Alumni News

Ka Hana Poʻokela – Graduate Division

Rebecca P. Barone is a graduate student in the Dept. of Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering (MBBE).
“Arby” is a member of the CTAHR Student Ambassador, Vice President of the CTAHR Alumni Association, and a former Ka Mea Kolo Entomology Club member.

Arby received her B.S. degree from MBBE and is currently pursuing her master of science degree. During her free time, you can find Arby giving back to our CTAHR students and community by serving CTAHR’s mission to educate and serve the people of Hawaiʻi with integrity and excellence.

Ka Hana Poʻokela – Undergradate Division

Nicole Ann Acasio recently graduated with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences.

While an undergraduate student, Nicole was s a member of the CTAHR Student Ambassador Program, Phi Upsilon Omicron, and a Grow with Us Mentors. She was an exemplary  student, and is an enthusiastic, optimistic, and humble person.

“I’m thankful for winning this award, and I enjoyed my time at CTAHR,” says Nicole. “I enjoyed helping other students who transferred from a community college, like me, and met other students who enjoy supporting the college in the student ambassador program.

She adds, “I feel it is important to support CTAHR as a student ambassador because you get to help in different ways and have opportunities to work with faculty, while making meaningful experiences with everyone in the college and making great friendships.”

“One may think that with all that going on, we could not get much more accomplished,” writes Dean Nicholas Comerford in CTAHR’s 2020 Annual Report. “But the truth is, we had a productive year. Our student population was the largest in the history of the college, we continued our trend of increasing extramural grants, and – with fewer faculty – our refereed journal publications increased by 14% over last year.”

Currently, CTAHR is down 60 faculty and staff positions (and counting), representing 20% of our personnel.

However, UHM’s post-pandemic approach, as defined by the President, situates CTAHR in a good position. Our college represents those areas that have been identified for investment: Agriculture (TPSS, PEPS, HNFAS, MBBE), Natural Resource Conservation (NREM), Engineering (MBBE), and Health and Social Welfare (MBBE, HNFAS, FCS). We’re also meeting the goals of the UHM campus, meaning CTAHR is highly relevant to the university and to the state.

In summary, Instruction/Research/Extension – the three components that make up a land grant college – found ways to continue activities and impact, even during a budget and public health crisis. CTAHR exhibited its value to the university and to the state of Hawai‘i. The current year still presents us with challenges, but faculty and staff have shown that challenges are simply obstacles to be overcome.

Read the full 2020 Annual Report.

The UHM Aloha United Way campaign wraps up this week, but before you hang up the phone, consider this: for just $30, you can get a box of delicious fruits and vegetables AND suppport AUW at the same time.

UHM has partnered with farmer’s market vendor Keo & Company, so make sure you choose The Aina Box ($5 of each purchase goes to benefit the UHM-AUW campaign). From personal experience, the fruits and vegetables in this box are of the highest grade and super fresh.

• Free Delivery if you order between now and Oct. 8
• Visit www.Keoandcompany.com to order.
• For proper credit to the good guys, please notate “CTAHR” in the notes section of the order page.

CTAHR’s Office of Communication Services is administering the college’s AUW campaign this year. For questions, contact OCS at ctahrcom@hawaii.edu (note: this is a new email address) or 956-7036.

Can molecular research into genomics support the conservation of rare plants in Hawaiʻi? If so, how can scientists determine When and How to incorporate molecular techniques into plant species recovery and management?

Find out at the upcoming Hawaiʻi Rare Plant Genetics Workshops, hosted by the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. They’re open to all interested in plant conservation in Hawaiʻi and registration is free.

This workshop series will strengthen the connection between conservation and research, provide examples, and discuss how to develop questions and tailor research to directly benefit the efforts to prevent plant extinctions.

“With more than 300 species of plants in Hawai'i that have less than 50 individuals remaining in the wild, this work is critical to saving our endangered plants!” says Melissa Price. “We need all hands on deck, and multiple tools and approaches to achieve recovery – we hope you can join!”

Mahalo to the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and National Science Foundation for their support.

For questions, contact Lauren Weisenberger of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Environmental Defense Fund poll report from July concluded that ‘over 7 in 10 American voters would eat more seafood if there were higher safety standards on how farmed fish are produced.’ This is not surprising in light of studies showing that many seafoods are high in nutrients that increase immunity, resulting in a better physical response to infections such as Covid-19.”

So writes Cheng-Sheng Lee, Executive Director of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, in the CTSA’s latest newsletter.

“Traceability, sustainability and conservation are among the most common concerns that consumers have when it comes to seafood, so it is important to capitalize on any opportunities to educate the public, he adds. Therefore, “This month's issue includes an article about the role of sustainable seafood at the first UN Food Systems Summit, as well as an announcement and link for a new CTSA survey for farmers, producers, and stakeholders in the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands.”

For more info, visit the CTSA.