For decades, Philosophy Professor Mary Tiles shaped the minds of students at UH Mānoa. Now, in recognition of her generosity and lifelong dedication to cross-disciplinary education, the College of Social Sciences (CSS) recently named a significant honor after her: the Mary Tiles Sustainability Teaching Award.
Its first recipient is Felix Mantz, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science. His work closely aligns with Tiles’s vision of bridging the humanities and social sciences to solve modern global issues.
CSS Dean Denise Eby Konan reflected on the award and Tiles herself, noting her close personal relationship with the professor emerita and her impact as a benefactor and scholar.
“I have had the distinct privilege of calling Mary a dear friend and colleague for many years,” Konan said. “Her brilliant mind and unwavering commitment to cross-disciplinary education have left an indelible mark on UH Mānoa. It is incredibly moving to see her legacy honored through an award that celebrates the very kind of innovative teaching that she has always championed.”
Tiles was a former chair of the UH Mānoa Department of Philosophy until her retirement in 2009. Her leadership in this role contributed to strengthening the department’s focus on interdisciplinary approaches, building on her own expertise in epistemology and the philosophy of science. Her academic work heavily explored the history and philosophy of science and technology. Tiles joined the department in 1989 after teaching at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England, and at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
Receiving an award that bears Tiles’s legacy carries significant weight for its first recipient.
“This recognition means a great deal to me,” Mantz said. “My teaching and research are based on a commitment to challenge unjust systems of power. By looking at the myriad ways in which the global political economy, planetary environmental crises and colonial structures of power are entangled, I hope to inspire students to help recover, rebuild and defend a world in which many worlds fit.”
In her nomination of Mantz for the award, CSS senior sustainability advisor and Sociology Professor Aya H. Kimura praised his positive impact on students, who have given him glowing reviews. They include India Buchanan, a UH Mānoa undergraduate double majoring in political science and American studies.
“Even outside of the classroom, Felix has been a huge support in mentoring me for my own research regarding food security. Through teaching and mentoring, he has become my main resource for environmental justice-related issues,” Buchanan said. “Felix’s impact extends to many other students, as he has been a guest speaker with the Environmental Justice Club at UH Mānoa, where he spoke to club members about AI and the environment. He makes clear that sustainability is not just about education in the classroom but making it a continual learning experience.”
Mantz’s far-reaching impact exemplifies CSS’s commitment to collaborative, student-focused learning, according to Dean Konan.
“Marked by academic and research excellence, our student-centered environment cultivates a vibrant climate for learning,” Konan explained. “Students and faculty work together to address fundamental questions about human behavior, preparing them for leadership roles through classroom learning; internships and service-learning experiences; and a heightened international focus, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.”
For Mantz, addressing these complex sustainability challenges requires a deeply trans-disciplinary approach. “Whether we are analyzing global food systems or grassroots resistance to extra-activism,” he said. “the social sciences allow us to bring vital, global perspectives right here to our students at UH Mānoa.”
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