About 200 faculty and staff at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu attended the Fall 2022 Convocation and Professional Development Day — held Aug. 16 at the Campus Center multi-purpose room — a semesterly welcome event that highlighted achievements from 2021 and aspirations for 2022 and beyond.

The last such in-person Convocation and PD Day was held on Jan. 7, 2020, ahead of the spring 2020 semester and before the pandemic resulted in virtual-only events.

Attendees, who were required to wear masks indoors, greeted one another and gathered before a moving introduction that included the singing of “Mele Honouliuli” and offering of Hō‘oia ‘Āina (Land Acknowledgement), and an emotional welcome by Chancellor Maenette Benham and Aunty Lynette Paglinawan, beloved kupuna in residence.

The Convocation program recognized UH West O‘ahu’s new employees, service award winners, teaching and staff award winners, and those who received tenure and promotion. Benham continued with examples of the campus’ commitment to support veterans, uplift the scholarship of students, and be a community learning hub.

Benham was then joined by vice chancellors and staff to provide a high-level overview of the previous year and upcoming plans through the lens of the UH West O‘ahu Strategic Action Plan and its three impact strategies:

• Impact Strategy 1: Increasing student success and engagement, presented by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jan Javinar
• Impact Strategy 2: Advancing dynamic and innovative learning experiences, presented by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Moniz and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alan Rosenfeld
• Impact Strategy 3: Strengthening our assets and infrastructure, presented by Fiscal Manager Sheri Ching

The program concluded with UH West O‘ahu Faculty Senate Chair Ka‘iulani Akamine sharing faculty accomplishments and endeavors, and Director of Student Life Rouel Velasco on behalf of Associated Students of UH West O‘ahu President Malie Moe, providing an overview of student achievements and efforts.

Following convocation, faculty and staff attended three professional development sessions:

• “Promoting Mental Well-Being: Recognizing, Responding & Referring Individuals Towards Mental Wellness & Services,” presented by Javinar and Dr. Steven Taketa, clinical psychologist
• “Honoring Okinawa,” presented by retired UH Mānoa Center for Okinawan Studies Director Dr. Joyce Chinen, who was also a Sociology professor at UH West O‘ahu, and Leila Shimokawa, Communications Director
• “Engaged Scholarship at UHWO: Join the Movement!” presented by
  Dr. Lea Kinikini, Director of the Institute for Research and Engaged Scholarship

To see more photos from the event, visit the Fall 2022 Convocation and Professional Development Day album on Flickr.

Click here to see the Convocation PowerPoint presentation.

A recording of the Convocation program will be made available at a later date.