Two UH Hilo faculty selected for national project to redesign community-engaged courses

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The selection of both Olga Sideleva and Xuan Xie demonstrates UH Hilo’s comprehensive commitment to civic engagement across the sciences and humanities.

Business portraits of Olga Sideleva and Xuan Xie, at center is aerial view of UH Hilo campus.
From left, Olga Sideleva, aerial view of the UH Hilo campus, and Xuan Xie. (Courtesy portrait photos; aerial file photo)

This message from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa was shared with the university ʻohana on March 17, 2026.

Aloha UH ʻohana,

We are pleased to share that two of our faculty members have been selected to participate in the prestigious Engaged Civic Learning and Economic Mobility Project, led by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and Public Agenda.

Only 15 educators were chosen for this cohort, including two from UH Hilo:

  • Xuan Xie, PhD – Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business and Economics
  • Olga Sideleva – Biology Lecturer, College of Natural and Health Sciences

This project brings together faculty from across the country to redesign community-engaged courses, intentionally aligning civic learning with economic mobility goals. The selection of both Xuan and Olga demonstrates UH Hilo’s comprehensive commitment to civic engagement across the sciences and humanities.

Please join us in congratulating Xuan Xie and Olga Sideleva on this outstanding national recognition!

Want to know more? University Relations will share a feature article in the next issue of Kūkala Nūhou on Thursday, March 26. Stay tuned.

Mahalo nui, Xuan and Olga!

Me ke aloha,

Bonnie D. Irwin, Chancellor
Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

For more on the faculty and project see media release at UH System News.

See also AASCU’s announcement on X

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