Hi! I’m Garrett Clanin, Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS), and I’m dedicated to supporting student-athletes during their academic journey and to helping student-athletes explore, develop, and achieve their goals.

I earned my BA in Sociology at the University of California San Diego and my MEd in Educational Administration at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I previously worked as an Academic Mentor for student-athletes at San Diego State University from 2006-08, joined SAAS at UH Mānoa as a Graduate Assistant in 2008, and became a UH Mānoa SAAS Academic Advisor in 2011.

Originally from Dana Point, CA, I currently reside in Kane‘ohe with my wife, Aimee, and our son, Kai, and daughter, Meisa. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, surfing, and supporting my kids in their pursuits. 

Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services
Academic Advisor
808.956.4526
garrettc@hawaii.edu

Garrett advises:
Baseball, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis
Programs/Specialties
Eligibility Coordinator

Aloha! As an Academic Advisor in Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS), I provide guidance to students on their academic journey at UH Mānoa that best aligns with their abilities, aspirations, interests and values. I am committed to providing a nurturing environment that empowers each student to reach their potential. I also possess expertise in NCAA academic eligibility regulations so that I can responsibly advise students about their academic options available at UH Mānoa. 

I started my own journey at UH Mānoa as a student-athlete, playing for the women’s volleyball team 1991 – 1994. After graduating from UH Mānoa in 1996 with a Bachelors in Business Administration in International Business, I joined Nā Wāhine volleyball staff as an assistant coach in 1997 and continued in this role for the next 14 years. During my time as an assistant, I was fortunate to be a part of a program that was highly successful including the participation in four national semifinal matches, 12 NCAA regionals, and 14 NCAA tournaments. I was also able to earn my Masters in Educational Adminstration in 2009.  In 2011, I started my work as an Academic Advisor in SAAS, a position that I enjoy immensely because it allows me to work with an amazing team that genuinely enjoys the work of serving our student-athletes.   

In my leisure time I enjoy reading, going to the beach, watching movies and most of all supporting my son in his endeavors alongside my husband Eric (a former men’s basketball player for UH Mānoa). GO BOWS!!

Academic Advisor
808.956.2441
kbanders@hawaii.edu

Kari advises:
Football (OL,LB,S), Women’s Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Water Polo

Hello! As an academic advisor, I am committed to empowering students to reach their full potential both inside and outside the classroom. By helping them identify areas for growth and by implementing strategies that foster personal and academic development, I aim to guide them toward success. I strive to create a sense of belonging by meeting students where they are developmentally, understanding their unique interests, and actively listening to their athletic, educational, and professional aspirations. My ultimate goal is to support students in becoming self-sufficient, lifelong learners equipped to navigate their futures with confidence.

Prior to my current role at UH Mānoa, I worked at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) as the Scholar Retention Program Coordinator from 2021-22 and as a Student-Athlete Academic Mentor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2019-21.

I earned a BA in Geography from UCLA (2017), a MSc in Anthropology from Durham University (2019), and a MA in Education from UCSB (2022).

I live in the Mānoa Valley with my husband, James and our cat Minnie. I like to spend my free time in the ocean playing water polo, surfing, and body surfing.

Academic Advisor
808.956.9997
kelsey42@hawaii.edu

Kelsey advises:
Football (CB, DE, DT, Specialists), Women’s Basketball, Men’s Volleyball
Programs/Specialties
Peer Tutor Program

Aloha! My name is Nicole Sagapolutele and my goal is to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. I strive to support the success of student-athletes in their academic, athletic, and personal life while advocating for the importance of student agency, mental health, and overall well-being. 

I earned my BA in English, BS in Psychology, and MEd in Educational Leadership from Chaminade University of Honolulu. I previously worked at Chaminade as an Academic Advisor. 

In my freetime, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, going to the beach, and reading.

Academic Advisor
808.956.6471
nicole78@hawaii.edu

Nicole advises:
Women’s Track/Field, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming/Diving, Soccer, Coed Sailing, Women’s Sailing

Academic Advisor and Learning Specialist
808.956.6697
ehuddle@hawaii.edu

Erika advises:
Football (RB), Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf

Jaimee-Linn Shaw
Graduate Assistant
jlmshaw@hawaii.edu

Tanzilla Purnota
Graduate Assistant
tpurnota@hawaii.edu

Cameron Ryan
Graduate Assistant
ckryan@hawaii.edu

Benjamin Addison
Graduate Assistant
ba45@hawaii.edu

Tiffany Beam
Graduate Assistant
tliu88@hawaii.edu

Jill Seapker
Graduate Assistant
jseapker@hawaii.edu