service—and the drive to serve guides our actions, informs our decisions, and helps us to inspire students to do the same.
WE’RE CULTIVATING A WORKFORCE FOR TOGETHER,TOMORROW.WE’VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH COVID. PROGRESS,MAKING TOGETHER.
BROADENSEDUCATION KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
At the heart of a Chaminade University education is a belief that every student has the desire and the capacity to drive positive change, using their skills as leaders and learners to make the world a more just and peaceful place. Our approach to educating the whole person, helping each student grow personally and academically, is grounded in our Marianist values, service-focused mission and strong liberal arts tradition that encourages students to make culturally informed, interdisciplinary connections.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S #1 BEST VALUE COLLEGES IN HAWAII (Niche, 2022) #1 COLLEGES WITH THE BEST STUDENT LIFE IN HAWAII (Niche, 2022) 100% of undergraduates participate in service-learning projects before graduation 4 -year graduation guarantee 12 NCAA Division II athletic teams including baseball and beach volleyball TOP 5 1.PROGRAMSUNDERGRADUATE Nursing 2. Psychology 3. Forensic Sciences 4. Biology 5. Criminology and Criminal Justice 65+ 6 5 UndergraduatePrograms ProgramsMaster’s ProgramsDoctoral
KAILANI TORRES
It’s not every day a class assignment turns into a career-launching opportunity. But that’s exactly the kind of project Kailani Torres just wrapped 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, Hawai'i, led a major makeover of the main 1,500-square-foot conference room at Sacred Hearts Academy. The design project had her doing just about everything a professional does. She worked directly with Sacred Hearts Academy President Scott Schroeder, PhD and the Academy leadership team on their evolving needs for the new conference room. Torres presented her design to the board in September 2021—and they loved it. From there, she was connected with the project’s contractor to make her conference room design a reality.
Environmental + Interior Design ’22
UNDERGRADUATE DIVERSITY 30% Asian 2% African American 12% Hispanic 21% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 11% Caucasian 13% Two or More Ethnicities 11% Undeclared 96% of incoming freshmen received some form of financial aid (2021–2022) Over $31.3 million awarded in institutional financial aid (2021–2022) 32% Pell Eligible Undergraduates (2021–2022) 41% First Generation Undergraduates (2021–2022) 41% Pell Eligible Freshmen (2021–2022) 54% First Generation Freshmen (2021–2022) 44 states and territories represented 8 countries represented
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
CHAMINADE ALUMNI
Dairian Balai likes data—everything from community health disparities to poverty to race and education. It represents people with hopes and dreams. She’s on a mission to tell people’s stories by spotlighting data that speaks to real experiences, especially for Native Hawaiians. Balai will be attending Purdue University this fall to earn her Master of Science in Computer and Information Technology degree.
Michael Ono was on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing compassionate and quality care to patients. He was recognized as the Straub Clinic Most Valuable Team Player and was a 100 for Straub 100 honoree.
MICHAEL ONO B.S. Nursing ’14 Registered Nurse, Straub Medical Center - Kahala Clinic and Urgent Care
“CHAMINADE HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME THAT THERE IS A GREATER POWER THAN MYSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE WHATEVER I LEARNED —AND WHAT I THINK IS BEST—TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVING MY TIME AND ENERGY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.” Aleeyah Lemons ’24 Environmental Sciences major
Data Science, Analytics and Visualization ’22 Purdue University Polytechnic Institute master’s student
Shay Zykova is on a mission to not only bolster her students’ reading comprehension and literacy skills, but help them develop a passion for words. The National Council of Teachers of English recognized her for her efforts and innovative way of teaching by naming her a recipient of its 2021 Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award.
SHAY KALEO'OLUHO'ILOLIOKAWAIPAHE ZYKOVA Master of Education ’20 English Teacher, Wai'anae High School
DAIRIAN BALAI
SERVINGOTHERS IS IN DNA.OUR
We believe in the power of our collective efforts to do good—and see the positive results every day. Across our academic programs and as an institution, we embrace the challenge and the opportunity of serving underprivileged or underrepresented student populations with innovative, excellent and relevant programs that meet our students’ needs across the educational spectrum.
SECOND CHANCE PELL PROGRAM
• 97% retention rate
HO'OULU SCHOLARSHIPS
• 100% four-year graduation rates
One of the biggest obstacles to health education and prevention screening in Hawai'i is access. In response, our School of Nursing and Health Professions launched a Parish Health Program—the only one on O'ahu—with the help of a grant from the Marianist Sponsorship Ministries Foundation. The program gives Chaminade Nursing students the opportunity to work one on one with parishioners, offering blood pressure readings, nutritional or health screenings, assessments on determinants of health, and health resources. Our students receive critical hands-on experiences, and parishioners who are 55 and older are equipped with tools they can use to improve their wellness. The Parish Health Program officially kicked off in August 2021 and partnered with the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Kalihi. The program looks to expand its services to more parishes in the future.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
In partnership with Kamehameha Schools, the Ho'oulu Scholarships are designed to support highly talented Native Hawaiian students with financial aid need who are interested in cutting-edge programs. The scholarships not only provide 100% tuition and opportunities for living allowances, but also include a suite of services focused on student success and career or graduate school readiness. The scholarships have a strong cultural component designed to increase the inclusion of Native Hawaiians in STEM and business sectors, which are critical to the future of the lāhui (Native Hawaiian community) and the innovation economy in our state.
PARISH HEALTH PROGRAM
At Chaminade, we know that education builds a solid foundation for students’ futures. In August 2021, we launched our Second Chance Pell Program, which gives Halawa Correctional Facility inmates an opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in Business Administration. Although the Pell Grants did not fully cover the cost of tuition and fees, generous supporters helped close some of the financial gaps. Chaminade professors deliver instruction in a hybrid model—with in-person classes and supplementary learning through an online platform. The inaugural cohort has 14 students who are set to graduate in May 2023.
ETHAN WEST, MBA ‘16 CEO and Founder, Piko Provisions
[AT CHAMINADE] I FOUND PROFES SORS AND PEERS WHO WERE JUST AS INTERESTED IN BECOMING DRIVERS OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN BUSINESS. MENTORS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WHILE LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS IS ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS, LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY—LEADERSHIP THAT CONSIDERS THE WELFARE OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS—IS ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS GROUNDED IN ETHICS AND WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON.”
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
“
2022 Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition
While pursuing his MBA degree at Chaminade, Ethan West remembers encountering questions that still resonate with him today. Questions like: “What does it mean to be a force for good as a for-profit company?” and “How do you make decisions grounded in ethics?” West was inspired by professors and business executives who understood the importance of taking a “business for good” approach to making money. He came up with a personal mantra at Chaminade: profit should be a byproduct of a mission achieved. His mantra is now baked into the mission of his fast-growing company, Piko Provisions, which produces organic baby food with a commitment to sustainability. The company uses only naturally and locally grown ingredients and shuns preservatives and additives (like sugar). Their baby food is produced 100% locally before being sent off to Hawai'i stores.
Every other year, Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank hold a Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. The competition is open to Hawai'i nonprofit organizations looking to start new ventures that will benefit the community and society as a whole. Finalists and winning nonprofits receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 to support their proposals. This year’s first-place winner was Ho'ākeolapono Trades Academy and Institute. The nonprofit was designed to increase employment and advancement opportunities by providing participants with crucial building and construction knowledge and multidisciplinary, 21st-century trade skills. The next Business Plan Competition will take place in 2024.
As a toddler, Meshelle Hirashima was adopted by her grandmother because her mother was struggling with substance abuse. Her mother has since turned her life around. And today, it’s because of both women that Hirashima wants to be an OBGYN. As the first person on her mother’s side to graduate from college and the first in her family to go to medical school, she credits Chaminade with helping her get there. She secured early admission to Boston University’s School of Medicine thanks to Chaminade’s articulation agreement program with the institution and got the preparation she needed along the way. Graduating from Boston University in May 2022, Hirashima’s dream of returning to the Islands to serve its people and communities is coming true. On Match Day, she was paired with the University of Hawai'i’s Obstetrics and Gynecology program.
MESHELLE HIRASHIMA
B.A. Historical and Political Studies ‘17 Boston University School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine ‘22
“CHAMINADE REALLY FOSTERED EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED TO ADVANCE MY CAREER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT —I DON’T THINK I WOULD HAVE GONE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL WITHOUT IT. I’M GRATEFUL THAT I’VE HAD THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND FEEL LUCKY THAT MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED BASED ON LITTLE CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAME MY WAY, CHAMINADE BEING ONE OF THEM.”
Balancing a checkbook. Saving for college, a rainy day or retirement. These are all important life skills that contribute to healthier families and stronger communities—and they all require financial literacy. Recognizing the dearth of financial literacy education in Hawai'i, our School of Business and Communication launched the Economic Education Center for Excellence to offer robust training programs for teachers and educational opportunities to young people, including workshops, hands-on summer programs and curriculum development. The center’s mission also includes a research focus, tackling actionoriented projects that will help drive positive change.
Partnerships and $15M Grant to Improve Health and Wellbeing in Hawai'i
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
Research has shown Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos and other medically underserved populations in Hawai'i have disproportionately higher rates of physical ailments and mental health conditions. The pandemic has only exacerbated those issues— and spotlighted a lack of community resources. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded the University of Hawai'i Center for Pacific Innovations, Knowledge and Opportunities (PIKO) a five-year, $15 million grant in which Chaminade University is a partner of the initiative. PIKO is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of Hawai'i’s people and supporting new research.
Economic Education Center for ManagingExcellencemonthlyexpenses.
We’re proud to count entrepreneurs and business owners, nonprofit executives and community leaders, and so many more as our collaborators, working with us to develop innovative and careerready programs that are tailored to the demands of today’s evolving workforce and prepare our students to serve as dynamic leaders. After all, we believe workforce development is about turning gaps into bridges and helping students cultivate new skills across their careers. Whether they’re just starting out or pursuing a graduate degree, their Chaminade education offers security in an ever-changing world—so they can focus on doing their best to serve it.
WE’RE CULTIVATING A WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
BUSINESS
We’ve woven our University’s mission of service into our Business programs at Chaminade with a dynamic “business for good” approach, underscoring the critical role of business leaders and entrepreneurs in helping to tackle—and overcome—challenges in our communities. After all, we see our Business students as future changemakers, equipped and driven to make a positive difference in ever-evolving business environments. Our focus on leadership extends across our Business programs, and served as the foundation of our new Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change. The degree, which welcomed its inaugural cohort in July 2021, is geared toward professionals across the business, education and nonprofit sectors seeking to maximize their capacity to propel transformational change in organizations and communities forward. We’ve also sought to develop cutting-edge programs that meet the needs of a diversity of students as part of our broad effort to offer new pathways to leadership in Hawai'i. Our One Year MBA checks that box with a specialized hybrid class format that incorporates experiential learning and skills building, leadership development and a real-world capstone experience.
Soaring demand for mental health services over the last two years has exacerbated a shortage of mental health professionals in the Islands, underscoring the need for urgent action to provide communities with the inclusive, culturally appropriate help they need from licensed and highly-trained clinicians. Working with our community stakeholders, we have made clear we are up to the challenge— with innovative offerings and new programs designed to help our students pursue the careers and leadership opportunities that maximize their positive impact on the people they serve. We are particularly proud about the growth of our APA-accredited PsyD program since 2019,
MENTAL HEALTH
when it was launched at Chaminade with a laser focus on preparing practitionerscholars cognizant of their vital role in providing equitable, holistic care to all. Our Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program is also helping to meet the existing and emerging mental health needs of Hawai'i families and communities with three concentrations: Marriage and Family, Mental Health and School Counseling. To address a particularly acute shortage of counselors in underserved areas and provide new avenues to healthcare leadership in Hawai'i, we now offer this degree with a fully online option that has attracted new students—ready to serve the communities where they live.
“BEING BORN AND RAISED IN HAWAI'I, MY MAIN GOAL COMING INTO THE PsyD PROGRAM WAS TO STAY HERE AND GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY. A VALUE THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME IS HO ' OMAU PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE—SO BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH AND HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION IN HAWAI'I, IS SOMETHING I’M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.”
Daniel Kinikini, PsyD ’22
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
Hannah Hovestol ’23, B.S. Nursing major
“MY FATHER PASSED AWAY IN 2017 DUE TO COMPLICATIONS FROM DEPRESSION. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED MANY TIMES, AND DURING HIS STAYS, I ADMIRED THE WAY HIS NURSES CARED FOR HIM AND TREATED HIM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND ADVOCATING FOR EARLY INTERVENTION AND SCREENING TO HELP PREVENT LONGTERM CONSEQUENCES OF MENTAL ILLNESS. I WANT TO PURSUE A NURSING DEGREE SO THAT I CAN NOT ONLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON MY COMMUNITY BUT INDIVIDUAL LIVES AS WELL.”
HEALTHCARE
We don’t just train nurses at Chaminade. We prepare nursing leaders—healthcare practitioners equipped to deliver caring, high-quality, and culturally fluent care to all patients. It’s an important distinction and one we have embraced as part of a broad push to address Hawai'i’s shortage of nurses and other healthcare workers, especially as the pandemic and its fallout put new stresses on the system. Our Doctor of Nursing Practice, which welcomed its inaugural cohort in August 2021, was born out of a robust dialogue with community stakeholders about the demand for professionals working at the highest clinical levels of nursing. Our DNP prepares participants to tackle diverse patient needs, oversee positive patient outcomes, and drive positive change. Recognizing the acute need for professionals at all levels, Chaminade has also launched an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing so qualified students can earn their degree in 20 months. At the same time, we recognize those on the front lines of Hawai'i’s healthcare industry don’t just work in hospitals, but are increasingly serving patients and their families where they are—in communities. Our innovative Community and Public Health program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities, including in nonprofit administration, community health, data analytics, and disease prevention.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
TOGETHER, WE’VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH COVID.
COVID’s toll on underserved communities has been disproportionately higher— and the lasting repercussions for those populations has been more severe. That’s why we’ve worked from the start of the pandemic to embrace our role as a safe harbor for students as they grappled with the uncertainty and hardship the virus brought on. We acted quickly to return to in-person instruction and support services because we understood how important those interactions are to our students. And at the same time, we underscored our shared responsibility—our kuleana—to protect one another, the community and ourselves.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
With our best practices in place, we successfully planned and executed an in-person commencement ceremony that offered a fitting and celebratory sendoff to our Class of 2022 graduates and their families.
At the beginning of the 2021–2022 academic year, we were proud to be one of the first universities in Hawai'i to welcome students back to campus—in recognition of the critical importance of in-person learning. Our students thrive in an environment of face-to-face interactions with their professors and classmates, which helps them grow not only academically but also socially and emotionally. At the same time, the health and safety of our campus community remained a top priority—and we underscored our kuleana, or shared responsibility, to stop the spread of COVID-19.
To accommodate fully in-person learning, we retrofitted classrooms and common areas for social distancing, created outside classrooms and student spaces that took advantage of our beautiful weather, expanded and streamlined our masking and testing protocols, and instituted a robust contact tracing program.
Returning to in-person learning
Recognizing the broader fallout of the pandemic on mental health and academic progress, our commitment to everyone’s health—physically and emotionally—helped guide our safe return to in-person learning and informed our transition to a strategy of “living with COVID-19.”
COVID emergency funds
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
Over the past couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for our campus community. Throughout the pandemic, not only was health and safety a priority, but also easing the economic impacts and hardships on our students and their families. Chaminade was able to receive three funding sources from the federal government: HEEF I CARES, HEERF II CRRSA and HEERF III ARP. A total of $4,378,000 in emergency funds was disbursed directly to our students, from undergraduate to doctoral, over an 18-month period. The funding helped our students financially, allowing them to focus on what matters the most—reaching their academic goals.
East-West Center President Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum delivered the commencement address, encouraging graduates to value their 'ohana, embrace their kuleana and remember that obstacles are meant to be overcome. It was a perfect message for the aspiring leaders, who demonstrated resiliency, adaptability and determination as they navigated the twists and turns of the pandemic.
2022REPORTPRESIDENT’S
Commencement Class of 2022 Graduation Celebration
The Waikīkī Shell was a fitting venue for our Class of 2022’s in-person commencement. Chaminade undergraduate and graduate students alike had the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments—in person, outdoors and with family and friends. In all, 540 graduating students were in attendance from the schools of Business and Communication; Education and Behavioral Sciences; Humanities, Arts and Design; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and Nursing and Health Professions.
Our UNITAR CIFAL Honolulu Centre is part of a global network of 22 learning hubs worldwide. CIFAL Honolulu will offer education and training programs around key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations-affiliated center is seen as an extension of Chaminade’s service-oriented mission and will put a special emphasis on inspiring students, organizations and community leaders to make a positive difference, together. We look forward to hosting the CIFAL Global Network annual meeting and conference on campus in November 2022—it will not only bring the CIFAL Global Network together but also educators, changemakers and learners from Hawai'i and around the globe.
THE UNITAR CIFAL HONOLULU CENTRE
In November 2021, Chaminade was proud to announce its new and exciting partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), which will provide innovative leadership development opportunities in Hawai'i and the Pacific Region and empower those working on community-building projects to maximize their impact. The center falls under the CIFAL Global Network, a French acronym that translates to International Training Center for Local Authorities/Leaders.
Nikhil Seth Executive Director, United Nations Institute for Training and Research
“WE WANT TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF MANY MORE PEOPLE. CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY WAS AN OBVIOUS CHOICE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD. CHAMINADE WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR COLLABORATION AND A PLACE TO SPOTLIGHT THOSE WHO SHARE A COMMON VISION AROUND THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CLIMATE ACTION.”
3140 Wai'alae Avenue
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96816