Photos: UH Hilo 2025 Fall Welcome, celebrating new faculty and staff

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The 2025 Fall Welcome event at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo was held Sept. 26 to welcome new faculty and staff, including those who recently moved internally to a new position.*

Chancellor’s Unit

Three people in lei.
Chancellor’s Unit: From left: Jean Kuʻulei Bezilla Poy, Reza Morin-Dayani, and Kapua Roback. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Athletics

  • Reed Sunahara, Head Coach, Women’s Volleyball

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center

  • Courtney Abear, Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist
  • Kayla Asing, Educational Specialist/Event and Program Facilitator
  • Kahuakaʻi Kaleihulumanu Iaea-Russell, Program Specialist
  • Reza Morin-Dayani, Educational Specialist/Planetarium and Data Visualization Research and Training Specialist
  • Kapuaonaona Roback, Education Specialist

Office of Equal Opportunity

  • Susan Travis, Analyst/Confidential Advocate/Prevention Educator

University Relations

  • Elizabeth “Mileka” Lincoln, Public Information Specialist/Communications Coordinator
  • Jean “Kuʻulei” Poy, Public Information Specialist/Relations Support Specialist
  • Carson West, Public Information Specialist/Content Manager

Academic Affairs

Group with vice chancellor, all newcomers with lei.
Academic Affairs: Front row from left, Vice Chancellor Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, Mel Bartholomew, Jayden Wagner Kailiawa, Kalani Carlson, Keith Feigenson, Makana Kushi, and Jillian Swift. Back row, Monica Minnitt, Tom Carpaij, Lehua Miller, Josh Mills, and Arjun Ramani. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Melissa Bartholomew, Education Specialist, Psychology
  • Andrew “Kalani” Carlson, Instructor of Geography
  • Tom Carpaij, Instructor of Computer Science
  • Meghann Decker, Educational Specialist, Geology
  • Josef Donnelly, Assistant Professor of Education
  • Keith Feigenson, Assistant Professor of Psychology
  • Jonathan Groelz, Education Specialist/Facilities Manager, Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center
  • Kristy Mire Fujii, Fiscal Specialist
  • Haylee “Makana” Kushi, Assistant Professor of History
  • Thomas Lee, Assistant Professor of Geology
  • Teryn Macayan, Administrative Officer
  • Darlene “Lehua” Miller, Academic Support Specialist, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani
  • Michael “Josh” Mills, Assistant Professor of Administration of Justice
  • Monica Minnitt, Instructor of European Languages
  • Arjun Ramani, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Exercise Science
  • Lydia Santiago, Administrative Officer/Center Services Associate – East Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center Network
  • Supe-Roque Neva, Instructional Designer for Lamakū, Center for Community Engagement
  • Jillian Swift, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
  • Bruce Torres Fischer, Web Developer/Kahu Mālama Maʻiʻo Hawaiʻi Kikohoʻe/Digital Hawaiian Medium Platforms Manager
  • Jayden Wagner Kailiawa, Student Support Specialist, Pharmacy
  • Wei Wei, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
  • Nolan Wong, Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist

Student Affairs

Three in lei with vice chancellor.
Student Affairs: From left, Chare’ LeBlanc, Interim Vice Chancellor Lei Kapono, Kiana Ichinotsubo, Anahita de Cleyre. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Anahita de Cleyre, Mental Health Counselor
  • Jared Dungca, Building Maintenance
  • Kiana Ichinotsubo, Student Services Specialist/Coordinator, Admissions
  • Chare’ LeBlanc, Resident Manager, Housing

Administrative Affairs

Group with vice chancellor, new hires all have lei.
Administrative Affairs: Vice Chancellor Kalei Rapoza, Ross Villegas Jr, Hollind Paiva, Amalie Dorn, and Marcya Gleason (casual hire). At far right is Neva Supe-Roque, a new hire in Academic Affairs. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Joel Baldie, Janitor
  • Amalie Dorn, Specialist, Human Resources
  • Cara Ikeda, Fiscal Specialist, Office of Contracts, Procurement and Payments
  • Andrew Jackson, Janitor
  • Hollind Paiva, Janitor
  • Allan Prudencio, Ground Maintenance
  • Dennis Torres, Security Officer
  • Rosalio “Ross” Villegas Jr, Director of Security
  • Angela Voorhis, Janitor

*Re those who recently moved internally to a new position: Included are those who have moved internally to a new/different positions, e.g., from an instructor to a professor; from a civil service clerk to an APT administrative assistant; from RCUH education specialist to APT specialist. However, if the person is in the same position — e.g., APT administrative assistant — from one office/department to another, they are not included.

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