Outstanding Faculty Honored with Regents’ Medals for Excellence and Frances Davis Awards

The University of Hawai‘i announces that fifteen faculty members from across the state have been selected as recipients of the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, and two were selected as recipients of the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research.

In addition, six UH teachers have been recognized with the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. A Kapi‘olani Community College professor is this year’s recipient of the Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Vocational Education.

“The University of Hawaiʻi has some of the finest educators and scholars in the world,” said President David Lassner.  “Our dedicated faculty provides UH students with a world-class education that prepares them for success locally and in the global economy.  This is a great opportunity to recognize and honor some of our very best faculty for their outstanding work.”

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes faculty who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, and personal values beneficial to students, was awarded to:

• Alan D. Boyes, Assistant Professor, language arts and humanities, Kaua‘i CC
• Stephanie M. Buelow, Assistant Professor, College of Education, UH Mānoa
• Dee-Ann L. Carpenter, Assistant Professor, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
• Carolyn M. Constantin, Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, UH Mānoa
• Marta González-Lloret, Professor, College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature-Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas, UH Mānoa
• Emily Ann Kukulies, Associate Professor and Director of Student Life and Development, Honolulu CC
• Siu Roger Kwok, Associate Professor, chemistry and science, Leeward CC
• Hongwei Li, Instructor, microbiology and botany, Windward CC
• Jaclyn Lindo, Instructor, social sciences, Kapi‘olani CC
• Steven Lundblad, Professor, geology, UH Hilo
• Jon Magnussen, Associate Professor, music, UH West Oʻahu
• Kristin J.B. Pauker, Associate Professor, College of Social Sciences – psychology, UH Mānoa
• Michelle Phillips, Instructor, biological sciences, Hawai‘i CC
• Ty P. Tengan, Associate Professor, College of Social Sciences – ethnic studies and anthropology, UH Mānoa
• Paul Thornton, Instructor, psychology, UH Maui College ​

For the bios of each recipient: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/05/13/bor-teaching-medals/

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research, which recognizes a faculty member’s scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of all in the community, nation and the world, was awarded to:

• Samir K. Khanal, Associate Professor, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH Mānoa
• Bo Qiu, Professor, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, UH Mānoa

For the bios of each recipient: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/05/13/bor-research-medals/

The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching recognizes dedication and demonstrated excellence as teachers of undergraduate students. It was established as a memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward Community College and UH Mānoa for 19 years. This year’s awardees are:

• Beau Ewan, Instructor, languages, linguistics and literature, Kapi‘olani CC
• Patricia Hensley. Assistant Professor, nursing, UH Hilo
• Taurie Kinoshita, Lecturer, theatre, Windward CC
• Emi Murayama. Instructor, College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature-East Asian languages & literatures, UH Mānoa
• Laura Nagle, Associate Professor, English, UH Maui College
• Rain Wright, Graduate Assistant, English, UH Mānoa

For the bios of each recipient: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/05/13/francis-davis-award-2018/

The Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Vocational Education rewards outstanding achievement and significant contribution to vocational and technical education by a community college faculty member or student. The award was established by family members to honor the namesakes’ role in development of the food industry in Hawai‘i. This year’s winner is:

• Sharon Sussman, Professor, art, Kapi‘olani CC

For more on Sussman: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/05/13/sharon-sussman-honored-for-vocational-teaching-excellence/