Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake is a critical issue in public health, especially for communities, such as Native ߣsirÊÓƵian and Filipino populations, disproportionately affected by HPV-related outcomes. Collaboration between physicians and pharmacists offers a valuable strategy to increase vaccination opportunities and completion rates.

Meliza Roman, an alumna of the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹’s , published a paper in the April issue of that explored the awareness and perceptions of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi physicians regarding pharmacists’ roles in administering adolescent vaccines following a 2017 legislative amendment.

Roman’s study involved surveying physicians across ߣsirÊÓƵʻi. Results indicated that while physicians recognized the beneficial role of pharmacists, they also expressed concerns about the accuracy of vaccine administration and dose tracking. These findings underscore the need for enhanced physician-pharmacist collaboration and additional education and training for pharmacists.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on this study under the mentorship of Dr. May Rose Dela Cruz,” Roman said. “My public health background provided a solid foundation for this study, teaching me valuable writing and presentation skills and highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork in advancing healthcare outcomes.”

Roman conducted this research as part of her public health underߣsirÊÓƵuate applied learning experience, which allows ߣsirÊÓƵ to apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects. The HPV vaccine, proven safe and effective, now protects against nine common virus strains that can cause cervical and other cancers. Roman’s study broadens the understanding of physicians’ pre-pandemic perspectives on referring adolescent patients to pharmacies for HPV vaccines. Implementing these practices can help physicians make more informed decisions, providing patients with additional options to receive and complete the vaccine series.

“This study was fortunate to have a student like Meliza interested in research and seeing it through from the beginning with an IRB (Institutional Review Board) application to data collection and finally to an award-winning publication,” said Dela Cruz, an assistant researcher at the Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS). “I am very proud of her accomplishments and commend her for her continued work in public health research.”

Nearly half of the Maui residents affected by the fires experienced a decline in health compared to a year ago, and they continue to face difficulties accessing medical care and medications. These are just two of the findings from the most comprehensive cohort study dedicated to understanding and mitigating the impacts of the Maui wildfires.

Researchers from the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (MauiWES) released their first comprehensive report based on surveys and tests collected directly from Maui residents. The results are based on a sample collected mostly in February 2024, and consisted of 679 participants, two-thirds of whom resided in Lahaina at the time of the fires. The other participants either worked in Lahaina, or resided or worked in fire-affected areas in Kula.

Key findings:

• Access to medical care, medications and health insurance disparities: More than four in ten people reported difficulties accessing medical care and medications, compared to about one in ten before the fires. Significant disparities in health insurance coverage were also found, with more than 13% of participants lacking insurance. Notably, nearly 38% of Hispanic respondents reported having no insurance coverage.
• Health outcomes: Nearly half of the participants (46%) reported a decline in health compared to one year ago.
• Physical health: Exposure to smoke, ash, and ߣsirÊÓƵ is strongly associated with worse physical health outcomes and reported symptoms. Based on tests conducted in February 2024, approximately 74% of participants face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease due to elevated or prehypertension levels. Kidney function may be compromised in 8–20% of participants, and up to 60% may suffer from poor respiratory health.
• Mental health: The survey found a notable increase in depression compared to before the fires, with more than half showing symptoms, significantly higher than state and local averages. About 30% of participants reported symptoms of moderate or severe anxiety. Elevated levels of low self- esteem (35%) and suicidal thoughts (4.4%) highlight severe mental health challenges for survivors.
• Community resiliency: MauiWES participants trust and depend on community organizations more than FEMA or local government in the aftermath of the wildfires, underscoring the vital role of grassroots groups in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi’s disaster response.
• Residential impact: Only 34% of participants report living in pre-wildfire (their original) homes, while 56% are in temporary housing, and 10% have settled into new permanent residences.
• Employment and income: The wildfires caused almost half of the participants to lose their jobs; however, 80% have since secured employment, leaving 20% still unemployed at the time of the survey. Additionally, 74% have experienced a reduction in household income.
• Food security: 47% of households report experiencing low food security, which is higher than previous rates observed locally and statewide.

Researchers’ recommendations:

• Medical care and accessibility: Focus on expanding access to healthcare and insurance coverage for individuals affected by the wildfires, particularly in light of urgent health needs in pulmonary, cardiovascular, and behavioral health.
• Housing stability: Ensure stable, long-term housing solutions for displaced individuals through policies supporting housing supply, financial aid, and access to affordable options.
• Environmental safety: Reduce post-wildfire environmental hazards by cleaning up affected areas, monitoring air and water quality during clean-up, and educating residents about protective measures.
• Community support: Strengthen community networks and engage local organizations to provide culturally sensitive support and enhance resilience.
• Additional support: Develop strategies for targeted support for the most vulnerable individuals, including low-income households, food insecure households, immigrants, people with pre-existing physical and mental health conditions, and people with disabilities, in terms of healthcare access and socioeconomic needs.

“The findings of this study clearly highlight the urgent need for continued support from stakeholders and funders, and better utilize the power of community to reach minority populations,” Ruben Juarez and Alika Maunakea said. “Maui is still in the process of healing, and your support is crucial. While other issues like housing are at the forefront, it is equally important to prioritize health to prevent further disparities, especially among our underserved and minority communities. By addressing these health issues alongside other critical needs, we can work towards a more equitable and resilient recovery.”

Publicly available interactive dashboard

The research team has launched the , which contains all available data. All health and social impact metrics can be broken down by age, race and income groups.

Ongoing research

Over at least the next 10 years, the study aims to document the acute and chronic health impacts and social conditions caused by the Maui wildfires.

The study is led by ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Professors Ruben Juarez, -HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics in the ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ , and Alika Maunakea of the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology at the ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM).

The initiative is a partnership with community-based organizations including the Maui Medic Healers Hui, Roots Reborn, Tagnawa for Maui, and supported by seed funding from the ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund and Kaiser Permanente. and is waiting for the governor’s signature. This public impact research project is the result of an ongoing partnership between ߣsirÊÓƵERO and JABSOM.

The placed in the top 2.5% out of more than 20,000 universities in the world, according to the , released on May 13. The flagship campus of the 10-campus ߣsirÊÓƵ System placed No. 511 out of 20,966 universities ranked. ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ also ranked No. 138 among universities in the U.S.

“This ranking is the latest validation of ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s standing as a hub of academic excellence and groundbreaking research,” ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno said. “It’s a source of pride for our state to host one of the world’s premier universities right here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi.”

Four key objective pillars were analyzed for the rankings—education, employability, faculty and research. The center used seven objective and outcome-based indicators grouped into four areas to rank the world’s universities:

Education: Based on the academic success of a university’s alumni, measured relative to the university’s size (25%)

Employability: Based on the professional success of a university’s alumni, measured relative to the university’s size (25%)

Faculty: Measured by the number of faculty members who have received top academic distinctions (10%)

Research:

• Research output: measured by the total number of research articles (10%)
• High-quality publications: measured by the number of research articles appearing in top-tier journals (10%)
• Influence: measured by the number of research articles appearing in highly-influential journals (10%)
• Citations: measured by the number of highly-cited research articles (10%)

Surveys and university data submissions did not factor in the rankings. The center says that equal emphasis was put on student and faculty indicators, and that 62-million outcome-based data points were used. For more on the methodology, .

For more information on rankings, .

—By Marc Arakaki

An analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on food supply chains in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and Fiji has earned a faculty member in the (DURP) at the a national award.

Subhashni Raj, a DURP assistant professor, is one of 11 recipients of the ’s (FFAR’s) 2023 New Innovator Awards. Raj’s projects focus on understanding the role of Indigenous and ancestral food pathways in maintaining food security during a crisis.

“Establishing food security post-disaster is critically important, yet marginalized or vulnerable communities—especially island communities—are less likely to be prioritized in these scenarios,” said Raj. “My hope is that, through this comparative research we will undertake In Fiji and ߣsirÊÓƵʻi, we can demonstrate that creating space for traditional, cultural, ancestral, and Indigenous foodways in our communities is central to building resilience.”

Raj, who has a PhD in urban and regional planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo, was a Fulbright scholar and Kaufman doctoral fellow in food systems planning.

The New Innovator Award is bestowed on early-career scientists supporting research in one of FFAR’s research priority areas. Cumulatively, the recipients share a total of $4.8 million over three years.

Knowledge about the early forms of life in the universe that may have led to the development of life on Earth remains largely unknown. However, a group of scientists at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ are attempting to change that.

In a newly published paper, researchers in the have discovered how some crucial molecules can form in space, which could lead to significant developments about how life may have originated on Earth.

The molecules in question are called nitrogen carrying aromatic molecules, which are important in many areas of chemistry and biology. They serve as the building blocks for a wide range of compounds, including pharmaceuticals, dyes, plastics, and natural products. Aromatic molecules are also found in important biomolecules such as amino acids, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and vitamins.

Using molecular beams, the ߣsirÊÓƵ chemistry team, led by Professor Ralf I. Kaiser, recreated the environments of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (dense region of interstellar gas and dust located in the Taurus constellation, where new stars are actively forming) and of Titan’s atmosphere (resembles Earth’s early conditions due to its nitrogen-rich composition and presence of methane). Titan is Saturn’s largest moon.

In combination with electronic structure calculations by Professor Alexander M. Mebel (Florida International University), along with interstellar (Professor Xiaohu Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and atmospheric modeling (Professor Jean-Christophe Loison, University of Bordeaux), postdoctoral fellow Zhenghai Yang was able to pinpoint fundamental structural units of aromatic (not related to smell) molecules, which offers new paths to understanding how the building blocks of DNA and RNA might have formed in space, reshaping our ideas about how life’s ingredients originated throughout the galaxy.

“The study suggests that nitrogen carrying aromatic molecules—pyridine, pyridinyl, and (iso)quinoline—could have been synthesized in environments that scientists are really honing in on due to their similarities to Earth,” Kaiser said. “Understanding how these molecules form is vital for unraveling the mysteries of life’s origins. Findings like these could have future implications, including for practical applications not only in biotechnology and synthetic biology, but also in combustion sciences.”

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The Department of Chemistry is housed in ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s .

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of ߣsirÊÓƵ and the community.

Benjamin Shappee

Benjamin Shappee is an astronomer at the Institute for Astronomy. He specializes in transients and time-domain astronomy. Shappee is a founding member of one of the most successful time-domain projects, the All-Sky Automated Survey for Super-Novae (ASAS–SN), which uses telescopes around the globe to survey the entire sky daily.

The ASAS–SN survey paper (Shappee et al. 2014) is the 50th most-cited paper in astronomy in the past decade. Shappee is co-principal investigator of the largest near-infrared supernova survey to date, the ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Supernova Flows, using the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope on Maunakea.

He and his group have made important contributions to our understanding of the origins of supernovae (exploding stars), stellar flares with potential impact on the habitability of nearby planets, and outbursts from supermassive black holes. ASAS–SN found the most luminous supernova yet discovered (ASASSN-15lh). Shappee was also part of the team that discovered the first and only counterpart to gravitational wave source from the merger of two neutron stars. He has authored 275 publications and has 20,000 citations.

Malte Stuecker

Malte Stuecker is an assistant professor in oceanography at the International Pacific Research Center in the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Stuecker’s research is on climate variability and climate change in the past, present and future.

Much of his work is centered on the Pacific Ocean and phenomena such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Stuecker earned a PhD in meteorology from ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa in 2015. He returned to ߣsirÊÓƵ as faculty in 2020, and was previously an assistant project leader/research professor at the IBS Center for Climate Physics in South Korea.

Stuecker received the IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal in Physical Oceanography in 2023, the Kamide Lecture Award from the AOGS Atmospheric Sciences section in 2020, and the Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the EGU Climate: Past, Present & Future division in 2016. In 2018, he was a Future Leaders Program Fellow of the Science and Technology in Society forum in Kyoto (Japan), and in 2022 he received an NSF CAREER Award.

Donald Womack

Donald Reid Womack is a professor of music in the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa College of Arts, Languages & Letters. A faculty member at ߣsirÊÓƵ since 1994, Womack chairs the music department, and is faculty in Japanese and Korean Studies.

He is the composer of more than 100 original works, which have been performed and broadcast in 25 countries and recorded on more than a dozen releases in the U.S., Korea and Japan. Ensembles around the globe have performed his works, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Russia Ulan Ude Symphony, ߣsirÊÓƵi Symphony, National Orchestra of Korea, among many others.

Womack is the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, two Fulbright Fellowships, two Artist Fellowships from the State of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi, and won numerous other national and international competitions. Widely recognized as a leader in intercultural composition, he integrates East Asian and western instruments. He has lectured on his work in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, and taught as visiting faculty at Seoul National University.

ߣsirÊÓƵʻi’s economy will continue to grow, but at a slower pace than in past years (much of the pre-pandemic period and the pandemic-recovery period). According to the ’s (ߣsirÊÓƵERO) , Maui rebuilding and the incremental return of international travelers will support tourism, helping to offset a moderate pullback in the continental U.S. market. Construction will continue to be a source of strength, even as overall job and income growth decelerate. Reducing inflation in the islands will take a bit longer than expected, and growth prospects for ߣsirÊÓƵʻi’s counties differ.

“Maui is set for an extended recovery period this decade, while population slowing will reduce future growth to varying degrees across the counties,” said the forecast.

Key takeaways from the May 10 report:

• The U.S. has continued to outperform its peers, supported by immigration and strong consumer spending. Some moderation of U.S. growth will occur as the labor force softens and high short-term financing costs weigh on households. But considering the economy’s impressive resilience, the extent of slowing will be less than previously anticipated.
• Other major visitor markets have struggled. The four counties have experienced somewhat differing visitor industry performance. All were affected by a first-half 2023 tapering of U.S. arrivals, which may have reflected waning post pandemic rebound travel. Maui has had a somewhat stronger than expected initial industry rebound, but faces a long road ahead. Other counties benefited from visitors substituting alternative ߣsirÊÓƵʻi destinations.
• Despite challenges, inflation-adjusted statewide visitor spending rose last year, propelled by the strongest daily per person visitor spending in more than three decades. Room rates held steady after a period of substantial gains, while there was substitution away from the luxury hotel segment. Inflation-adjusted visitor spending will decline a bit this year, before stabilizing in 2025.
• The state government budget is taking a smaller hit from Maui wildfire cost than expected, but pending hazard pay for employees who worked during COVID-19 will be an added state and county outlay. Already, recent years’ population decline has reduced revenue. The state legislature has passed the most ambitious tax cut and reform package in many years.
• Inflation has picked up in the islands, and it now exceeds the national average. This is primarily because of a delayed pass-through of higher rents. Inflation will resume its downward path over the next two years.
• Job growth continues at a modest pace in all counties other than Maui. Progress to house residents displaced by the Maui wildfires has been slow. A new law grants Maui and the other counties more authority to regulate or eliminate short term rentals.
• Across all counties, soaring mortgage rates caused a dramatic drop in existing home sales, but overall construction activity remains buoyant. Maui rebuilding and ongoing private and government projects, especially on Oʻahu, will push construction employment to record highs.
• A significant new concern is the unfolding insurance crisis. The cost of condo insurance has soared nationwide because of more frequent catastrophic events. Most lenders will not issue new mortgages on under-insured properties. The state legislature has considered a public insurance pool to address these concerns, but this was not adopted during the recent term.
• Wage increases and declining inflation have raised real personal income, but it will slow below 1% this year. Real gross domestic product, our broadest measure of economic activity, will slow sharply from 3.6% growth in 2023 to 1.5% this year, but it will pick up in 2025 as Maui construction kicks into higher gear and external economies improve. As labor force and employment growth slow, both income and GDP will trend lower than in the past.

ߣsirÊÓƵERO is housed in ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s .

For the entire report, .

A researcher at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) received a Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biology (ASPB) Award which is granted to no more than 0.2% of the current membership each year. Robert Paull, of the , will be formally recognized in June during the ASPB’s Annual Plant Biology Conference. In 2014, he was previously made a Fellow of both the American Society for Horticulture Sciences and the International Society for Horticulture Science.

Paull’s research has led to improved crop growth and yield under environmental stress, and extended postharvest life of tropical ornamentals, fruits and vegetables. His research is valued by the agricultural industry, and his publications have led to more than 17,300 citations in his career, with about 1,000 citations per year since 2019. Paull has been placed on Stanford University’s list of the top 2% of the most-cited scientists in various fields (2022–23).

“Unique to Robert is his willingness to energetically help anyone on any project who requests his assistance,” said David Christopher of the . “He has formed a cadre of respected and grateful national and international academic colleagues, farmers, industry scientists and friends who value his collaborations.”

Paull has made numerous contributions to the areas of tropical and subtropical fruit, nut, vegetables, ornamental physiology and genetics, their postharvest physiology, handling and storage. He has co-authored five books; edited an encyclopedia, seven volumes and proceedings; authored 127 book chapters; and published 151 peer-reviewed journal articles and 138 conference abstracts and presentations.

“We congratulate Robert for his lifetime of diverse, impactful, and exceptional contributions to tropical agriculture, the field of plant biology and for bringing prestige to the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi,” said Christopher.

The award is a recognition of a lifetime of distinguished contributions to plant biology and to serve society in areas including research, education, mentoring, collaborations, outreach, and professional and public service.

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With more than two months to go before the close of fiscal year 2024 (FY2024), the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi has already exceeded last year’s record $515.9 million extramural funding haul with a total of $516.6 million, as of April 22. This marks the third consecutive year that ߣsirÊÓƵ has topped half a billion dollars in extramural funding and is on track to establish a new record total estimated at $550 million to close FY2024. This year’s estimated record-setting number would represent a $34.1 million or 6.6% increase over the previous record last year.

“We are extremely pleased with our record-setting intake of extramural funding, which again must be attributed to our hard-working and dedicated faculty, staff and ߣsirÊÓƵuate ߣsirÊÓƵ,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos. “While more is good, we also need to be better. Over the next three to five years, ߣsirÊÓƵ must make the necessary upߣsirÊÓƵes to our current research infrastructure to accommodate this rapid growth and to continue our leading role as a knowledge provider and economic driver for the state of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi.”

Research that matters

Much of ߣsirÊÓƵ’s success can be attributed to its strategic focus on “research that matters,” including an expansive range of cross-disciplinary projects in land and ocean conservation, renewable energy, food and agroforestry, space science and engineering, cancer research, sea level rise, wildfire mitigation and healthcare initiatives. The recent success is also attributed to the establishment of the , the first of its kind at a major university, which has brought together ߣsirÊÓƵ researchers with ʻÄå¾±²Ô²¹ (land) organizations and practitioners to conduct important place-based research initiatives.

“We are very proud that the faculty, staff and ߣsirÊÓƵ at ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ are leading the way toward this record-breaking performance,” said ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno. “It is important to also recognize that we have greatly expanded the involvement of underߣsirÊÓƵuate ߣsirÊÓƵ in our world-class research, thereby ensuring that student learning is inspired and informed by research and creative work that matters to ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and to the world.”

Extramural funding is defined as external investments from agencies such as the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and training activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Extramural projects support research and innovation that helps to increase knowledge and provide solutions to improve quality of life.

“Increasing extramural funding is a key strategy in our commitment to diversify our resource base from traditional reliance solely on state general funds and tuition, and I couldn’t be prouder that each of our four major academic units is ahead of last year,” said ߣsirÊÓƵ President David Lassner. “This half billion dollars represents the confidence of the federal government and many other funders in the excellence and effectiveness across the ߣsirÊÓƵ System and allows us to create thousands of high-quality jobs across the islands with overall economic impact well over a billion dollars for ߣsirÊÓƵʻi.”

Research conducted by ߣsirÊÓƵ has a major impact on the state’s economy. A 2021 study by the ߣsirÊÓƵ Economic Research Organization showed that research-related expenditures totaled nearly $477 million in FY2020 and generated $735 million of total business sales, $237 million of employee earnings and $42 million of state tax revenue, while supporting an estimated 5,400 jobs.

Fun, hands-on STEM lessons are a focus for Candide Krieger, who is earning her master’s degree from the College of Education (EDCS) at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

A part-time STEM/STEAM resource teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, Krieger is in the college’s .

She is creating ߣsirÊÓƵʻi-focused, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Edukits—filled with lessons and supplies—for kids in Title I schools with support from a $1.7-million , for which EDCS Professor Pauline Chinn serves as principal investigator. Krieger is also conducting research on the effectiveness of the kits for teacher and student engagement and learning.

• Related ߣsirÊÓƵ News story: Teacher leadership program promotes integration of science with culture and place, June 26, 2017

“Candide’s ߣsirÊÓƵ learn and retain so much when the lessons connect to their lives and interests, like using Oreos to study moon phases!” Chinn said. “She continues to seek funding opportunities through competitions and fundraising platforms in order to develop these hands-on lessons that ߣsirÊÓƵ find engaging and fun-damental.”

Krieger also started a ³¢Äåʻ²¹³Ü lapaʻau (medicinal ߣsirÊÓƵian garden) at Jefferson, and she volunteers there on the weekend. In one project, her ߣsirÊÓƵ used branches trimmed from a wauke (paper mulberry) in the garden to create a rainforest. And, before going to the Symphony of the ߣsirÊÓƵian Birds performance, they crafted rainforest birds to hang from the branches.

Entrepreneurship grant

Krieger recently won a $1,000 from the (PACE) for Edukits ߣsirÊÓƵʻi. This prize will cover a portion of her start-up costs, such as non-profit filing fees, website development, and other resources for the kits. She is also in the final round of PACE’s , which includes a $10,000 cash prize.

“Sometimes I put my own money towards my classroom because I want my ߣsirÊÓƵ to do more than just worksheets,” Krieger said. “It’s really important to me that they have fun hands-on activities like clay, kinetic sand, pipe cleaners and construction paper. We even learned how to make pickles last year!”

After ߣsirÊÓƵuating from KaimukÄ« High School, Krieger earned her BS in natural resource and environmental management as well as an AA in ߣsirÊÓƵian Studies, AS in communication arts, and a certificate of competence in entrepreneurship.

“Place-based education was something I was doing naturally in my teaching by combining my knowledge from my multiple degrees and from my experiences being born and raised here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi,” Krieger said. “I did not know place-based education was an actual method of teaching until I took a seminar with Dr. Chinn. Her class sparked my interest in pursuing an MEd. Everything that we did in class was relevant to me and helped boost my confidence with starting my non-profit.”

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