Recognizing the dedication and service of UH Mānoa faculty, staff, and students committed to enhancing the University’s mission of excellence.
The 2026 UH Mānoa Awards Ceremony was held on May 5 at Kennedy Theatre.
Congratulations to all our winners!
Download 2026 Mānoa Awards program
You can also see photos of the honorees on our Flickr page.
- Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching
- Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research
- Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
- Robert W. Clopton Award for Distinguished Community Service
- Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching
- Presidential Award for Outstanding Service
- Jean Takamura Staff Excellence Award
- Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
- Pakela Award for Outstanding Academic Advisor
- OVPRS Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research & Creative Work
- Student Excellence in Research Award
- Student Employee of the Year Award
Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching
The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching is awarded by the Board of Regents as tribute to faculty members who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity and personal values that benefit students.
Cheehyung Harrison Kim
Cheehyung Harrison Kim is an associate professor of history in the College of Arts, Languages and Letters. His teaching is shaped by a transnational perspective and a commitment to dialogue, empathy and student growth. His classrooms use discussion-driven inquiry to explore global histories, including topics such as North Korea, while encouraging students to question assumptions and reflect on lived experiences of power and constraint. Guided by a philosophy of “equate, empathize and empower,” he fosters environments where students engage history as both an intellectual and personal practice. Kim emphasizes critical thinking, open expression, and the connection between past and present. He also prioritizes creativity and research, supporting students in developing original projects that often lead to competitive awards and further study. Through close mentorship, Kim helps students connect academic inquiry to careers in law, education, public policy and other fields.
Miyoko Pettit-Toledo
Miyoko T. Pettit-Toledo is an assistant professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Her teaching is defined by rigor, empathy and innovation. Drawing on experience as a judicial clerk, practicing attorney and nonprofit leader, she brings civil procedure, the rules of civil litigation, to life by combining doctrinal mastery with practical lawyering skills and critical inquiry. Her teaching challenges students to examine how legal systems function and whom they serve. She is known for transforming the first-year civil procedure course into an engaging, collaborative experience through creative approaches such as student “law firms,” interactive simulations, and a “Procedure in Practice” writing lab. Pettit-Toledo is deeply committed to student success, mentoring with care and intentionality while maintaining high academic standards. By cultivating trust and community in the classroom, she empowers students to grow into thoughtful, justice-minded legal professionals.
Subhashni Raj
Subhashni Raj is an assistant professor in urban and regional planning in the College of Social Sciences. Her teaching is rooted in inquiry-based, student-centered learning and a commitment to equity and place-based practice. Drawing on her STEM background and experience as an international scholar, she designs multi-modal courses that integrate systems thinking, experiential learning and transdisciplinary approaches to real-world planning challenges. Her pedagogy emphasizes scaffolded skill-building, critical reflection and collaboration. Through spatial labs, community-engaged projects and structured debates, she equips students with technical skills while encouraging critical analysis of power, justice and policy. She is recognized for inclusive classrooms that center Indigenous knowledge, decolonize planning education and connect students to Hawaiʻi’s communities. Beyond the classroom, Raj mentors students in research and professional development, supporting pathways into planning and public service careers.
Eirik Saethre
Eirik Saethre is a professor of anthropology in the College of Social Sciences. He creates discussion-driven classrooms described by students as both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. His teaching engages students with anthropological theory through conversation, storytelling and original research, connecting abstract ideas to lived experience. Drawing on global ethnographic research, he grounds learning in real-world contexts and student inquiry. A hallmark of his pedagogy is “ungrading,” which emphasizes reflection, intellectual risk-taking and growth over traditional assessment, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Grounded in decolonial, relational and care-centered approaches, Saethre fosters inclusive spaces where students engage topics such as health, sexuality, inequality and identity with curiosity and empathy. His courses encourage students to think with anthropology rather than only about it, shaping how they understand the world.
Tamara Ticktin
Tamara Ticktin is professor of botany in the School of Life Sciences. Her teaching blends scientific rigor with creativity, collaboration and place-based learning. She reimagines the classroom as an active learning environment centered on inquiry, dialogue and hands-on experience. Her courses integrate field-based learning, community partnerships and student-driven problem solving, enabling students to apply concepts in real-world conservation contexts. Drawing on global research and long-term work in Hawaiʻi, she connects students with diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous and local perspectives, while encouraging reflection on ethics, equity and environmental responsibility. She is known for fostering inclusive learning spaces where students are encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions and learn collaboratively. Through this approach, Ticktin cultivates both strong scientific understanding and a sense of purpose in addressing complex ecological and social challenges.
Kara Wong Ramsey
Kara Wong Ramsey is an associate professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. A kanaka ʻōiwi physician and neonatologist, she conducts her courses grounded in kuleana (responsibility), service and experiential learning. In the neonatal intensive care unit, she teaches learners across all levels of medical training while also advancing public health education through outreach, including nationally recognized social media initiatives. Guided by ma ka hana ka ʻike (through doing, one learns), she emphasizes hands-on, patient-centered education that builds clinical skills, critical thinking and resilience. As a leader in simulation-based education, she creates collaborative environments where trainees develop confidence in high-stakes decision making. Known for her compassionate mentorship, she fosters trust, curiosity and professional growth. As pediatric clerkship director, she has developed award-winning curricula and contributed to accreditation, faculty development and nationally recognized innovations in medical education. Wong Ramsey’s work prepares future physicians to deliver culturally grounded, high-quality care.
Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research
The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.
Nicolas Gaillard
Nicolas Gaillard is an associate researcher in the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. He has more than 20 years of experience in materials and surface science, with expertise in photovoltaics, electrochemistry and device integration. He joined HNEI as a postdoctoral fellow in 2007 and now leads the Thin Films Laboratory. His research focuses on understanding light-matter interactions at solid–solid and solid–liquid interfaces at the atomic scale, advancing the design of next-generation materials for renewable energy technologies. After completing his doctorate, Gaillard worked with the IBM/Motorola/STMicroelectronics alliance on oxide/metal interfaces for advanced transistor technologies. In 2017, with support from the UH Strategic Investment Initiative, he founded the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MS-CoRE), bringing together UH materials researchers to expand shared resources, strengthen interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration.
Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula
Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula is professor and chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. A nationally recognized translational behavioral scientist, he has led federally funded research for more than two decades to improve cardiometabolic health and advance health equity for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. He is lead co-principal investigator of the Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO) Clinical and Translational Research Center, where he helps train the next generation of researchers to address Hawaiʻi’s most pressing health challenges. He also developed programs supporting underrepresented students, fellows and early-career faculty in health research. With more than 200 publications, his work has influenced healthcare delivery, clinical outcomes and public health policy for Indigenous communities. Kaholokula has held national leadership roles and continues to serve on local boards dedicated to improving community health. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine for his contributions to science and service.
Victor M. Lubecke
Victor M. Lubecke is a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering. He specializes in wireless sensing and integrated transducers. Prior to joining UH Mānoa in 2003, he worked at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, where his research focused on remote sensing and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical and industrial applications. He has also held research positions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Institute for Physical and Chemical Research, working on terahertz and MEMS technologies for space-based sensing and communications. Lubecke has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications with more than 10,000 citations, holds seven U.S. patents and has co-founded two startup companies. He is an IEEE Fellow, a Fulbright Senior Scholar, and an emeritus Distinguished Microwave Lecturer of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.
Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for a faculty member and a graduate assistant 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 the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for 19 years.
Lolita Pérez-Ayala
Lolita Pérez-Ayala is a PhD candidate in the communication and information sciences interdisciplinary program in the College of Social Sciences. Committed to connecting theory to real-world contexts and fostering inclusive participation, she integrates sociotechnical research with organizational and business examples to promote applied learning and student agency. Her courses examine the design and effects of information technologies and explore organizational and cross-cultural communication through real-world analysis. She gathers student feedback early and engages students in collaborative activities that apply course concepts to organizational cases. These practices encourage problem solving and move students beyond content mastery toward applied, reflective learning. Pérez-Ayala emphasizes student agency in selecting organizations or causes aligned with their interests, resulting in engagement with a wide range of local nonprofits, cultural institutions and businesses.
Lisa M. Vallin
Lisa Vallin is an instructor in the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in the College of Social Sciences. Her work centers on creating inclusive, engaging and socially relevant learning environments in sexuality studies. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, she brings a research-informed and intentional approach, emphasizing critical thinking, cultural awareness and student-centered learning. Her classroom fosters a strong sense of community where students feel seen, affirmed and supported in exploring complex and often sensitive topics with curiosity and respect. Guided by a philosophy of envisioning learning, engaging beyond the classroom and inspiring lifelong learning, she integrates interdisciplinary perspectives and real-world applications into her courses. Through innovative assignments, community partnerships and guest speakers, students connect theory to practice and engage issues such as reproductive justice and HIV advocacy. Vallin is known for her approachable teaching style and commitment to equity and inclusion, helping students become informed and engaged community members.
Robert W. Clopton Award for Distinguished Community Service
The Robert W. Clopton Award for Distinguished Community Service recognizes a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty member for playing a socially significant role by applying intellectual leadership and academic expertise toward the improvement of the community. The award was established as a memorial to longtime UH Mānoa College of Education Professor Robert Clopton and first awarded in 1977.
Yoshimi (Shimi) M. Rii
Yoshimi M. Rii is an assistant specialist at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology and research coordinator for the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve. She leads research supporting the restoration of Indigenous resource management and biocultural practices in Hawaiʻi. Her work integrates Native Hawaiian knowledge with academic research to advance place-based science and foster a Hawaiian sense of place within UH Mānoa. She has built strong partnerships with community organizations, cultural practitioners, government agencies and researchers grounded in trust, reciprocity and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge). Rii is recognized for mentoring students and creating community-engaged learning opportunities that support ethical, community-centered research. Through collaborative projects and teaching, she helps develop scholars committed to responsible research practices. Her leadership strengthens community-campus relationships and contributes to policy and decision-making at local, national and international levels. Rii is known for her humility, creativity and commitment to pono, or ethnical, relationships.
Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching
The Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching recognizes University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty members who have made significant contributions to teaching and student learning.
Ethan Caldwell
Ethan Caldwell is an associate professor of ethnic studies in the College of Social Sciences. His teaching is guided by a belief in the transformative power of education rooted in care. He fosters inclusive, discussion-based classrooms grounded in dialogue, critical engagement and mutual respect. His teaching encourages students to connect theory with lived experience while critically examining race, intersectionality and social justice in Hawaiʻi and beyond. Drawing on expertise in African American studies, gender and visual culture, Caldwell’s courses emphasize critical thinking, collaborative learning and real-world application through creative assignments, contemporary media and community engagement. He mentors teaching assistants, supervises independent research and supports student development through local and global learning opportunities, including virtual international collaborations. Caldwell’s approach equips students to engage challenging topics with empathy and intellectual rigor, preparing them to become thoughtful and socially responsible citizens.
Cathi Ho Schar
Cathi Ho Schar is an associate professor in the School of Architecture and founding director of the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center. Her work integrates teaching, research and community engagement through practice-based learning. Her pedagogy is grounded in the belief that design education should develop ethical, systems-oriented thinkers. Across more than 35 courses, she integrates real-world projects that engage students in co-design, stakeholder collaboration and public impact, connecting learning to the social and environmental forces shaping the built environment. She mentors students through coursework, research and professional pathways, including licensure support. Her teaching emphasizes care, reciprocity and responsibility while balancing technical skill-building with creative exploration. Through community-engaged design education, Schar prepares students to become thoughtful practitioners committed to equity, sustainability and the public good.
Jane Chung-Do
Jane Chung-Do is a professor of public health in the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health. Her teaching is grounded in community-based participatory research and decolonizing approaches, emphasizing social justice, critical consciousness and creating “brave spaces” to reflect on health disparities and structural inequities. Through experiential learning, she connects students with partners across Hawaiʻi, engaging them in real-world public health challenges, relationship-building and collaborative work rooted in pilina (relationships), cultural humility and ethical engagement. She is committed to long-term partnerships that integrate community knowledge with public health innovation. Chung-Do mentors student research and professional development, with many students earning awardsa and recognition. She is widely recognized for bridging university and broader communities, preparing students to become equity-driven public health leaders in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Jeffrey Drazen
Jeffrey Drazen is an oceanographer in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. His teaching explores connections between the ocean and society. His instruction emphasizes deep-sea ecology and fisheries, using real-world examples and inquiry-based learning to examine both what is known and unknown about the ocean. Drazen fosters inclusive, discussion-based classrooms where students build critical thinking skills through dialogue, student-led activities and hands-on learning. Field experiences at fishponds, aquaculture sites and research vessels deepen engagement and connect science to lived experience. He co-developed a graduate program in sustainable fisheries to address workforce needs in the Pacific. He also mentors student research and leads extensive K–12 outreach, including classroom visits and teacher workshops that expand ocean literacy across Hawaiʻi. By combining passion, innovation and a commitment to community engagement, Drazen exemplifies teaching excellence, cultivating the next generation of scientists, stewards and informed global citizens.
Jeffrey Lorenzo Perillo
Jeffrey Lorenzo Perillo is an associate professor of theatre & dance in the College of Arts, Languages and Letters.
He reimagines performance as knowledge carried through the body, integrating creative practice with critical inquiry. Drawing on hip-hop, Philippine dance, and Indigenous performance, his collaborative classrooms intersect theory and practice. Students develop intellectual and embodied understanding through choreography and critical race studies. Perillo emphasizes relational learning and mentors students in advanced scholarship, challenging them to create boldly and engage ethically as artists and scholars.
N. Haʻalilio Solomon
N. Haʻalilio Solomon is an assistant professor at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language in the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. His approach is grounded in ʻike kūpuna (ancestral wisdom) and lived experience between Hawaiʻi and the continental U.S., shaping a philosophy of ʻike as both inheritance and responsibility. As an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi educator, he views education as stewardship that extends beyond language to cultural practice. Guided by aʻo (to teach and learn simultaneously), he fosters reciprocal classrooms where kumu (teacher) and haumāna (student) learn through shared inquiry. He emphasizes patience, humility and compassion, supporting students as they take risks and grow. His classrooms model Hawaiian lawena (conduct and behavior), reinforcing the values that sustain a living language. Solomon’s work reflects a belief that education is the weaving of a lei aloha, carried forward by each student.
Presidential Award for Outstanding Service
The Presidential Award for Outstanding Service honors a UH Mānoa staff member who demonstrates outstanding work performance, service and leadership.
Administrative, Professional and Technical
Michelle Myrie
Michelle Myrie is deputy chief for the Department of Public Safety. She oversees operations including patrol units, the Field Officer Training Program, and officer recruitment, while working closely with the community to enhance campus safety. She is recognized for her outstanding leadership, dedication and transformative impact at UH Mānoa. Her supervisor describes her as a leader who exemplifies integrity, professionalism and compassion, and who leads with humility, respect and a strong commitment to transparency and communication. Myrie’s proactive, safety-first approach has strengthened partnerships and fostered trust across the university community and beyond. Through strategic planning and decisive leadership, she has advanced key safety initiatives, including improved response protocols, enhanced emergency preparedness, and implementation of systemwide projects such as Rave Alert. Her steady guidance during high-pressure incidents, including collaboration with local law enforcement on complex cases, reflects Myrie’s operational excellence and deep commitment to campus and community well-being.
Buildings and Grounds Management
Earl Matsushita
Earl Matsushita is the Work Coordination Center Manager with Facilities and Campus Operations. He oversees the prioritization and coordination of requests between campus users and facilities personnel while supporting campuswide initiatives. With more than 17 years of service, he is widely regarded as a steady and trusted leader and a cornerstone of the unit. Colleagues describe Matsushita as a dependable and solutions-oriented leader who brings deep institutional knowledge to complex campuswide challenges. He effectively balances daily operational demands with long-term projects, consistently seeing the bigger picture while ensuring critical needs are met. His understanding of campus infrastructure, workflows, and user needs allows him to bridge facilities operations and campus stakeholders with clarity and diplomacy. Through strong communication and collaboration, he aligns expectations with operational realities, helping advance projects and improve coordination across campus. Matsushita’s expertise, leadership, and commitment to service continue to strengthen operations and support the university community.
Civil Service
Evelyn Mangadlao
Evelyn Mangadlao is a janitor with Facilities and Campus Operations, assigned to the Department of Theatre and Dance and Kennedy Theatre. In just two years of service, she has made a meaningful impact on the spaces that support performances, classes and daily campus life. Colleagues describe Mangadlao as a dedicated and reliable team member who brings professionalism, humility and quiet strength to her work. She approaches her responsibilities with care, pride and close attention to detail, helping ensure a safe, clean and welcoming environment for faculty, staff and students. Mangadlao recently shared her personal journey and the often-unseen role custodial workers play in sustaining spaces where teaching and performance occur. These conversations inspired the short dance film Beyond the Aloha, highlighting the experiences of Filipino custodial workers and their role in supporting the university’s cultural mission. Mangadlao’s story reflects the essential contributions of those who steward campus spaces and sustain the life of the university community.
Faculty Specialist
Dina Shek
Dina Shek is the legal director of the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children at the William S. Richardson School of Law. She is a nationally recognized scholar and researcher focused on improving legal practice, sustaining networks of change, and strengthening systems that support communities through legal services, professional training, and community-driven policy advocacy. Shek builds infrastructure for community engagement, leadership development, and professional pathways that connect students and communities in advancing justice, health equity and opportunity for Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable families. Her work with the law school and the Micronesian community reflects these efforts. Described as a “tireless champion for Hawaiʻi’s families across the state,” she bridges law, public health and community organizing to expand access to legal and social supports that promote stability and well-being. Over 18 years, Shek has engaged law students, medical residents and UH colleagues in interdisciplinary collaboration addressing social determinants of health. Her efforts have helped prevent evictions, protect children with disabilities, and support survivors of domestic violence and trafficking while strengthening family self-advocacy.
Jean Takamura Staff Excellence Award
The Jean Takamura Staff Excellence Award was established in 2024 to honor dedicated staff who demonstrate exceptional service and support their advancement. Created in honor of Jean Takamura, a longtime member of our business support team, the award reflects her enduring dedication to uplifting and empowering the university community.
Karen Harper
Karen Harper, an administrative officer at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, brings more than 25 years of experience in academic research environments. Her work is central to fiscal grant management, where she provides essential support for a diverse range of marine and coastal research projects, including studies on marine mammals, fisheries and coral reef ecosystems. Harper ensures the financial integrity and seamless execution of complex research grants. She is a key contributor to the HIMB team’s reputation for collaborative spirit and strong fiscal stewardship that advances interdisciplinary research. Over the past four years, her dedicated involvement with the team has deepened her appreciation for the ocean and the important work to understand and protect it.
Paula MacCutcheon
Paula MacCutcheon serves as the operations coordinator for the Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office. As the department’s logistical engine, she specializes in strategic planning, procurement and event execution—a role that earned her the title, “Paperwork Princess.” Holding a BA in economics and an MBA from UH Mānoa, her professional dedication is driven by the core belief that small, collective actions drive large-scale impact. Guided by the concept of kuleana (responsibility), MacCutcheon operates through the holistic lens of mālama ʻāina (caring for the land). She views procurement as a powerful tool to support the kaiāulu (community) and sustain the small businesses that serve as the backbone of Hawaiʻi’s economy.
Roy Suda
Roy Suda is the IT manager for the Division of Enrollment Management at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he has supported enrollment systems and operations for more than 30 years. He brings extensive expertise in student information systems, data management and cross-campus operations that support student success. Suda leads the IT team supporting the Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar, ensuring reliable and efficient services for students and staff. His work plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of systems that serve the university community. He is known as a steady, thoughtful colleague who upholds high standards of service and collaboration. A trusted partner across campus, Suda contributes to a culture of reliability, responsiveness and continuous improvement in enrollment operations.
Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
Established by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Graduate Division in 2005, the Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award allows graduate students to nominate faculty for excellent mentoring, one of the foundations of outstanding graduate education.
Merle Kataoka-Yahiro
Merle R. Kataoka-Yahiro is a professor at the UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, where she has served for 25 years. Her research focuses on epidemiological and clinical research of chronic diseases and the health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases in underserved communities. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and presentations in research and education, and has held leadership roles on National Institutes of Health extramural grants, including principal investigator, section leader, associate director and co-director. She serves as a Graduate Chair, directs the Master of Science in Nursing Education and Leadership program, and works closely with the program directors of the Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD in Nursing programs in efforts to enhance academic quality and provide scholarly excellence. Kataoka-Yahiro has mentored more than 100 graduate nursing students and early-career faculty in the health professions in her tenure at UH Mānoa.
Pakela Award for Outstanding Academic Advisor
The Council of Academic Advisors recognizes an individual who, over the past two years, has demonstrated excellence and/or innovation in advising, and/or has made a significant contribution to the advising community.
Pakela Award (Outstanding Academic Advisor)
Lauren Prepose-Forsen
Lauren Prepose-Forsen is director of the UH Mānoa Transfer Coordination Center and a transfer advisor for Windward and Honolulu Community Colleges. She leads a team providing advising across the University of Hawaiʻi Community College system and oversees the Kaʻieʻie Transfer Program, recognized for increasing retention and timely graduation. As a transfer specialist, Prepose-Forsen has advised more than 2,000 students and serves as a liaison between the community colleges and UH Mānoa. Her work earned the 2021 National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region 9 Community College Advising Award. She has presented at 18 conferences, published with NACADA and the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, and serves on the NACADA Transfer Students Advising Community Steering Committee and the UH Mānoa Division of Student Success Faculty Senate Executive Committee. A proud member of the UH Mānoa community, Prepose-Forsen remains committed to student success and the advancement of academic advising.
OVPRS Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research & Creative Work
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship (OVPRS) Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research and Creative Work, established in 2020 by UH Mānoa’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, recognizes two mentors each year—one from a STEM field and one from a non-STEM field. The award honors those who have demonstrated sustained excellence in mentoring undergraduates and made a positive impact on their mentees’ academic or professional achievements through research or creative work.
Tianlu Wang
Tianlu Wang is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering. His research focuses on miniature, bio-inspired soft robotic systems with applications in medicine, environmental monitoring and agriculture. Prior to joining UH, he completed graduate studies and postdoctoral research in Switzerland and Germany, experiences that shaped his international and multidisciplinary approach to engineering research and education. In the classroom and lab, Wang emphasizes rigorous training paired with close mentorship. He views students as emerging colleagues, sets high expectations grounded in mutual respect, and provides structured guidance that supports independence and confidence. His lab culture prioritizes clear research milestones, regular check-ins and open exchange of ideas across experience levels. Students highlight his mentorship as both challenging and supportive. One student noted, “I went from basic robot prototyping to designing reliable soft actuators and contributing to a research conference paper. Dr. Wang helped me think like a researcher while building technical depth and independence.”
John Souza, Jr.
John Souza, Jr. is an assistant professor of human development and family science in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. A licensed marriage and family therapist and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Approved supervisor, his work focuses on experiential therapeutics, practice-based evidence and strengthening Hawaiʻi’s mental health workforce. Souza mentors students in turning meaningful questions into applied research, often through community partnerships and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program-supported projects. His recent collaborations have explored AI and reading comprehension, visual storytelling of healing spaces on Oʻahu, and trauma-informed approaches to wellness through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and psychoeducation. He encourages students to think systemically, stay grounded in culture and place, and connect scholarship to community needs in Hawaiʻi. Students describe Souza’s mentorship as encouraging and transformative. A student shared, “As a mentor, he helps you realize you are more capable than you think and turn what you genuinely care about into meaningful work.”
Student Excellence in Research Award
The Student Excellence in Research Award is given by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Scholarship in recognition of outstanding scholarly research endeavors by students while they pursue a degree at the bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral level.
Dhvanil Desai
Dhvanil Desai is a doctoral candidate in astronomy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Institute for Astronomy. His research combines statistical rigor with physical insight to study some of the universe’s most powerful explosions. Desai has led benchmark rate studies with the All Sky Automated Survey for Super Novae, measuring the frequency of thermonuclear and core-collapse supernovae and extending that framework to kilonovae. His recent Type Ia supernova study provides the most precise local rate to date, while his latest work constrains the rate of kilonovae from merging neutron stars. He also solved a long-standing problem in supernova and kilonova theory, showing how radioactive-decay particles generate magnetic turbulence and transfer energy to ejecta. With six first-author publications, Desai’s work is noted for its precision, discipline and scientific rigor, as well as an unusually broad record spanning observational astronomy and interdisciplinary theory.
Sophia Rahnke
Sophia Rahnke is a PhD candidate in marine biology at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Her research uses mathematical models to examine how predator-prey interactions, harvest practices and climate change shape coral reef ecosystems in Hawaiʻi’s nearshore environments. A central contribution of her work is integrating Indigenous stewardship practices into quantitative ecological frameworks, bridging theory and applied fisheries management. Rahnke was selected as a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies, where she worked on emerging marine policy issues. Her research has been presented and recognized at national and international conferences. She leads workshops introducing undergraduates to ecological modeling and Python programming. With seven peer-reviewed publications, Rahnke is recognized for her innovation, timeliness and strong sense of place, along with a high level of productivity that positions her as an emerging leader in marine science and policy.
Jannatun Noor Sameera
Jannatun Noor Sameera is a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on remote physiological sensing to enable continuous, privacy-preserving health monitoring, particularly for older adults. Sameera has produced 22 publications, including eight peer-reviewed journal articles and 14 conference papers, and has filed a utility patent. She has received the College of Engineering Outstanding PhD Student Award and the Giving Tree Scholarship for Excellence in Research. As a Patents2Products Fellow with the UH Office of Innovation and Commercialization, she is advancing WellNETS, an autonomous Doppler radar-based elderly wellness monitoring system, and has demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership through NSF I-Corps Regionals and a second-place finish in the 2025 UH Venture Competition. Sameera serves as vice chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Women in Engineering Hawaii, contributing to the group’s recognition as IEEE Region 6 Outstanding Affinity Group Chapter of the Year. Her work is recognized for advancing both fundamental research and healthcare innovation.
Student Employee of the Year Award
The Student Employee of the Year Program was created in 1986 by the Mānoa Career Center to recognize and highlight the achievements and contributions of student employees on the UH Mānoa campus.
Kate Rochelle Sapigao
Kate Sapigao is a student assistant with GEAR UP Mānoa in the College of Education. A senior majoring in psychology, she has been with the program since August 2022 after participating as a student at Waipahu High School. Sapigao mentors students across multiple middle schools, supports administrative operations and has represented GEAR UP at three national conferences. Her initiative, leadership and commitment to student success are reflected in her contributions to the program. Her supervisor stated, “Kate’s journey with GEAR UP has come full circle in the most inspiring way. As she now completes her undergraduate degree and prepares to pursue graduate studies with the goal of becoming an education psychologist, she has simultaneously stepped into a leadership role within our office.”