HPU Today Summer 2014

SUMMER 2014

Bit by Bit

HPU alumni impact the virtual world Page 2

Learning Commons at Aloha Tower Marketplace Bank of Hawaii Foundation supports HPU Page 7

President’s Message Summer 2014 Volume 15 Number 1

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP President Geoffrey Bannister, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D. General Counsel and Executive Vice President Administration Janet Kloenhamer Vice President and Chief Information Officer Sharon Blanton, Ph.D. Vice President University Relations Sam Moku Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Bruce Edwards Interim Vice President Admission Sara Sato EDITORIAL COMMITTEE and CONTRIBUTORS VP Sam Moku, Chief of Staff Mark Davis, Editor Lianne Yamamura, Associate Editors Chris Aguinaldo and Kilei Nelson, Arion Chu, Cassie Carter, Ph.D., Sita Chhabra, Celina Barrios, Brent Curry, Lindsey Hincks, Cyrelle White, Lisa Cabalis, Rich Vermeesch, Todd Goya, Bob Bannister, Jesand Amodo, Robbie Burns, Alisha Kong, Tony Serna

HPU Today is published by Hawai‘i Pacific University, Communications, 1164 Bishop, Suite 800, Honolulu, HI 96813. It is distributed at no charge for alumni and friends. This is the Summer 2014 issue, Volume 15, Number 1.

If you are receiving duplicate copies of the magazine or want to update your mailing address, please notify the University Relations office.

Phone: (808) 687-7040 E-mail: alumni@hpu.edu Web site: www.hpu.edu/hputoday

On Thursday, May 15 —spring commencement day here at Hawai‘i Pacific University —students of all ages from Hawai‘i, the mainland U.S. and many nations walked across the stage and began a new life.

classes offered. Our rich array of offerings range from undergraduate degrees in accounting to anthropology, biology to business, and chemistry to computer science. We offer master’s degrees in nursing, business, marine science and global leadership—just to name a few.

Our curriculum choices combine the best of U.S. educational traditions with global perspectives, plus a strong liberal arts foundation, rigorous intellectual engagement and a profound commitment to social responsibility.

As we offer our warmest congratulations to the newest class of more than 850 HPU graduates— and to their families and friends who supported them along the way—it is important to remember While we continue to make great strides that on graduation day, we are doing more than in making HPU a next-generation campus— including the addition of the Oceanic Institute just awarding diplomas. and the revitalization of Aloha Tower Marketplace At HPU, our entire team of dedicated faculty into student residences and a dynamic retail and education professionals is 100 percent and community gathering place—it is gratifying committed to helping students find their passion to see our efforts in the classrooms—as well —and their purpose—in life. We are also as in the hearts and minds of our students— helping to ensure that HPU graduates become lead to preparing graduates to meet Hawai‘i’s the next generation of leaders in whichever biggest challenges. profession they pursue, either here in Hawai‘i Congratulations to the HPU spring graduating or beyond our shores. Finally—and perhaps class of 2014. We are expecting great things from most importantly—we are arming them with you and welcome you into the HPU alumni ‘ohana, a first-class education that will enable them a network of more than 40,000 people strong. to open doors and pursue opportunities they never dreamed possible.

We are proud of the diversity of HPU students, as well as the diversity of HPU faculty and the

Geoffrey Bannister, PhD President

Letters to the Editor HPU Focuses on Winning Key Areas I was extremely glad to see three articles in the Summer 2013 HPU Today magazine: The Oceanic Institute, Continuing toward a sustainable future and Partnering with the State of Hawai’i. All three highlight HPU’s efforts to focus on key areas, which can provide accelerated and hopefully exponential returns to the university.

As the university aims to solve complex challenges such as food security, sustainability and data management and transparency, it becomes more relevant and places itself in a better position to lead on a world-wide level. Furthermore, Dr. Bannister and his development and alumni relations team, have prioritized the pursuit of building strategic relationships in key areas, such as the Bay Area, China and Latin America, setting the stage for our university to be a global

leader in technology and a hub for a truly global education of the 21st century. Last November’s joint event between HPU and the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce in Northern California is a prime example of exercising connections and alliances in key locations, rich with strategic sectors and the industries within, to provide HPU the large scale returns and winning advantage to secure its place as a leading university in Hawai‘i, the rest of the U.S. and globally.

Michael Bennett (BSBA Finance ’12) Social Climate I find the most beautiful and uplifting attribute of Hawai‘i Pacific University is its climate, and I am not referring specifically to the weather.

Congruent to our daily sunshine, which warms the path for students, is a warmth between members of the HPU community, creating the basis for our student culture.

FEATURES 2 Digital aloha HPU alumni with a passion for Hawai‘i’s virtual relevance

5 Out Computing the Competition

HPU students display their math and computer science expertise in the International Collegiate Programming Contest

6 Impacting the Virtual World

Alumni in the information technology field share their news

7 The Future of Learning

Bank of Hawaii Foundation funds Learning Commons at Aloha Tower Marketplace

DEPARTMENTS 8 On Campus I 10 Sea Warrior Sports I 13 Alumni Spotlight I 14 University Friends I 16 Class Links I 20 Back Page

As transformations take place, our social climate grounds us as a reminder that we all travel the path at HPU together with sunshine at our feet and smiles on our faces.

As each of us navigate the course of our own lives, we look to each other in stark realization that our personal connections stem from time spent together in this warm, illuminating environment.

I can always rely on my HPU experience as a grounding element. I visit campus frequently, seeking advice, laughter or perhaps to lend a helping hand. I smile as I notice the student culture evolving with the same sunny spirit that I have become so familiar. As I am continually inspired to grow and reach, I look back to HPU with perpetual reciprocity.

My first few months in Honolulu as a college grad have been eye-opening, full of experiences that have pushed me way beyond my comfort zone. However,

Maria Kashem (BS Advertising/Public Relations ’11, MA Communication ’13)

Aloha HPU Today readers, We welcome your letters in response to articles and also comments on the magazine and HPU and its ‘ohana.

Letters may be edited for style and length.

Email: hputoday@hpu.edu Mail to Editor: HPU Today

Hawai‘i Pacific University 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800 Honolulu, HI 96813

HPU alumni are making their mark in today’s computing culture.

Digital aloha HPU alumni with a passion for Hawai‘i’s virtual relevance

By Paula Bender

With its emphasis on cloud computing and mobile devices and hunger for ever-faster Internet access, today’s computing culture is focused on helping users work, play and stay connected, no matter how far from “home base” they might be.

It is a particularly familiar challenge for anyone who has lived in Hawai‘i, where residents and businesses have met the challenges of location and connectivity to the world beyond for generations.

Hawai‘i Pacific College was incorporated the same year that Digital Equipment Corp. introduced the minicomputer, marketing its speed, small size and reasonable cost. It is against the backdrop of the high-tech revolution that the development of the Hawai‘i Pacific University we know today took place.

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Perhaps it should be no surprise, then, that HPU took an early interest in academic programs and careers focused on computing and has watched those areas expand exponentially over the years. Bit by bit and byte by byte, HPU graduates in computer science, information systems, applied mathematics and related areas are making an undeniable impact in the virtual world.

Pacxa CEO Gordon Bruce (left) collaborates with Integrated Security Technologies President Christine Lanning and CEO Andrew Lanning.

Photo by Tracy Wright Corvo

Tech-preneur helping companies Gordon Bruce (MBA ’00) is chief executive officer of Pacxa, a firm of several merged companies formed in 2013 to serve clients who wish to outsource their IT needs. Bruce, a well-known tech guru, came to Hawai‘i in the 1970s for the beginning of ATM installations at a Honolulu bank and served as the director of the Information Technology department for the City and County of Honolulu. As CEO at Pacxa, Bruce is a tech-preneur who embodies transparency and innovation, and he believes in making it easy for business owners to acknowledge that something like IT sucks the joy out of their day and profits.

“Think of how much technology changes in a single year. Think about the effort it takes to stay on top. While people in Hawai‘i are considered early adopters of new technologies, businesses are not,” Bruce said. “Companies don’t want to be in the tech business. It’s difficult for Hawai‘i businesses to keep their technologies current. At Pacxa, we see opportunity to leverage our access to technology and employee talent to help companies move forward.”

Pacxa, under the parent company Island Holdings, is locally owned and operated.

It is affiliated with large technology providers like Oracle, Microsoft, Dell, HP and IBM. “They’ve reached out to us to be their ‘go-to’ partner in Hawai‘i,” Bruce said.

“Other companies are reaching out to us

to either be their Hawai‘i representative or provide the services needed for them to expand their reach to Hawai‘i and Asia.”

Employees are encouraged to understand the business, the business of their clients, and to look for growth and expansion opportunities. Everyone employed by Pacxa is the sales team, Bruce said.

“It is not uncommon for a Pacxa employee to take the initiative to provide more than what is in the contract,” Bruce said. “They are empowered to do the right thing.”

While Pacxa has seized the opportunity to help its clients wade through their IT challenges, Bruce said that Hawai‘i politicians should persist in their support of science and technology businesses.

“A good start would be to provide legislation that would give companies tax breaks for upgrading to newer technologies,” Bruce said. “It would help local firms, encourage companies to move offices to Hawai‘i and build out our tech industry. Long-lasting tech incentives would encourage more.”

The sun has set on Hawai‘i’s Act 221, which provided tax credits to hightechnology companies as an incentive to set up shop here. Think of 221 as the big picture, the legislation that put Hawai‘i on the high-technology map, and as the seed that has helped many in Hawai‘i set a course for global significance. That includes HPU instructors and students focused on a future that will result in Hawai‘i’s growing virtual relevance.

Technology hub with the aloha spirit “We do have some local politicians on our side and even some political strategies firms as clients,” said Collin Paran (BS Applied Math ’13), who is a founding partner of MuBeta Solutions LLC. “Hawai‘i is where ideas and trade from the West and East converge. There is no reason we cannot grow Hawai‘i into a major technology hub.”

Last year, MuBeta was founded by Paran and fellow HPU alumni Courtney Jones (’13), Chris Wheeler (BS Computer Science ’13) and Sergio Stringfors (BSBA Travel Industry Management ’14), on the premise that marketing companies, custom software companies, financial strategists and data scientists did not necessarily collaborate to help small to mid-sized businesses. MuBeta brings creativity and innovation to the table and expects to gain an understanding of a business and its industry as the collaboration progresses. Paran and his partners control the growth of their ‘invite-only’ Collin Paran business and prefer recognition and attention through quieter channels.

Word has gotten out and expansion from Hawai‘i’s small business community has gone global.

“Not very many Mainland companies understand the Hawai‘i business culture nor do they understand how to approach it,” Paran said. “MuBeta also understands that other, international businesses crave the Aloha Spirit.

That is why we have expanded to other states and have an international network of consultants.”

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Associate Professor Cathrine Linnes, Ph.D., and the Spring 2014 software engineering graduate student team of Ruben Morales, Nicole Koyanagi, Jonathan Watanabe, Wayne Liang, Sanjeev Ranabhat, Shweta Hurakadli, Kevin Siegmann and Rohana De Silva.

Photo by Brian Metcalf, Ph.D.

Securing data for clients Integrated Security Technologies, founded in 1998 by Christine (MSIS ’04) and Andrew Lanning (MA Communication ’10), is the perpetually attentive watchdog for commercial and government clients in Hawai‘i and in the Pacific. Few businesses and government offices these days function without security measures. IST secures data from every badge swipe, elevator ride, telephone, and access control systems to protect companies’ trade secrets, corporate intelligence and proprietary information.

“We founded IST because none of the Hawai‘i security companies at the time had the skills or the vision to enter the small but growing segment of the security industry called system integration,” said Andrew Lanning, CEO of IST. “We believed that Hawai‘i business owners and employees deserved the same level of protection that was being deployed by Mainland companies, so we put on our training wheels and went to work looking for technology based solutions.”

IST employs the same systems in Hawai‘i that are used by 70 percent of the Fortune 100, Lanning said. It designs, procures, installs, and maintains security systems for its clients, and then it trains client personnel tasked with front-line and monitoring duties.

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“We have clients in nearly every sector—financial, health care, petroleum, education, hospitality and transportation. We are asked to develop solutions for retail and multi-dwelling unit markets, both here and in the Pacific,” Lanning said. “And Fortune 100 companies that open offices or facilities in Hawai‘i will find in us a competent security provider with the technology and know-how to sustain a system 99.999 percent of the time, a requirement for most Department of Defense and some commercial facilities.”

Collaborating with the State of Hawai‘i In the fall of 2013, state agencies under then Chief Information Officer Sonny Bhagowalia sought the assistance of HPU MSIS software engineering students taught by Associate Professor of Information Systems Cathrine Linnes (MSIS ’00), Ph.D. This came on the heels of Linnes’ spring semester students successfully completing three IT projects for state agencies. The fall project was a collaboration with the Office of Information Management & Technology (OIMT), the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) and the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).

“Students created a web-based system for DAGS’ Public Works Division

to grant access to plans and other documents of state facilities to construction consultants,” Linnes said.

DAGS currently oversees approximately 450 Hawai‘i state-owned buildings, which contain approximately 15,000 documents. “The purpose of the system is to transition the document sharing from a physical, on-site, location-based experience, to an on-line website.

The new system created by the HPU students allows for administrators to add, modify, delete and view documents from a single database; and administer user accounts and add future building documents. Contractors and other users can view and download documents from the DAGS search page via its global search function or through Google Maps. A thumbnail of each document is shown so the user can confirm they want the document, preventing users from downloading and printing huge files they might not need.

“A system like this makes the operation 24/7, saves user time and reduces the need for users to engage with staff to physically pull the documents on location,” Linnes said. “This results in big cost and time reductions, and is in accordance with the State’s initiative of becoming one of the best digital states in the U.S. within the next 10 years.”

“I hope HPU never departs from its practical roots in applied academics.” — rosemary Peh Linnes and her students were recognized

by Governor Neil Abercrombie for their successful project that has eased time and cost constraints for vendors, contractors and the state.

“All this needs to be created, managed and maintained. Think of automation— the underlying capability that technology careers support.”

“This has been a fantastic experience for HPU and the MSIS program to partner with the state and OIMT on real-life projects that have immediate impact,” Linnes said. “I am very proud of my students’ accomplishment and I am excited to continue to work with the state.”

Preparing to work globally

Completely in touch with the consumer perspective of how IT affects those of us who just want an Internet connection, the successful transfer of funds, or to stay engaged with our social media outlets is Rosemary Peh (MSIS ’01), Enterprise Project Manager Officer at Hawaiian Electric Company. Peh divides the IT practitioner into two areas, those who create IT products and those who service them.

“Think not only of the help that you need when you cannot use the computer, but also think of the actual computer itself, your mobile phone, your smart TV, the application products that allow you to automate your work, or when cashing out at a fast-food restaurant,” Peh said.

Peh says IT curriculums generally attract science students with a knack for math and logic who have a tendency to be analytical and find great joy in solving problems. They are also usually selfstarters with a keen capability to team with others and still have self initiative.

These students have technical engineering skills, business skills, and the soft skills of Rosemary Peh human interaction that makes it possible for them to explain complex tech issues into easy business terms. And Peh said that is because of HPU’s industry-based faculty.

“I hope HPU never departs from its practical roots in applied academics.

I had lecturers who were professionals in the field that they were teaching in.

This provided real-life experiences

interjected into the student experience,” Peh said. “The base academic grounding is definitely needed. “However, the added benefit of real work experience brought into the classroom is a differentiator. This is especially true for the technology profession where product and service life cycles can be short and ever changing.”

Peh said she has hired HPU students at the companies she has worked at for a variety of reasons.

“First, they come business savvy.

I’m not only getting a ‘tech-head,’ but also one with a business basis and capability to interact with functional staff without scaring or boring them to death with techno-speak,” Peh said.

“They are trained with a nice mix that allows them to do the business translation with ease.”

In fact, Peh said HPU graduates are prepared to work anywhere.

“HPU’s location provides for an immersive multi-cultural experience that is translatable to any country as long as the student is open and progressive,” Peh said. “This experience is great preparation stage for a job located anywhere in the world.”

Out computing the competition

by Tony Serna

Hawai‘i Pacific University math and computer science students have competed in the International Collegiate Programing Contest (ICPC) since winning the Hawai‘i site’s inaugural event in 2003, and have claimed first place in 2006, 2011 and 2012. The ICPC is held annually under the auspices of the Association for Computing Machinery.

Students work together in three-person teams to solve complex, real-world problems in the quickest time and with the fewest attempts possible. The ICPC provides students an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to finding solutions for relevant problems.

Jon Real, Kevin Goo and Magnus Stahl, 2013 Hawai‘i site second place team

HPU teams have also placed well in the highly competitive ICPC Pacific Northwest Region. For the 2013 competition, Associate Professor Curt Powley, Ph.D., the HPU coach, acknowledged the special effort of senior Kevin Goo in helping to prepare and coach the HPU teams.

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Impacting the Virtual World Following is a sampling of HPU alumni working in the information technology field. If you are an alumnus working in this profession, share your news: HPUtoday@hpu.edu Derek Baughman (BSBA ’08, MBA ’09) from Everett, Wash. l BridgeWay Advisors LLC, President, Honolulu, Hawai‘i Baughman presides over BridgeWay Advisors, a professional consulting company that specializes in IT leadership mentoring, IT performance assessments, IT risk and security guidance, IT governance review, information management strategy and IT strategy development.

Benson Choo (MSIS ’92) from Singapore Finance Factors, Senior Vice President and Manager, Information Systems and Technology, Honolulu, Hawai‘i l

Choo is responsible for the strategic and tactical direction of the enterprise information systems and technology relative to the bank’s business strategy.

He leads a team to leverage technology to drive profitability and improve the organizational environment while maintaining security and meeting regulatory requirements.

Eric Fleckles (MSIS ’08) from Fairfax, Calif. l Ridgeback Venture Group, LLC, Principal Advisor, Makaha, Hawai‘i Fleckles works with businesses that need executive level IT guidance or do not have a strong IT department in house. He also assists attorneys with the technological aspects of E-Discovery, and works with law firms and other clients to perform forensic and defensible data acquisition, as well as advising and assisting with hardening their IT security.

Claes Insulander (BSBA Computer Information Systems ’04 and MBA ’09) from Halmstad, Sweden l Hawaiian Telcom, Senior Manager Software Engineering, Team Lead and Scrum Master, Honolulu, Hawai‘i For the last four years, Insulander has been leading software development 6

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at Hawaiian Telcom, including hiring new developers, organizing daily work and supporting the introduction of new technologies and processes. He has also taught programming and the capstone Software Project Management courses at HPU. Richard Polendey (MSIS ’99) from Honolulu, Hawai‘i l The Queen’s Medical Center, IT Senior Project Analyst, Honolulu Polendey oversees the management of project activities related to the implementation of the Center of Medicaid/ Medicare Services Electronic Health Record incentive program for the medical center’s electronic medical record system. Activities include working with the medical facility stakeholders as well as IT analysts to adapt workflows in order to comply with regulation.

Hunter Praywell (BSBA Business Administration ’89) from Hana, Hawai‘i l Queen’s Health System, Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Honolulu Praywell oversees all information technology functions of the Queen’s Health Systems (QHS). He is responsible for the planning, implementation and support of QHS’ Information Technology.

Prior to this position, Praywell was responsible for the planning, delivery and support of information technology at Kamehameha Schools.

Chris Radovich (MSIS ’07) from Waimanalo, Hawai‘i l Director of IT Operations and Service Management at Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu Radovich is responsible for driving incident, problem and change management processes and to ensure the stability of the IT infrastructure. Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, he held various IT and operations management and supervisory positions at First Insurance Company of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Billy Rios (MSIS ’04) from Seattle, Wash. l Qualys, Director of Vulnerability Research and Threat Intelligence, San Francisco, Calif.

Rios studies emerging threats with a focus on embedded devices, industrial control systems and critical infrastructure.

Before Qualys, he was a technical lead at Google where he led the front-line response for externally reported security issues and incidents. Prior to Google, Rios was the security program manager at Internet Explorer (Microsoft).

Shue-Jane Thompson (MSIS ’96), doctor of Management, from Fairfax, Va. l Lockheed Martin Corporation, Chief, IT Services Management, Gaithersburg, Md. Thompson is the chief of ITSM Office for the Lockheed Martin (LM) Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) Technology & Engineering Office. She leads LM service practice with differentiating end-to-end service engineering capabilities for domestic and international programs, an 8B+ program portfolio.

Norris Lee Wing (BSBA Computer Information Systems ’02) from Tahiti, French Polynesia l Pacxa, Systems Analyst, Honolulu, Hawai‘i Wing manages the networks and systems for the HawkTree International/Island Movers business account. With the help of the Pacxa support team to handle the day-to-day troubleshooting issues, he also works on IT projects involving interaction with vendors.

Wilson Yip (MBA and MSIS ’97) from Honolulu, Hawai‘i l Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI), Lead IT Auditor, Honolulu Yip evaluates information technologies and related business processes for overall effectiveness, risk, security and compliance for HEI, which includes Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank.

The Future of Learning photo by Jesand Amodo

Bank of Hawaii Foundation funds Learning Commons at Aloha Tower Marketplace

The revitalization of Aloha Tower Marketplace as a vibrant hub for retail, residential and educational uses, gained its first major corporate supporter, with Bank of Hawaii Foundation donating $125,000 in May for the Hawai‘i Pacific University Learning Commons.

The HPU Learning Commons will be a state-of-the-art learning and technology center that provides students and faculty with a modern space to collaborate, exchange ideas, socialize and learn as a group. Additionally, the space will help enrich Honolulu’s intellectual and cultural scene by providing a home for seminars on arts and culture, as well as think-tank sessions for a broad range of ages and demographics.

“Bank of Hawaii Foundation is committed to supporting the communities we serve and believe that education is an invaluable tool for building the next generation of strong leaders,” said Donna Tanoue, president, Bank of Hawaii Foundation.

“We applaud Hawai‘i Pacific University for its bold vision to transform Aloha Tower Marketplace into a site of higher learning for not just its students, but the community at large.”

From left to right: Sahen Aguina-Uruchurtu, HPU 2013-14 student body VP; James C. Polk, SVP, Bank of Hawaii; Donna Tanoue, president, Bank of Hawaii Foundation; Geoffrey Bannister, president, HPU; Michael J. Chun, chairman, HPU Board of Trustees; and Miina Huotari, HPU 2013-14 student body president.

Learning commons have emerged as the model for contemporary university library design, with proven positive outcomes — including improved study skills and successful completion of academic assignments.

“As stewards of Aloha Tower Marketplace, we are confident that a balance of thriving retail and education will ensure the long-term sustainability of this iconic destination,” said HPU President

Geoffrey Bannister. “We offer our most sincere mahalo to Bank of Hawaii Foundation for its generous donation and know that other corporate partners will follow suit as we move forward with implementing our strategic plan; reinforcing our commitment to making downtown Honolulu our core campus; and providing meaningful economic, social and environmental benefits to the state.”

“As stewards of Aloha Tower Marketplace, we are confident that a balance of thriving retail and education will ensure the long-term sustainability of this iconic destination.”

— HPU President Geoffrey Bannister

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on campus

Hawai‘i Pacific University Welcomes D. Bruce Edwards Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

new graduate programs, expansion of research activities and improving retention, progress and graduation rates.

D. Bruce Edwards joined HPU as vice president and CFO in January.

He’s eager to put those experiences to use in HPU’s liberal arts and social sciences college, as well as in the singular cultural and educational environment of Hawai’i and calls this “a very exciting time to be at HPU.”

“After an extensive local and national search, Bruce clearly possessed the set of experiences and skills that HPU needs at this time in its history,” said President Bannister.

“The university is implementing an ambitious agenda and we needed someone who could help us implement on day one.”

Edwards holds an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Accounting from Texas A&M University.

His corporate work began at Price Waterhouse in 1991 and culminated in 2005 at Delta, where he ultimately served as director of Operations Finance. He subsequently worked for three years at Texas A&M University as executive associate vice president for Finance. Edwards then served as senior vice president for business and finance at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., and board chairman of the 24-institution Independent Colleges and Universities Benefits Association.

At HPU, Edwards is part of the executive team in setting institutional goals and formulating institutional policy in addition to providing budgetary leadership and overseeing all the university finance and accounting functions and departments.

David J. Lanoue, Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences David Lanoue, Ph.D., started his post as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at HPU, in August 2013.

David J. Lanoue, Ph.D., started his post as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at HPU in August 2013.

Lanoue had served as the dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at Columbus State University in Georgia since 2010. Prior to that, he chaired the political science departments at the University of Alabama, Texas Tech University and the University of California-Riverside. His leadership has been consistently marked by advocacy for development of 8

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Lanoue earned his doctoral degree in American Government and a master’s degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His bachelor’s degree, also in political science, is from the University of CaliforniaSan Diego. He is the author or co-author of two books on presidential politics and related issues and roughly 30 refereed articles or book chapters.

Lynette Landry, Ph.D. Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Lynette Landry, Ph.D., assumed leadership as dean for HPU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences in January.

Lynette Landry, Ph.D., assumed leadership as dean for HPU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences in January.

She had served as director of the School of Nursing at San Francisco State University for the past three years and a nursing professional in the Bay Area for the past two decades. She also has instruction and research experience from Cal StateLos Angeles, Berkeley and UCSF. “Our College of Nursing and Health Sciences plays a leading role in educating the professionals that are critical to our ability to meet the health care needs of Hawai‘i and nations around the Pacific Rim,” said Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., provost of HPU. “Dr. Landry understands the complexities of those needs, and her background in community health and as a researcher in health care delivery will be of particular value in leading our college.”

Landry holds doctoral and master’s degrees in Occupational Health and Community Health, respectively, from the University of California-San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Sonoma State University. She is a contributing author to two nursing textbooks and has published or co-published a dozen scholarly publications on topics ranging from nursing education in diverse student populations to improving care for patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

ON CAMPUS

Science Pub-Hawai‘i Connects to Community By chris aguinaldo

Connecting with the community is what Science Pub-Hawai‘i, presented by Hawai‘i Pacific University, is all about.

The monthly evening pau hana is held outdoors at Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower Marketplace, during the school year, with a variety of speakers covering diverse subjects.

Science Pub launched in September, with HPU Associate Professor of Oceanography, David Hyrenbach, Ph.D., sharing about conservation, birds and the environment. Visiting Harvard researcher Lori Chibnik, Ph.D., spoke about the latest Alzheimer’s Disease research, while Oceanic Institute of HPU research scientist Chatham K. Callan, Ph.D., addressed sustainability and his team’s breakthrough yellow tang research.

in attendance from the larger community — a very diverse group of people at Science Pub,” said Assistant Professor of Anthropology Ayesha Nibbe, Ph.D., who spoke about Cuban health care in relation to the country’s political ideology.

“The thing that surprised me was all the people from the community who reached out to me in the subsequent days and weeks after the Science Pub lecture to discuss possible collaborations or to ask me to speak at other venues,” she said. “I did not expect to reach such a broad public audience.”

Science Pub goes beyond natural science and medicine, encompassing a variety of disciplines offered by HPU, including anthropology, diplomacy and politics, marketing and math — which is often a pleasant surprise for attendees and even researchers.

Patrick Bratton, Ph.D., the director of HPU’s Diplomacy and Military Studies Program and an associate professor of Political Science, spoke about Hawai‘i’s role in global security, while Tara Davis, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Mathematics, explored the concept of infinity. Thomas Kohler, Ph.D., associate professor of Marketing spoke on crowdsourcing and social change, challenging travelers to have meaningful experiences in communities they visit.

“While it was great to have a ‘traditional academic’ audience of students, professors and administrators, it was even more of a privilege to have people

Also talking about making a difference in the community, specifically taking care of the ‘aina (land) was Trisha Kehaulani Watson, Ph.D., of Honua Consulting.

David Hyrenbach, Ph.D., associate professor of Oceanography

Watson covered the history of and inspiration for the Aloha ‘Aina concept in Hawai‘i and how it has invigorated a new approach for community-based resource management. Watson spoke as the Sea Education Association’s research vessel SSV Robert C. Seamans was docked next to Gordon Biersch, getting ready for an HPU/SEA summer program “Aloha ‘Aina: People and Nature in the Hawaiian Islands,” sailing to several Hawaiian Islands.

Science Pub-Hawai‘i is taking a break for the summer, but rest assured the popular program will return in the fall.

See www.hpu.edu/sciencepub-hawaii/.

HPU scientists, students share research at prestigious Ocean Sciences Meeting More than a dozen researchers from Hawai‘i Pacific University participated in the 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting, in February. They joined more than 5,000 researchers presenting the latest research findings about the world’s oceans at the week-long event at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.

The biennial meeting is the largest international assembly of scientists, engineers, students, educators and policy makers, who gather to share and discuss new scientific findings,

research applications, education, and policy about the oceans. Co-sponsored by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), The Oceanography Society (TOS), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Ocean Sciences Meeting is regarded as an important venue for scientific exchange across broad marine science disciplines.

“This is an opportunity for our students and researchers to be collaborating with, discussing with and catching up with [scientists] from around the

world,” said Brenda Jensen, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Natural & Computational Sciences.

Jensen thanks all marine science faculty and students who took part in this and says the college “looks forward” to participating in future scientific forums.

To see the list of HPU participants and their presentations, go to: www.hpu.edu/HPUNews/2014/02/ ocean-sciences.html

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sea warrior sports

New Team…Same Tradition

The launch of

By Gail Miyasaki

Acrobatics & Tumbling Photos by Eric Alcantara

Few coaches see their own experiences as a student-athlete reflected in the growth of their sport— especially one as young as Keenyn Won. The Hawai‘iborn Won is Hawai‘i Pacific University’s first coach of its newest varsity sports program, Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T), and the state’s only competitive collegiate A&T program.

“We are so proud and excited to be representing Hawai‘i in this emerging NCAA sport,” said Won, a team member of the 2011 and 2012 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) national A&T championship team from the University of Oregon, one of the pioneering universities in this growing all-women’s collegiate sport.

On February 21, HPU’s A&T squad of 21 members made their debut at home against Azusa Pacific University, one of 10 member universities in the NCATA, of which HPU is its newest member. The meet drew one of the biggest crowds HPU Athletics has seen this year.

Hawai‘i sports enthusiasts and HPU fans, especially those familiar with the university’s nationally recognized cheerleading squads, were treated to amazing athleticism and competitive team sports in six individual and team events that combine the best of gymnastics and competitive cheer.

A&T teams compete head-to-head, like a gymnastics or diving meet, with real-time scoring based on execution.

Events include acrobatics (“acro” for short, formerly called “stunting”), pyramids, toss (formerly, “baskets”), tumbling and the finale team routine set to music.

View a video of HPU A&T Coach Keenyn Won introducing this new and exciting sport! www.hpu.edu/hputoday

A former Hawaii High School Athletics Association (HHSAA) Cheerleader of the Year, four-time All-State First Teamer and cheer team leader for Kamehameha Schools-Kapa¯lama, Won led two Universal Cheerleaders Association’s national championship high school squads from Hawai‘i in 2007 and 2008.

Coming from an athletic family in

Won credits her college coach, Felecia Mulkey, a trailblazer in establishing A&T nationally as an opportunity for women athletes in gymnastics and competitive cheer to compete at the collegiate level, and for encouraging her to apply for and become HPU’s first A&T coach. Won also credits former HPU Athletics Director Darren Vorderbruegge for championing

“From my own experiences, students will learn more than physical skills from college sports.” — Keenyn Won Kunia, she saw an opportunity at the University of Oregon to expand her love of sports as a student-athlete in A&T. Joining Oregon’s first A&T team in her sophomore year in 2009 with just seven other girls, Won went on to become a starting member of its 2011 and 2012 NCATA’s National Championship teams.

the sport by working with Mulkey to establish HPU’s program.

“From my own experiences, students will learn more than physical skills from college sports,” said Won. “Mental toughness on game day when the pressure is on is an invaluable lesson for life.” She also cites discipline, determination, mastery of technique, striving for perfection and confidence, among other lifelong skills to be gained.

Building on HPU’s proud legacy of cheerleading, Won chose “New Team…

Same Tradition” as her inaugural season team motto.

“We close each practice with a group chant started by the cheer team: ‘I believe in you, I believe in me, I believe in us,’” said Won. “Our team members must rely on each other to succeed as an A&T team.”

NCATA Accolades n n

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Keenyn Won, National Coach of the Year Malyssa Barbasa and Nancy Miceli, All-Americans

Leading HPU Athletics Photo by Jesand Amodo

A high school state tennis champion, a Division I college tennis player, followed by professional work experience with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, International Management Group and the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Hawai‘i Pacific University’s new Executive

Director of Athletics, Vince Baldemor, has experienced many facets of the world of sports.

Prior to joining HPU in January as its ninth athletics director, Baldemor served as the president of ‘Ahahui Koa A¯nuenue, the University of Hawai‘i’s nonprofit fundraising partner, which raised $70 million during his decade-long tenure. Baldemor is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of America and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors.

SEA WARRIOR SPORTS

“In the short time I have been here, I have been very impressed with the dedication, commitment and passion of the HPU ‘ohana,” said Baldemor, who oversees 14 intercollegiate sports and campus recreation programs at HPU. “We are in the initial stages of crafting a strategic plan that will define HPU athletics for the next three to five years, and I look forward to sharing this with our university. Our goal is to have a strong, visible athletics program and build on student pride and community engagement.”

Twenty-One Athletes Earn All-League Honors in Successful Fall Season

By Brent Curry

Women’s Soccer: HPU ruled Honolulu with a 3-0 record against crosstown rival Chaminade and nearly knocked off UH-Manoa, falling behind for the first time with only seven minutes to play.

Volleyball: HPU caused a stir nationally when it defeated fourth ranked BYU-Hawaii. The Sea Warriors landed three players on the All-PacWest team—Andrea It was the only loss the Seasiders would Aguirre and Ashlyn Ubongen on the suffer during the regular season. third team while Nicole Craig earned Four Sea Warriors earned spots on the honorable mention honors.

All-PacWest Team — Haley Doerfler and Women’s Cross Country: The Sea Warriors Kasey Thompson made the third team finished in second place at the Pacific and Elizabeth Culpepper and Pomai West Conference Championships Recca received honorable mention. and then went onto place 13th at the Head Coach Daryl Kapis became the regional meet. second most all-time winning coach in Fiona McKenna was named the U.S. program history with 112 wins.

Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Men’s Soccer: The Sea Warriors defeated Association National Runner of the Week, the best teams the PacWest had to offer, PacWest Runner of the Year and PacWest besting league co-champs Fresno Pacific Newcomer of the Year after winning and Azusa Pacific by a combined score the PacWest race. of 8–1.

Men’s Cross Country: HPU raced to a second place finish at the Pacific West Conference Championship meet, later placing 11th at the NCAA West Regional Championships.

Leandro Santillan finished the 8K PacWest course in 26:45, which was good for a third place finish. The top-10 finish placed Santillan on the PacWest first team.

Fermin Murillo-Villagran (13th) earned second team honors while teammates Yeltsen Vasquez (15th) and Tony Perez (20th) earned third team honors.

For the latest in Sea Warrior Sports, check out: www.goseawarriors.com Photo by Eric Alcantara

Junior forward Brais Garcia and freshman midfielder Erik Kemsies were each named to the Daktronics All-Region second team.

The pair were joined by Felipe Silva, Daniel Haehre and Olivier Rolland on the All-PacWest Team with Garcia winning Newcomer of the Year.

Along with McKenna, Sea Warriors Jamie Neal (7th), Marissa Kunsch (8th) and Malia Gonzales (9th) earned First Team All-PacWest honors by finishing in the top 10. Evelina Maanson (20th) landed on the Second Team All-PacWest squad.

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Valedictory speakers Shanthi Rajagopalan (BA Justice Administration), Peter Zauner (BA Human Resource Development) and Keoni Lee (BSBA ’12, MBA Finance)

President Bannister presents the Fellow of the Pacific Award to proud HPU alumna and commencement speaker U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (BSBA International Business ’09). HPU presents the award to outstanding community leaders for contributions to Hawai‘i, the Pacific Rim and the university.

Bright Horizons Future

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Images by Will Runk Photo

december 2013 Commencement

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A Huddle with Sam Moku, Vice President for University Relations photo by Dave Miyamoto

By Mary Gresch and Kilei Nelson

Sam Moku believes in the power of community and the power of human potential.

A 20-year coach, city and state leader, and long-time advocate for Honolulu and Hawai‘i, he has dedicated his professional career to helping young people succeed.

So, when Hawai‘i Pacific University President Geoffrey Bannister asked Moku to join his leadership team, first as director of public and governmental relations last March, and now in an expanded role as vice president for university relations, the life-long Oahu resident saw an opportunity to be part of something transformative for the people of Oahu and Hawai‘i.

“I knew Dr. Bannister through my role in the Mayor’s office and learned first-hand of his strong belief in HPU’s vision and his ability to move the strategic plan forward. I see my position in university relations as an exciting opportunity to engage our community and better the university and Hawai‘i,” said Moku.

“I believe in listening, working together and building consensus—we need to build HPU together.”

Moku joins Hawai‘i Pacific as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2015.

He will lead that celebration while managing a comprehensive university relations operation, including community and government relations, fundraising

programs and services, alumni relations programming and marketing. He serves as a key advisor to the president, trustees and executive colleagues, and represents the university to a multitude of internal and external constituencies.

“We have an entrepreneurial spirit that is all about serving our students and community, our faculty are deeply engaged in their fields, and we have a perspective that is international, national and local, which benefits both traditional and non-traditional college students.

We are an incredibly diverse and nimble university, and our size allows us to make adjustments and respond in ways other places can’t.”

The most visible marker of the university’s considerable momentum is the transformation of Aloha Tower into a student living and learning environment.

Join Sam at the Alumni Luau on June 21, 2014 photo by Chris Aguinaldo

Sam Moku held a number of leadership positions prior to coming to HPU, including director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Community Services and executive director with the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. He coached youth sports for more than 20 years, primarily track and field at the Kamehameha Schools, and has also been active with Special Olympics. He played football at the University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, where he earned a bachelor’s in Economics and an MBA.

Increased research productivity and growing engagement opportunities for students on all three campuses, including the Hawaii Loa campus in Kaneohe and Oceanic Institute of HPU in Waimanalo, are additional signs of the strategic plan’s realization.

“Our university is very much in its infancy stage. HPU was under the radar for a long time, but with Aloha Tower’s fruition in the paper and the strategic plan, there is a growing and incredibly positive awareness in our community.”

Moku credits President Bannister’s leadership for this growing interest in HPU’s future and the university’s increasing influence in higher education as a whole.

To prepare for the 50th, Moku urges alumni to return to HPU for the first ever reunion and join him on June 21 for an authentic island-style luau.

“I am the type of person who believes you cannot forget your past; you need to honor it. This is a way to honor the university founders, trustees and alumni, to bring the past forward, and to welcome the future. I hope that many of our alumni ‘ohana will be able to join us to help kick-off this wonderful new tradition!”

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university friends

Celebrating the Impact of photos by dave miyamoto

Hawai‘i Pacific University President’s Dinner The annual event honors the university’s most generous donors The HPU ‘ohana came together at The Royal Hawaiian on Oct. 10, 2013, to honor the highest levels of philanthropy at the university.

This special evening celebrated the many ways donor support touches the lives of HPU students and inspires work that reaches far beyond the classroom.

View a video narrated by HPU Provost Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., which illustrates the impact of donor support on HPU students at www.hpu.edu/presidentsdinner

University Friends

From kicking off HPU’s soccer fund to boosting yellow tang research, the generosity of the university’s dedicated friends gives HPU much to celebrate and even more to look forward to as HPU approaches its 50th birthday in 2015.

Photo courtesy Melissa D. Rietfors

Highlights Groundbreaking breeding research at Oceanic Institute (OI) of Hawai‘i Pacific University on the yellow tang, an enormously popular fish for aquarium enthusiasts worldwide, will go forward with greater speed, thanks to $75,000 in new funding from multiple sources. The Hawai‘i Community Foundation and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) have committed $35,000 to the research, through HTA’s Natural Resources Program.

The Rising Tide Foundation is providing an additional $8,000.

OI-HPU is also providing $32,000 of in-kind support, as well.

Oceanic Institute of HPU is making significant breakthroughs in rearing and feeding technology for yellow tang.

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UNIVERSITY FRIENDS

Photo by Chris Aguinaldo

Philanthropy American Carpet One Foundation Scholarship donors, Chris and David Arita, meet with HPU Assistant Vice President of University Relations Tara Wilson and scholarship recipient Clarissa Calderon-Meza (BSN ’13), pictured left; and scholarship recipient Jessica Young (BSN ’13), pictured right.

Nan, Inc. presents a check for $80,000 to establish the Nan, Inc. Soccer Fund, Jan. 21. From left: HPU Vice President of University Relations Sam Moku, HPU Executive Director of Athletics Vince Baldemor, Nan, Inc. owner Nan Shin, Head Women’s Soccer Coach Gina Brewer, Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chris Fisher, and HPU Assistant Vice President of University Relations Tara Wilson.

Photo by Chris Aguinaldo

University Health Alliance’s CEO Howard Lee gives Director of Development Kevin Takamori and Provost Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., a check for $10,000 to HPU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

As a tribute to the legendary actor, director and professor Glenn Cannon, a gift of $12,000 was given by his wife Samsil (Sam) Cannon to HPU’s Theatre Program.

HPU ‘ohana helps launch Huffpost Hawaii Photo by Cassie Carter

Photo by Dave Au

A warm mahalo to longtime HPU donors Paki and Ralph Portmore, who made a $15,000 multi-year gift to support students from Thailand. The Pakinee and Ralph Portmore Scholarship Fund will enhance HPU’s ongoing mission to be “an international learning community set in the rich cultural context of Hawai‘i.”

Remembering an acting legend

The Third Metric panel takes the stage in Hawaii to discuss redefining success.

Left to right: Arianna Huffington, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii president Janet Liang, educator Maya Soetoro-Ng and HPU’s Deborah Crown.

Director of Development Kevin Takamori poses with Travel Industry Management students at ARDA-Hawaii’s 9th Annual Steve Hirano Memorial Classic Golf Tournament, an event which benefits the HPU Steve Hirano Memorial Scholarship Fund.

HPU was proud to be a presenting sponsor of last September’s launch of HuffPost Hawaii, a collaboration between The Huffington Post and Honolulu’s Civil Beat. Members of the HPU ‘ohana played a prominent role at the launch: President Bannister and two HPU students contributed to The Blog’s debut, and College of Business Administration Dean Crown participated in The Third Metric panel discussion. Crown also interviewed Huffington Post co-founder, president and Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington about HuffPost Hawaii and The Third Metric.

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class links

In Memoriam

Kris Vasey Smith

HPU Alumni Relations Coordinator Kris Vasey Smith (BA Corporate Communication ’95, MA Organizational Change ’97) passed away on Sept. 25, 2013. Kris was very proud of her affiliation with the university, both as an alumna and staff member. She enjoyed connecting with alumni and helped to facilitate communication between alumni and departments across the university. She also authored the Class Links for HPU Today, sharing news of her fellow alumni with great enthusiasm.

After Kris’s passing, HPU received an overwhelming outpouring of condolences from HPU staff, faculty and alumni. The following is a sampling of the messages received from around the world: President Geoffrey Bannister:

“Kris Smith gave valuable service to Hawai‘i Pacific University over the past 16 years, particularly to our growing ranks of alumni. The HPU ‘ohana mourns her passing, but celebrates the legacy she leaves and the lives she touched.”

From Afghanistan— Alumna Courtney Sugai (MA Diplomacy and Military Studies ’09):

“Kris Smith was such a good friend and truly part of our ‘ohana. So sweet, generous and loving … I am so thankful for all she did for Iven Sugai (BA Economics ’01) and my whole family. Deepest condolences to the Vasey ‘ohana. The Sugai family will miss her.”

From Honolulu— Alumna Rita Maatta (MA Communication ’08, BA Advertising/ Public Relations ’05):

“Kris was the most positive person that I met at HPU, who always did anything she could to help you. A beautiful spirit who was a great role model and advocate for Hawai‘i Pacific University! She will be greatly missed as she was my one and only connection I had with HPU.” The family held a public Remembrance Service at the Outrigger Canoe Club on Oct. 9. Donations may be made in her memory to the HPU Dr. Helen Varner Scholarship in Communication: www.hpu.edu/onlinegift Many will fondly remember Kris for her unmatched passion for HPU, yet few are aware that she made the foresighted commitment to designate her beloved alma mater with a charitable gift annuity.

A hui hou ka¯kou, Kris, your bequest will be leveraged to inspire further support for HPU’s students and arts programs.

1986

1998

Congratulations to William D. Carnegie (BSBA) for being named the 2013 Award of Appreciation recipient from the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors.

The yearly award is presented to individuals who are not members of the Bar in recognition of outstanding service toward the creation of a better public understanding of the legal profession and the administration of justice, the judiciary or the legislative process.

Andrew Tay (BSBA International Business, minor Travel Industry Management), wife Alicia and son Aaric welcomed the arrival of baby girl Anaya on June 15, 2013.

1995 Two HPU alumni Jeff Annis (BA) and Mike Bump (BSBA ’96) work together in Japan for BIOTRONIK — a German medical device company that began in 1963 and has expanded internationally with locations around the world. Jeff is the BIOTRONIK Japan president and Mike serves as the director of marketing.

John Bibby (MA Human Resource Management, BA Human Resource Development ’94) is vice president of Human Resources at HCA Sunrise Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center in Las Vegas.

1996 Jill Castilla (BSBA Finance) has been promoted to president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, Okla.

Paul Lu (MA Human Resource Management, BSBA Travel Industry Management ’94) is the director of International Cooperation & Exchanges Division of JINWEN University of Science & Technology in Taipei.

1997

1999 Emmy “Chia-Chen Tsai” Kuo (BA Human Services) is a biometric specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

2000 Xerox Hawaii has promoted Tiffany Rabacal-Harper (BSBA Marketing) from marketing representative to account manager.

Edward John Calvo (MBA Marketing) has been appointed chairman of the Guam Economic Development Authority Board of Directors.

2003 Juan Diego Tenorio (BSBA Finance) was appointed budget and finance director for the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary in August. Juan Diego’s responsibilities are coordination of fiscal goals, management of the court’s financial processes, maintenance of expenditure data and annual budget preparation.

Monica (Bland) Matoush (BA Communication) was named deputy director and military assistant to the director of protocol at the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. last May. JD Tenorio with Chief Justice Alexandro Castro.

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CLASS LINKS

2004 Karin Voellmer-Brumbaugh (MA Human Resource Management) is director of human resources for the Huntsville Madison County Public Library in Huntsville, Ala. Sara Johansson (MBA Travel Industry Management) joined Colliers International-Las Vegas in June as transaction coordinator.

2005 Julie Peters Akey (MA Teaching English as a Second Language) has published a book, “Haiti, My Love,” about her experiences in Haiti both as a soldier and a volunteer following its devastating earthquake.

Lisa Cripe Kimura (MBA, BA Communication ’02) is executive director of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii.

Rika Michelle Bradley McGowan (BSBA International Business) is director of business management for Sattler & Associates LLP in Beverly Hills, Calif.

2006 Sofia Blum (MA Communication) is living in New York City and got engaged this past summer. She is a police officer and shares that she uses the communication skills she learned at HPU in her daily life and work place.

Sarah B. Johnson (BA Journalism) joined GoSOVA (Go Southern Virginia) in September 2013 as the economic development director.

Randi Perlman (MA Teaching English as a Second Language) is a lecturer at the English Language Institute of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Alaine Small (MA Communication) and husband Justin welcomed daughter Jacinda Marilyn on May 26, 2013, to their ‘ohana.

2007

Wazha Dube (BSBA Travel Industry Management) is the business development manager for Kartagener Associates Inc., a luxury leisure marketing and representation firm based in New York City. He is also co-founder of Young Travel Professionals (YTP).

The group was started in October 2011 with the goal of connecting young people across all sectors of

Amanda Dela Cruz’s (BSBA Finance) company, Lil Coconut Hawaii, launched the California Dreamin’ collection in September.

The handbags combine her photography and inspirational quotes on nine by six inch neoprene pouches.

Christina Failma (BA Public Relations and Advertising) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy degree at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. In addition to furthering her understanding of communications and its role in facilitating international relationships, she is also looking at issues related to North Korean human rights and the economy’s relation to it.

Petter Haaland (MBA Finance) is an associate human resources officer at the United Nations in New York.

He and wife Jacqueline Chan (MBA Marketing ’06, BSBA Travel Industry Management ’04) and their son, Toby Jae-Sun, live in Long Island City, N.Y.

James Woong Choi (BSBA Travel Industry Management) has been putting the skills he learned at HPU to work since graduation. He has been promoted three times in the last four years. Currently, he is revenue manager at The Westin Resort Guam.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (BSBA International Business) was one of the honorees presented the 2013 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award in November at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

Andrew Abordonado (BA) received word of his first posting as a U.S. diplomat. He is scheduled to report to El Salvador in early to mid-2014 as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.

Jaclyn Funasaki (MBA) is the economic and commercial affairs researcher for the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco.

the travel and hospitality industry, hosting informal networking events, classifieds and mentoring programs. YTP has now grown to more than 2000 members between six cities and three countries.

Rita (MA Communication, BA Advertising/Public Relations ’05) and Mikael (MBA Marketing ’05, BSBA International Business ’04) Maatta celebrated the birth of son Neo on July 15, 2013.

George Neal (MBA Finance, BA ’06) is senior vice president and director of retail credit policy at American Savings Bank in Honolulu.

Zack Parnell (BSBA Marketing) is vice president and COO of Industrial Training International in Woodland, Wash.

2008

2009

Britt Yap (MA Communication, BA Journalism ’06) was appointed FemCity Honolulu president by Femfessionals, an innovative business community for professional women and business owners.

Honolulu is the organization’s first city in the Pacific.

Stephanie Soff (MBA Marketing) is executive producer and account manager for Meet the Boss TV in Miami.

2010 Congratulations to Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Phillip Harper (BSBA Marketing) who was named administrative officer for the 2014 U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

Christopher Leidlein (BSBA Marketing, ASL ’03) is director of visual media at Visum Studios in Mahomet, Ill. He has completed his first film, “Project Urban Legends.”

2011 Stephanie Ann Bibby (pursuing BS Health Science) and Adam Bradley-Ray Yeatts (MEd, BA Public Relations ’07) exchanged wedding vows on July 14, 2013, in a ceremony held at the Hale Koa Luau Garden in Honolulu. Both were competitive cheerleaders on Hawai‘i Pacific University’s award-winning cheer squads.

continued on page 18

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CLASS LINKS

Alumni Spotlight Bettina Mehnert (MBA ’03) has been promoted to CEO of Architects Hawaii Ltd (AHL) — a position she considers a “dream job.”

Originally from Germany, Bettina is a third-generation architect, who came to Hawai‘i in 1988. She has worked at AHL ever since, being the first woman at the firm to hold key leadership positions, such as principal, director and chief operating officer.

“I’ve been with this firm for 25 years and this has been an unbelievable ride,” Bettina told Pacific Business News. “It is such an incredible firm and there’s so much happening in our field [with] so many opportunities. I’m excited [and] encouraged by the confidence the board has in me and I know we will have fun.”

She is also involved in the nonprofit community, serving as chair of the Hawaii Nature Center’s board of directors and as a member on the boards of directors at PBS Hawaii, the YMCA of Honolulu and the Kailua Urban Design Task Force.

Alumni Reconnection Points Tokyo, Japan June 19, 2013

HPU Associate Dean Bill Potter and Student Body President Miina Huotari joined Tokyo alumni for a networking dinner.

Taipei, Taiwan July 6, 2013

continued from page 17

2012 Timo Fuhrmann (MBA) has been promoted to digital director at Hagadone Printing Company in Honolulu.

Rachel James (MA Global Leadership and Sustainable Development) began working as the Constituent Services Representative for the Office of U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (BSBA International Business ’09) in October 2013.

Marcie Kagawa (BA Journalism and Asian Studies) won two first place awards in July from the Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists: News Reporting by a Student in any Media and Feature Writing by a Student in any Media.

Kate Kincaid (BA Communication) married John Kearns, Ph.D., on October 19, 2013 in Minnesota.

The couple lives in Minneapolis with their dog and cat, where Kate works in local book publishing and John 18

h p u to day

Alumni met for lunch at City Suites.

works as senior writer for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia July 20, 2013

Nathan Lawrence (MA Diplomacy and Military Studies, BA Political Science ’10) is serving as director of Advancement Services at Chaminade University in Honolulu.

Lauren (Levault) McManus (MEd Secondary Education) is adviser for gifted and talented students at Centennial High School in Las Cruces, N.M.

2013 Francene Batalon (BS Health Science) is the dental plan specialist for Ho‘ala Dental Program.

Mirjam McAngus (BSN) is the Ulu Clinic Team Lead at the Waimanalo Health Center in Waimanalo, Hawai‘i.

HPU alumni celebrated Andrew Tay’s (BSBA International Business, minor Travel Industry Management ’98) birthday at Himawari Hotel Apartments.

Nextworking July 25 & Nov. 6, 2013 Scores of HPU alumni participated in the July Nextworking event at M Nightclub and the November Nextworking event at the Plaza Club in Honolulu.

CLASS LINKS

Island Promises, Global Challenges Nov. 13, 2013

Osaka, Japan July 28, 2013 HPU Department Chair of Management and Marketing Bill Sodeman, Ph.D., joined alumni at the Glamorous-X restaurant.

At a joint HPU and Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California event, President Bannister updated Bay Area alumni, parents and friends about how the university is developing scientific and ecological solutions to promote world food sources, the environment that sustains them and HPU’s bright future.

Bangkok, Thailand Aug. 2, 2013

Professor Kohler (left) greets alumni at Bay Area event

Take the Lead seminar Nov. 13, 2013

HPU alumni met for a get-together.

Seoul, Korea Oct. 16, 2013

Applied Linguistics Professor Ed Klein, Ph.D., met with a group of HPU alumni.

Athletics Hall of Fame Oct. 16, 2013 List of all inductees at: goseawarriors.com/hof

Loryn Guiffre (MBA ’10), director of marketing and communications at Maryknoll School, shared how HPU helped her to network for success and create her own personal branding at the “Take the Lead: An HPU Alumni Success Story” seminar.

Brand You Nov. 21, 2013

HPU professor and alumnus Jeff Harris (MBA ’11) discussed how to discover and create your own personal brand at “Brand You: Marketing Your Personal Brand,” a joint event with the National Association of Asian American Professionals. Jeff is the Regional Marketing Director of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.

Brussels, Belgium Nov. 18, 2013

Five-time All-American tennis player Erik Sandblom (BSBA Marketing ’00, MSIS and MBA ’01) and inductee to the 2013 Hall of Fame, and his wife, Marissa Sandblom (BSBA Corporate Communication ’00, MBA ’01).

HPU welcomes updates from alumni, although the editorial staff reserves the right to edit and select all materials for publication.

Professor Carlos Juarez, Ph.D., met with three HPU alumnae in Brussels.

L to R: Stefanie Wesch (BA ’11), Kim DeVidts (MA ’04), Professor Juarez and Kira Vinke (BA ’10).

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back page

RUBY: the jewel of commencement by chris aguinaldo

For generations of students, she was the friendly face and kind voice who helped them reach their goal: graduating from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Whether it was helping students with their petitions to graduate, making sure names were spelled right for the program, or even talking to excited parents to share valuable ceremony information, Ruby Okano was there.

Now retired, the commencement committee for the Class of 2014 deeply missed Okano’s presence and dedication to details surrounding the most important day of students’ lives. With 49 years of faithful service to both HPU and Hawaii Loa College, Okano made a difference to countless alumni, and faculty and staff members, and was the longest tenured employee at the university when she retired last year as administrative assistant.

And it was her connection to students and families that especially stood out.

“I loved and enjoyed every moment assisting the graduates and their families from all over the world,” she said. “I learned so much about their culture and ambitions. HPU graduates are definitely prepared to meet the challenges of the future and I am so proud of them.”

Among those graduates she’s proud of are her two daughters, Charyl Okano Makanui (BA Psychology ’01) and Gerilynn Okano Maria (BA Psychology ’02, MBA ’08).

“The diverse faculty and student body provided my daughters with a global perspective which exposed them to various cultures and backgrounds,” she said.

Okano now enjoys life as a grandmother, devoting her time to family.

However, she still has a warm place in her heart for HPU.

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h p u to day

Do you know someone ready for a G reat Adve ntu re ?

At Hawai‘i Pacific University, we know that education is much more than just textbooks and lectures. We believe it should be an intellectual adventure.

One that goes far beyond the classroom. Here, students learn alongside bright minds from around the U.S. and the world. They’ll join a group of high achievers, work one-on-one with professors who are experts in their fields, and get hands-on experience through internships and fellowships. At HPU, it’s not just an education. It’s an adventure.

Start the adventure today at

www.hpu.edu/experienceHPU

admission@hpu.edu | Direct: (808) 544-0238 | Toll-free: 1-866-Call-Hpu summer 2 01 4

1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800 Honolulu, HI 96813

$2,500

Sends one faculty member to present at a national academic conference

$10,000

$5,000

Student Scholarship

Study Abroad Experience

$250

$100

Supports a student club or organization initiative

Buys books for one student for one semester

Our exciting future relies on the commitment of our ‘ohana.

Support Academic Excellence! www. hpu.edu/donate • www.hpu.edu/supporthpu