University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu faculty and staff tuned in to the Spring 2021 Professional Development Day and Convocation — held Jan. 8 via Zoom — a semesterly welcome event and opportunity for the campus to come together to review 2020 and look at what’s ahead in 2021.
It was the second consecutive virtual Professional Development Day and Convocation (following the Fall 2020 event) with nearly 200 participants watching the program from their homes or offices. The program was produced by the administration team and select support staff, who broadcast from campus in C-225 while adhering to safety protocols.
Chancellor Maenette Benham began the presentation with trend data illustrating some of UH West Oʻahu’s 2020 challenges, opportunities, and achievements.
“We learned a lot last year, most importantly we learned about our own individual as well as organizational capacity to learn; to be resilient, creative, innovative; to be kind, attentive, and respectful; to participate, to help, to be a partner in our success,” said Benham, who cited an ʻolelo noʻeau. … “It has been all hands on deck.”
Benham then provided a high-level overview of UH West Oʻahu’s plans for 2021, which was accompanied by presentations from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jan Javinar, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Moniz, and Vice Chancellor for Administration Kevin Ishida.
Each of the vice chancellors discussed tactics that will engage the entire campus community to ensure that UH West Oʻahu is addressing both its Strategic Action Imperatives as well as its new fiscal realities.
Following the campus presentation, Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu President Caton Liang provided an overview of student endeavors, and UH West Oʻahu Faculty Senate Chair Professor Ed Keaunui presented on faculty achievements and efforts.
Among highlights of the event was a virtual tour of the new Creative Media building presented by Creative Media faculty, staff, and students. Guest speaker Dr. Mays Imad, professor at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., closed the program sharing insights from a neuroscience perspective on journeying towards healing and recovery.
The Spring 2021 Professional Development Day and Convocation PowerPoint presentation and a recording of the entire program will be available at a later date.