We value collaboration. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the program in meaningful and mutually beneficial ways. Here are some ways that fisheries professionals, resource managers, industry partners, community-based organizations, Indigenous and local knowledge holders, and policy professionals can participate in the instruction, student mentoring, and support of the FISH@UH program. If you are a prospective student please see our Application page.
Contribute to Student Instruction
Contact the instructor of the course(s) that fit your expertise to indicate your support of collaborative instruction in their class. This can range from guest lectures to experiential learning (e.g. field trips), serving on a course career panel, to covering a module or co-teaching a short course or seminar whether online or in person. Some classes are starting as early as January, but most will start in August 2026.
Community Engagement
Stakeholders play a critical role in bridging classroom and real-world complexities of fisheries management. You can play a key role for our Fisheries students by providing an “applied” side of their education.
Whether a commercial fisher, a cultural practitioner, or a resource manager—here are some ways you can get involved with our students: mentorship & professional development, practical “place-based” learning, internships & “in the field” programs, or direct networking events.
Collaborate on Research Projects
Do you have an exciting research project that could potentially fund a graduate student? This could be an excellent way to facilitate collaboration with the Fisheries program and kickstart new ideas and partnerships. Whether you are interested in collaborative data collection, analysis and interpretation, or extension and communication of policy recommendations or better fishing practices, the Fisheries program welcomes your expertise. Visit our faculty’s research sites to explore who you could collaborate with on your project. If you need further assistance, contact our Graduate Chair Jeff Drazen.
Serve on a Student Committee
If a specific student would like you to serve on their committee, and you do not have a current appointment, you can serve as an Ad Hoc Committee member. Ad Hoc Committee members are non-UH faculty or community members who possess a specific expertise or background that may contribute to a specific student’s graduate work. The role is primarily to contribute expertise with regard to the topics, methods, analyses or other related aspects of students’ research. Ad Hoc Committee members may serve as a member on a thesis or doctoral committee; they cannot chair a student’s committee. Once the student graduates, the Ad Hoc appointment ends.
In order to serve as an Ad Hoc Committee member, the student or advisor must invite you to join their committee by sending a memo to the Fisheries Grad Chair via uhmfish@hawaii.edu. The memo should explain the reason for your membership, what you will add to serving on this student’s committee, and attach a current CV. If approved, the Ad Hoc member agrees to abide by the responsibilities of the Fisheries Faculty by a signed agreement through the duration of the student’s time in the program. Please refer to the FISH Faculty Handbook for details.
Join the Graduate Faculty
Affiliate Graduate Faculty (AGF) are non-UH faculty or community members who possess a specific expertise or background that may contribute to a student’s graduate work. The role is primarily to contribute expertise with regard to the topics, methods, analyses or other related aspects of students’ research. Affiliate Graduate Faculty may serve as a member on a thesis or doctoral committee; they cannot chair a student’s committee. AGF appointments are renewed annually if the faculty member is actively engaged in the program.
Cooperating Graduate Faculty (CGF) are UH faculty from another graduate program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, research (R) faculty employed by a University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa research unit or faculty members in a department without a graduate program, or on another UH campus. For UH faculty in a unit without a graduate program or employed on another UH campus, the first CGF appointment will be the “home” graduate program. CGF are eligible for a level 3, 2, or 1 graduate faculty appointment. The level of the nominee is determined by the nominating graduate program. CGF members may also include temporary faculty, instructors, post-doctoral fellows, and any others with a similar UH appointment from other UH units; however, these individuals are limited to a level 1 graduate faculty appointment.
In order to apply, please submit a current CV and memo to the Fisheries Grad Chair via uhmfish@hawaii.edu explaining the reason for applying, what you will add to the program, and agreeing to abide by the responsibilities of the Fisheries Faculty. Please refer to the FISH Faculty Handbook for details. The candidate will present a research seminar, interview with the Fisheries Faculty who will then vote on the candidate.