Each Fall semester the College of Social Sciences (CSS) hosts Ho‘okipa, an annual event to welcome new faculty, staff and visiting colleagues to the CSS ‘Ohana. It is also a time to recognize individuals at CSS who have been honored for their day-to-day excellence, hard work and dedication in their roles at the College and on the larger University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus.
CSS invites its ‘Ohana to Ho‘okipa as it continues on a shared journey that is dedicated to teaching, assisting and inspiring students at UH Mānoa.
Hoʻokipa
to welcome, to treat hospitably
Join the celebration and connect over delicious food and beverages.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
3 to 4:30 pm
Campus Center Ballroom
Welcome from the Dean
Aloha and welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Fall semester is a time of renewal and new beginnings. We are reconnecting with colleagues and also welcoming the newest members of our CSS ‘Ohana. That is the joy and significance of our Ho‘okipa celebration, where we gather, reenergize, and celebrate a unified commitment to turning a studentʻs journey into a transformative experience.
To our returning faculty and staff, I am filled with optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. Your dedication and expertise are the cornerstones of our success that shape the minds of our students and prepare them for success in a world without boundaries.
To our new faculty, staff and visiting scholars, welcome to our CSS ‘Ohana. We’re excited to work with you and learn from you. Your diverse areas of expertise will play a key part in encouraging the next generation of leaders to power science into social action.
The coming year promises excitement and many reasons for gratitude. I am particularly thankful for the opportunity to work with such high-level, dedicated individuals. There is power in unity, and our College is a shining example.
As the year progresses, I welcome your ideas on fostering innovative and dynamic learning experiences for students, while engaging them in research that expands their frontiers of knowledge. Please feel free to reach out to me and share your ideas at konan@hawaii.edu.
Thank you all for being a vital part of our CSS ‘Ohana.
Me ke aloha,
Denise Eby Konan, Dean
College Faculty
The College warmly welcomes its newest faculty members to CSS.
Sakaria Laisene Auelua-Toomey
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
I was born and raised here in Hawaiʻi, where my experiences growing up have greatly influenced the research that I conduct today. I am excited to be returning back to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as an Assistant Professor to expand on my research on dismantling systems of racism, while also serving as a mentor and educator to the diverse communities that have shaped my journey, especially to my Pacific Islander communities.
Focus:
Race, Racism, Colonization, and Inequality
PhD, Psychology, Stanford University, 2024
Micah R. Fisher
Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Information (Matsunaga Institute for Peace)
I study the political economic dynamics of land use change with a focus on livelihood transitions and environmental governance. I have worked on and studied disasters, deforestation, conservation, water resources, and urbanization. I am especially interested in the changing complexities of natural resources and development dynamics in Indonesia. I am also committed to participatory methodologies and designing field-based learning initiatives.
Focus:
Political Ecology, Environmental Governance, Forest/Agrarian Change, Climate Adaptation, and Indonesia
PhD, Geography, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2019
Jingyi Gu
Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Information (Communication)
I research social issues within global digital cultures and economies. With critical and transnational approaches, my research centers on identities and relations in platform-mediated cultural production. As an interdisciplinary scholar trained in Communication and Media Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Feminist Studies, and Asian Studies, I employ qualitative methodologies to study the intersection of technology and culture.
Focus:
Digital Cultures, Platform Economies, and Critical Technology Studies
PhD, Communications and Media, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2023
Krista A. Haapanen
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
I am an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research explores the processes by which grassroots and community-based organizations pursue improvements in their communities’ health and well-being. Using a community-engaged approach, mixed methods, and social network analysis, I consider how organizations engage citizens in civic activities, build communities’ power to shape their futures, and generate lasting changes to community conditions.
Focus:
Community Health Partnerships, Prevention, Power and Empowerment, and Network Analysis
PhD, Community Research and Action, Vanderbilt University, 2024
Yuqin Jiang
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Environment
My research focuses on human mobility patterns and human-environment interaction. My work bridges technology and social science by using both qualitative and quantitative interdisciplinary methods, including surveys, big data analytics, and geo-visualization to understand how people react to multi-scale hazards. By creating a better understanding of previous events, I hope to develop more effective disaster management strategies.
Focus:
Geographic Information Science, Human Mobility, Spatial Data Science, and Urban Resilience
PhD, Geography, University of South Carolina, 2022
I sak Kim
Instructor, Department of Psychology
Raised in Hawaiʻi, I went from local K-12 schools to earning my degrees at KCC and UH Mānoa, where I also completed my higher education. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching at UH Mānoa, multiple community colleges, and high schools through the early college program. My research explores the intricacies of human perception and attention through computer tasks, 3D projections, and virtual/augmented reality in laboratory settings.
Focus:
Cognitive Psychology, Perception and Attention, Affordance and Motor Expertise, and Virtual and Augmented Reality
PhD, Cognitive Psychology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2024
Youjeong Kim
Associate Professor, School of Communication and Information (Journalism)
My research focuses on the effects of immersive new media, like virtual environments and video games, on communication dynamics and lifestyles. I aim to provide theoretical insights into new media technologies, such as interactivity and presence, and explore their potential applications to enhance health, education, and marketing, ultimately improving the quality of life.
Focus:
Immersive New Media Technology, Online Identity, and Health Communication
PhD, Mass Communications, Pennsylvania State University, 2010
Felix Mantz
Instructor, Department of Political Science
I research the myriad ways in which the global political economy, planetary environmental crises, and colonial structures of power are entangled. Drawing on a range of critical theories, especially anti/decolonial, anarchist, and Indigenous thought, I am particularly interested in questions of land, autonomy, food systems, and extractivism. Most of my work has a regional focus on East Africa and Mesoamerica.
Focus:
International Political Economy, Environmental Politics, Colonialism, and International Relations
PhD, Political Science, Queen Mary University of London, 2023
Gowun Park
Assistant Professor, Public Administration Program
Prior to joining the doctoral program, I spent several years working in various nonprofit organizations, including a global health organization, foundation, community development financial institution, and social enterprises. The blending of these professional experiences motivated me to delve into the intricacies of organization management and policy studies within the realms of a business school and policy schools.
Focus:
Nonprofit Management, Public-Nonprofit Partnerships, Civic Engagement and Advocacy, and Program Evaluation
PhD, Public Policy and Management, University of Washington, 2023
JoonYup Park
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
I am an applied microeconomist interested in studying housing affordability and residential segregation in major cities. My recent work explores how improving access to higher-opportunity neighborhoods for low-income and minority households affects residential equilibrium and household welfare. Before joining UH Mānoa, I completed my PhD in Economics at Duke University and earned my BA in Mathematical Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Focus:
Urban Economics, Real Estate, and Housing Economics
PhD, Economics, Duke University, 2024
Alejandro Rojas Bernal
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
I am a macroeconomist and international finance researcher studying aggregate effects and heterogeneity across households and firms in models with complex network connectivity. I am especially interested in how variations in consumption and expenditure distributions affect aggregate output, i.e., a theoretical explanation for how variations in distributional measures, such as inequality, can influence an economy’s total production.
Focus:
Macroeconomics, International Finance, Production Network Economies, and Firm and Household Heterogeneity
PhD, Economics, University of British Columbia, 2024
Debbie Samaniego
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
My research examines displacement and forced migration within the modern international order. I draw on a range of critical approaches, most prominently decolonial and settler colonial studies, to analyze the coloniality of global migration governance including the externalization and militarization of borders as well as the historical continuity of racialized migrant labor regimes.
Focus:
International Relations, Decolonial Studies, and Migration/Refugee Politics
PhD, International Relations, University of Sussex, 2022
John Temple
Professor, School of Communication and Information (Journalism)
I am a journalist, author and screenwriter who loves teaching, reading and thinking about storytelling in all forms. I began my career as a newspaper reporter in Pittsburgh, Greensboro, North Carolina, and Tampa, Florida, covering crime, medicine and education. I studied creative nonfiction writing at the University of Pittsburgh and taught journalism and screenwriting at West Virginia University for 22 years before coming to Hawaiʻi.
Focus:
News Writing, Investigative Reporting, Narrative Techniques, and Adapting Journalism for the Screen
MFA, Creative Nonfiction, University of Pittsburgh, 2003
College Staff
The College warmly welcomes its new or reappointed staff to CSS.
Hanalei Abbott
Contract and Grants Specialist, Social Science Research Institute
I’ve been at the College of Social Sciences since September 2015, but only recently transitioned from a RCUH to a UH position. I work in the Grant Development Office helping faculty and students obtain funding for research and training projects. I have a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from UH Mānoa. In my spare time, I’m busy parenting rambunctious 16-month-old identical twin girls.
Sarah Amend
Administrative/Fiscal Support Specialist, Public Administration Program
My passion has always been people. From working in records management to disability vocational rehabilitation, it always centers on people and the way we connect and help each other. Building inclusivity and accessibility is essential to us all thriving. Let’s work together!
Angielyn Hamilton-Lowe
Educational Specialist, School of Communication and Information
I grew up in the flat lands of central Indiana and never dreamed I would live on an island! My career arc spans from public relations to national broadcast media to community-based nonprofit work and now, higher education. I am also certified as a trauma-informed yoga facilitator. I am truly grateful to be able to share what I’ve learned and offer support to the programs within the School of Communication and Information.
Karen Ito
Administrative/Fiscal Support Specialist, Shared Services, Dean’s Office
I joined the Shared Services Team in September 2023. I am grateful for the supportive and fun team I get to work with every day as we provide fiscal and human resources support to the CSS departments. I was born in Kumamoto, Japan, to a kibei mother, who moved the family back to Hawaiʻi when I was 9. I am a proud alumna of UH Mānoa, graduating about the time the Law School Library and Building were completed.
Jasmine Jo
HR Specialist, Dean’s Office
I began student employment at UH Mānoa in April of 2022, graduated with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources Management in May of 2023, and was blessed with the opportunity to work full-time at UH in February of 2024. I provide HR support for departments in the college, but I have a lot to learn as a new member of the team. I am infinitely grateful to be able to learn from and with so many wonderful people.
Rosalyn Kagimoto
Administrative/Fiscal Support Specialist, Department of Ethnic Studies
I provide administrative and fiscal support services, as well as assist in the coordination of departmental events and student outreach activities. I was born and raised on Oʻahu and received my bachelors of business administration with a concentration in marketing, management, and international business at the Shidler College of Business at UH Mānoa.
Spencer Kimura
Educational Specialist, Dean’s Office
I am honored to serve as the Director of International Programs for CSS. After earning a JD degree at the William S. Richardson School of Law, I moved to LA to recruit international MBA and law students at USC. I returned to Hawaiʻi to manage International Programs at Richardson before coming to CSS. I enjoy meeting students and faculty from different backgrounds and serving as a bridge between Hawaiʻi and the world!
Del Ogata
Fiscal Specialist, Dean’s Office
Aloha! I rejoined the College of Social Sciences in November 2023. I have been with the University for over 30 years, including 5 years with CSS, providing administrative support related to extramural and institutional funds. My current responsibilities involve the fiscal and budgetary management of the college’s General, Tuition, Outreach and Summer funds.
Lee Pakele
Administrative/Fiscal Support Specialist, Dean’s Office
In October 2023, I joined the Dean’s Office in the College of Social Sciences, assisting departments with fiscal and human resource matters. Born and raised on the island Oʻahu, I graduated with a BA degree in Sociology. I started my career at UH Mānoa with the Campus Services Department in 2016. I am happy to be a part of the best college in the University of Hawaiʻi System.
AJ Simpao
Student Services Specialist, College of Social Sciences
I’m dedicated to helping students navigate their educational journey. I’m currently a grad student at UH Mānoa myself, bringing experience from Chaminade University, Glendale Community College, and UCSB. When I’m not supporting students, you might spot me playing tuba in the UH Bands! I’m passionate about making higher education accessible and creating a welcoming community for all learners.
Cindy Uyehara
HR Specialist, Dean’s Office
I joined the College of Social Sciences in April 2024 as a Human Resources Specialist to provide college-wide support on all HR matters. I previously worked as an HR Specialist at Intercollegiate Athletics, Mānoa Human Resources, and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. I am excited about this opportunity to work with CSS faculty and staff.
Caleb Wood
IT Specialist, Social Science Research Institute
I develop and maintain software to enhance and support the amazing work done by UHERO’s researchers here at the College of Social Sciences. I earned my BA in Economics from UH Mānoa in 2015, and later moved to San Francisco to study software engineering. Since then, I’ve worked in front-end and full-stack roles at startups in healthcare and education. In my spare time, I enjoy coding, baking, and getting out in the ocean.
Visiting Colleagues
The College warmly welcomes its latest visiting colleagues to CSS.
Hidetaka Aoki
Faculty, Chuo University
Focus:
Corporate Governance, Corporate Misconduct, and Group Management
Host:
Helen Yu, Public Administration Program
Jiang Chengcheng
Graduate Student, Fudan University of China
Focus:
Ceramic Archaeology, Social Complexity, and Neolithic Northern China
Host:
Miriam Stark, Department of Anthropology
Ugo Corte
Professor of Sociology, University of Stavanger
Focus:
Sociology of Creative Work, Voluntary Risk-Taking, and Ethnography
Host:
Myungji Yang, Department of Sociology
Julia Y. Huang
CEO/Founder, Intertrend Communications
Focus:
Asian American Studies, Multicultural Studies. Marketing, Advertising, Pop Culture, and Story Telling
Host:
Mary Kunmi Yu Danico, Department of Ethnic Studies
Yuhiro Mizunuma
Lecturer, Momoyama Gakuin University (St. Andrew’s University)
Focus:
Librarian Education, Diversity in the Information Profession, Public Libraries, and Data Analytics
Host:
Andrew Wertheimer, School of Communication and Information (Library and Information Science)
Rune Borgan Reiling
Senior Researcher, Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education
Focus:
Economics of Education, Early Childhood Interventions, Public Economics, and Educational Inequality
Host:
Teresa Molina, Department of Economics
James C. Wo
Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, University of Iowa
Focus:
Criminology, Land Uses, Social (dis)organization, and Urban Sociology
Host:
Helen Yu, Public Administration Program
2024 Awardees
The College congratulates its most recent University and CSS award winners.
Dana Singer
Secretary, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Presidential Award for Outstanding Service
Stephanie “Lani” Teves
Associate Professor, Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching
Seth Quintus
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
College of Social Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching
Jonas Vibell
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
College of Social Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching
View all CSS Awards and Recognitions.