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New Faculty Orientation

Next NFO is August 19 – 20, 2026 (Tentative)

Aloha and welcome to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa!

The NFO events are just the beginning of an ongoing process of discovery and involvement to introduce you as a member of our campus and academic community.

The New Faculty Orientation is devoted to:

  • Introducing new faculty to the campus
  • Distributing information about the campus and community
  • Presenting faculty and student perspectives on teaching and learning at UHM
  • A brunch or lunch hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly (UHPA)
  • Mānoa Reception for new faculty

NFO Schedule

Thursday, August 21, 2025 — Kuykendall Hall

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Kuykendall 101 Pavillion

Check-in

Hoʻolauna: Coming together, Making Introductions
Hazel Gedikli, Interim Director & Faculty Specialist, OFDAS
Eun Bin Ladner-Seok, Educational Specialist, OFDAS-CTE

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Kuykendall 101 Pavilion

Welina Mānoa: How Does Mānoa Greet Us, How Can We Greet Mānoa?
Dr. Kawehionālani Goto & Hope Matsumoto, Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office

1:50 pm – 2:00 pm
Kuykendall 101 Auditorium

Greetings from Academic Excellence
Laura E. Lyons, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Starting Out and Staying Balanced! A Panel of Experienced Faculty
Perspectives on teaching & learning from various disciplines

‘Alohilani Okamura, School of Teacher Education
Frankie Hale, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
Philip Williams, Chemistry
Xiaodan Mao-Clark, School of Travel Industry Management
Moderator: Hazel Gedikli, OFDAS

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Kuykendall 106 Events Room

Beverage Break

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Kuykendall 101 Auditorium

Getting Started: An Introduction to Services for Faculty at Hamilton Library
Dave Brier, Chair of the Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences Reference Department, Hamilton Library

4:15 pm
Kuykendall 101 Auditorium

Closing
Hazel Gedikli, OFDAS

Friday, August 22, 2025 — Campus Center Ballroom

9:30 am – 10:00 am
Campus Center Ballroom

Check-in

Morning Hui
Hazel Gedikli, Interim Director, OFDAS
Eun Bin Ladner-Seok, OFDAS-CTE

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Leadership Perspectives on Faculty Success: A Conversation with the President and Provost
Wendy Hensel, President
Vassilis Syrmos, Interim Provost
Moderator: Laura E. Lyons, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence

11:00 am – 12: 15 pm

UHPA Sponsored Luncheon & Presentation on Collective Bargaining & Contract Issues
Christian Fern, UHPA Executive Director
Dwight Takeno, UHPA Associate Executive Director
Jamie Mow, UHPA Associate Executive Director
Sydney Dayan, UHPA Assistant Executive Director & Organizer
Nani Azman, Vice-President, UHPA Board of Directors
Rovena Varde, UHPA Technical Specialist

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm

Faculty Senate: Faculty Governance and How You Can Get Involved
Brian Richardson, Reference Librarian, UHM Hamilton Library & Faculty Senate Executive Committee Chair

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm

Contract Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure
Paul Mckimmy, Interim Associate Vice Provost for Academic Excellence

1:15 pm – 1:45 pm

Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Teresa Kono, Director of Faculty Excellence, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence
Sarah S. P. Moriarty, Executive Program Officer, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Beverage Break

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Research & Scholarship: Introduction to OVPRS Services & Support
Christopher Sabine, Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm

For Faculty, By Faculty @ OFDAS

CTE Professional Development Programs and Innovative Classrooms
Eun Bin Ladner-Seok, Center for Teaching Excellence

OFDAS Graphics Design Support
Mark Nakamura and Marween Yagin, Graphic Design

CTE Teaching Evaluations & FMP Faculty Mentoring Program
Hazel Gedikli, OFDAS-CTE

Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Acknowledgements
The NFO Planning Committee would like to acknowledge all presenters for sharing their expertise with our new Mānoa colleagues and extend a special mahalo to the Provost and the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence for hosting a reception for new faculty that will follow the NFO in August 2025.


2025 Mānoa Reception for New Faculty

Thursday, August 28, 2025
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Campus Center Ballroom

Meet Mānoa administrators, deans, department chairs, and other new faculty. A formal e-invitation will be emailed to you just prior to Fall semester. Please RSVP via the link provided in your e-invitation.