NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, named one of its annual awards after University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu Interim Chancellor Doris Ching.
The Doris Michiko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional award “honors a student affairs professional at the mid-level, senior-level, or associate vice president-level whose outstanding commitment to the profession includes development of programs that address the needs of students, creation of a campus environment that promotes student learning and development, and support of and active engagement in NASPA.”
“Doris Ching was one of few individuals to hold both the role of NASPA board chair and the NASPA Foundation board chair. When looking to rename the Mid-Level award, one that acknowledges the future leaders of our profession, no better person embodies this than Dr. Ching, who focused much of her tenure in the field mentoring and creating opportunities for all professionals,” NASPA President Kevin Kruger said. “Dr. Ching was also the first woman of color to serve as board chair of NASPA, and has had a lifetime commitment to equity and inclusion within higher education. The NASPA board felt it was only fitting to name the mid-level professional award in her honor.”
Ching, who took over as interim chancellor at UH West Oʻahu on Jan. 1, is a former vice president for student affairs at the University of Hawaiʻi and the first woman of color and first Asian American Pacific Islander to be elected chair of the NASPA board of directors (1999-2000) and chair of the NASPA foundation board (2002-2004).
Previously known as the Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award, the Doris Michiko Ching award was recently renamed for Ching, and is handed out annually at NASPA’s annual conference.
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