Alumni News

The deadline for nominations for the UHM Chancellor’s Office awards for outstanding service has been extended to Friday, February 22. Please submit nominations for outstanding civil service, buildings and grounds maintenance, APT, and faculty specialist employees to recognize outstanding work performance, service, leadership and contributions.

Welcome to Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite (TPSS), who began her new career as the Maui County Edible Crops agent on Friday, February 15! Rosemary is right at home in the college, having previously worked as a junior researcher with Mark Wright (PEPS), primarily on integrated pest management of the macadamia felted coccid.

The nutritional health of all Americans is informed by a federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee—which now includes CTAHR’s own Rachel Novotny (HNFAS). Appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Rachel will be joining 19 other nationally recognized scientists on this independent advisory committee.

Fish and other seafoods are integral to the Island diet, but sourcing that fish can be problematic. Aurora Saulo (TPSS) was recently interviewed for Hawaii News Now’s story on how imported frozen seafood can be contaminated with unwanted chemicals, where she explained that antibiotics and other violative drugs are often used.

Wildfires are a serious concern, in the Islands as well as on the Mainland. Wildland fire expert Clay Trauernicht (NREM) recently gave a presentation on this timely subject on Maui, in which he explained that since 72 percent of wildfires with known causes are accidental, that means they can be prevented, and the time for prevention is now!