The 2024 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching – Honorable Mention goes to He of the Dept. of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences. Yanghua’s passion for education and willingness to go above and beyond have not only enrich the lives of students but also contribute to the overall success of our academic community. 

The 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching goes to Sothy Eng of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences. The award is a testament to Sothy’s dedication, passion, and positive impact he’s had on students and broader educational community. His commitment to fostering an environment of learning and innovative teaching methods have not gone unnoticed.

The 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Extension goes to Nancy Ooki of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Since 2018, Nancy’s “My PI Hawai‘i” has trained Maui youths in fire safety and suppression, search-and-rescue, C.P.R., disaster psychology, and other topics in FEMA’s Teen Community Emergency Response Team. By the final disaster simulation, youths can demonstrate knowledge and skills in first aid, triage, communications, and damage assessment. 

Receiving this year’s Ka Pouhana Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring is a testament to the abilities of Dr. Teresita Amore of the Dept. of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Throughout her time at CTAHR, Tessie has served as a constant source of guidance for students, further emphasized by the many students she has mentored directly. Since earning her M.S. in 1986 and PhD in 1991 from CTAHR, she has and continues to serve the college as an outstanding teacher, colleague, and mentor.

The 2023 Dean’s Award for Outstanding APT Employee goes to Terilyn Sunada. Teri has been an invaluable member of CTAHR Human Resources for more than six years, consistently elevating our administrative services to new heights. She embodies the essence of exceptional customer service. With a profound understanding of her role, she effortlessly executes tasks with a smile and unwavering positivity. Colleagues describe her as kind, gentle, and possessing an outstanding demeanor, coupled with an unparalleled work ethic.