Seventeen Outstanding UH Faculty Awarded Regents' Medal for Excellence

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Director of Communications & Outreach, External Affairs and University Relations
Posted: May 18, 2015

Fourteen University of Hawai‘i faculty members have been selected as recipients of the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, and three were selected as recipients of the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research. 

University of Hawaii President David Lassner said, “These superb University of Hawai‘i teachers and researchers are changing students’ lives and making a difference for our community.  We thank them for their dedication and their commitment to excellence.”

Six UH teachers have also been recognized with the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.  In addition, a UH Community College student is this year’s recipient of the Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Vocational Education.

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes faculty who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, and personal values beneficial to students was awarded to:

  • Norman Arancon, Assistant Professor, Horticulture, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
  • Pia Arboleda, Assistant Professor, College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature – Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Brian L. Cassity, Professor, Arts and Humanities, Kapi‘olani Community College
  • Julia Eve Hammer, Professor, School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology – Geology & Geophysics, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Roy Y. Kamida, Professor, Accounting, Business Division, Leeward Community College
  • Melissa Kirkendall, Instructor, Anthropology, University of Hawai‘i Maui College
  • Katie Landgraf, Assistant Professor, Accounting, University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu
  • Justin D. Levinson, Professor, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Victoria Mathis, Assistant Professor, Nursing, Kaua‘i Community College
  • Aaron T. Ohta, Associate Professor, College of Engineering – Electrical Engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • L. Ayu Saraswati, Associate Professor, College of Social Sciences – Women’s Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Ron Darren “Kekeha” Solis, Assistant Professor, Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge – Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Norman Takeya, Assistant Professor, Transport and Trades Program, Honolulu Community College
  • Charles Whitten, Professor and Counselor, Student Services, Windward Community College

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research, which recognizes a faculty member’s scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of all in the community, nation and the world, was awarded to:

  • Karen Meech, Astronomer, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Robert Thomson, Assistant Professor, College of Natural Sciences – Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Axel Timmermann, Professor, School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology – Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching recognizes dedication and demonstrated excellence as teachers of undergraduate students. It was established as a memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward Community College and UH Mānoa for 19 years.  This year’s awardees are:

  • Maria Guerriero, Instructor, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene – Nursing, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Victoria Mathis, Assistant Professor, Nursing, Kaua‘i Community College
  • Julie Powers, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education, Social Science Department, University of Hawai’i Maui College
  • Norman Purves, Instructor and Lab Coordinator, Physics & Astronomy, Natural Sciences Division, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
  • Chamil Rathnayake, Graduate Assistant, College of Social Sciences – School of Communications, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Rex Troumbley, Graduate Assistant, College of Social Sciences – Political Science, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

The Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Vocational Education rewards outstanding achievement and significant contribution to vocational and technical education by a community college faculty member or student. The award was established by family members to honor the namesakes’ role in development of the food industry in Hawai‘i.  This yearʻs winner is:

  • Ku‘uleinani Breen, student, Culinary Arts Program, Kaua‘i Community College.

Biographies and photos of award winners are available online at: 

http://hawaii.edu/about/awards/teaching.php

http://www.hawaii.edu/about/awards/research.php

http://www.hawaii.edu/about/awards/davis.php

http://www.hawaii.edu/about/awards/kunimoto.php