About Us
The Center for Community-Engagement (CCE) was established in 2018 to support UH Hilo’s mission, “One learns from many sources.” Our goal is to build partnerships between students, faculty, and community-organizations to address authentic issues in order to build a thriving community and stronger educational pathway.
Meet the Team
Julie Mowrer, EdD
Dr. Julie Mowrer spent 12 years of her career in higher education in the classroom, teaching English to students from all over the world, and designing curriculum that maximized the benefits of working with the diverse student population here in Hawaiʻi. In 2013, she became the Director of the English Language Institute at UH Hilo and in 2016 became the Director of the College of Continuing Education & Community Service. This new role ignited an interest in community-engagement, which led her to finish her EdD in Educational Professional Practice at UH Mānoa, with a research focus on community engagement in higher education. Contact
Shania Tamagyongfal
Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, and of Yapese descent, Shania is a proud UH Hilo alumni with a passion for access to educational opportunities and engagement within local communities in bridging different knowledge systems to find solutions together. Through the journey of her Master’s degree in Heritage Management, her interest in community engagement deepened as she worked with community leaders and cultural practitioners, learning the significance of relationships in collaboration and capacity building. She is excited to work with our Bonner Leaders and help cultivate connections between our program and our communities.
Marisa Miyashiro
Marisa has been designing community-based personal enrichment courses at UH Hilo for 11 years, ranging from educational keiki camps to free community events on Japanese culture to language, arts and movement courses. Originally trained as an Occupational Therapist, Marisa’s experiences working in healthcare, organic farming and managing a yoga studio have shaped her ability to be in tune to the needs of others, with the overall desire to contribute to the strong emotional, physical and mental health of our community.