Dr. Creighton M. Litton, Chair
Creighton has been at the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa since 2007, and currently splits his time as the Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, and a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. He has >20 years of experience in mentoring students on research projects, which he uses as a basis for his current administrative role in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. It was a faculty-mentored research experience as an undergraduate student that set him on his professional journey and led him to his current position, and he now seeks to facilitate these opportunities for students at UH Mānoa. Creighton is an avid outrigger canoe paddler, and also enjoys spending his free time gardening and working in his yard. In his downtime, he likes to chill out at home with his wife and two dogs.
Seung Yang, Assistant Director
Seung joined the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program in 2018. He earned his B.A. in History at the College of William & Mary and his M.A. in Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa. His interest in working with undergraduate students stems from his internship interviewing exchange/international students about their experience studying abroad at William & Mary, which led him to value outside-the-classroom learning experiences in higher education. He is happy to advise students on the UROP application process, and his favorite part of the job is talking to students and learning about students’ projects.
Noah Estoesta, Program Coordinator
Noah joined the UROP team in 2023. His professional experience encompasses work in academic publishing, grant writing, and classroom instruction, and he is excited to now be supporting the work of UH Mānoa’s undergraduates as UROP’s Program Coordinator. A strong believer in the public value of the university system, Noah has also received fellowships from the Fulbright (Brazil, 2016) and Luce Scholars (Thailand, 2021–2022) Programs, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from UH Mānoa, where he participated in various extracurricular activities. His passions outside of work include adventuring, listening to R&B music, and chugging iced coffee. He is pictured above with one of his favorite human friends.
Gerlene Ragsac, Program Assistant
Gerlene Ragsac joined the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program team as the Graduate Assistant in June 2023. As a first-generation college student, she is proud to have earned her B.A. in Comparative History of Ideas with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society from the University of Washington-Seattle. After graduating, she returned to work at home on O`ahu before ultimately deciding to pursue an MEd in Educational Administration with an emphasis in higher education at UH Mānoa. Gerlene enjoys the unique, dynamic atmosphere of a university campus and is looking forward to helping students thrive in pursuing their passions. In her free time, she likes to relax by playing video games, hanging out with friends, and trying new food places.