Story by Arielle Argel, Jena Funakoshi, and Yuka Polovina.
Dr. Jane Chung-Do is a 2026 recipient of the Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching. This prestigious honor recognizes faculty who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, and personal values that benefit students.
Nominated by her colleagues and students, Dr. Chung-Do was formally recognized at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Awards Ceremony held on May 5, 2026, at Kennedy Theatre.
“Dr. Chung-Do deserves this honor for the countless students whose lives she has touched. She is an exceptional teacher, a generous mentor, and an overall role model,” shared Jena Funakoshi, one of her former MPH students and now a PhD student. “Her guidance has shaped, and continues to shape my path, and I know I am just one of many students who feel this way.”
Dr. Chung-Do is a professor at the Department of Public Health Sciences, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, and serves as the department chair. This award speaks to her commitment to student mentorship, community-engaged scholarship, and culturally grounded public health research that addresses the needs of Hawai‘i’s diverse communities. Specifically, Chung-Do’s teaching focuses on community-based participatory research and decolonizing approaches that promote social justice, critical consciousness and “brave spaces” for examining health disparities and structural inequities.
“Receiving this award is a profound honor. Teaching at the University of Hawaiʻi is a unique privilege, and I feel a deep sense of kuleana to foster an environment where every student feels genuinely seen, challenged, and supported. This recognition isn’t just mine—it is a testament to the incredible, collaborative community we have in Hawaiʻi,” said Chung-Do.
Through experiential learning opportunities across Hawai‘i, Dr. Chung-Do connects students with community partners to address real-world public health challenges through collaboration, relationship building and culturally grounded engagement rooted in pilina, humility and ethics. Her work emphasizes building lasting partnerships that bridge community knowledge and public health innovation.
The university has recognized Dr. Chung-Do in the past with the Board of Regent’s Medal for Excellence in Teaching, which underscores her ongoing thoughtful pedagogy and quality of education she brings to the department and institution over the years.
“Looking ahead, my hope is to continue elevating the vital work we do within the UH Department of Public Health Sciences. I am constantly inspired by our incredible faculty and students, and together, we are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of public health practitioners to shape a healthier, more resilient future for Hawaiʻi,” said Chung-Do.
View the full list of awardees: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/04/29/2026-uh-manoa-awards/
