Describe yourself in 3 words:
Honest, committed, caring.

How has your career shifted from the 2020 pandemic impact?
I spend more time supporting others’ fear of uncertainty. Perhaps my background as a critical care nurse positions me better to navigate uncertainty. It has been a major part of my work since the pandemic, to work with others to help them find a comfort level with navigating the uncertainty we face daily.

How do you manage stress and self-care?
I believe that a balanced life is the key to happiness. My family is my first priority and throughout my career, I have made many career decisions based on the needs of my family. I am also a firm believer of balancing the physical, spiritual and social dimensions of what it means to be human. My faith is important to me; therefore, prayer and meditation are part of my daily habit. Exercise has also always been a major part of my life—running, walking, swimming, paddle boarding, canoeing, etc. I am a very social person. Maintaining social relationships, trying new things and incorporating humor and fun is part of how I achieve balance.

What are your favorite virtual tools to use currently in business?
We have all learned about the value and pitfalls of a totally virtual environment. I believe that face-to-face communication is superior in most circumstances to meeting virtually. That being said, we have all learned that we often get better participation by allowing a blend of in-person and virtual meetings. Those who would normally not be able to attend a meeting now join virtually (via Zoom or some other meeting platform). Therefore, the conversation is not only more inclusive but richer. Chaminade University has board members and other supporters who either do not live in Hawai‘i or travel quite a bit, and they are now able to join our meetings and contribute to our success. Allowing participation via Zoom has alleviated the need to always be in person to participate in our work.

Did you always want this career track?
My career has taken many twists and turns. I am a registered nurse and began my career working as a nurse in a critical care unit, eventually earning a master’s degree and working in hospital administration. I ran the patient care divisions of some major hospitals in urban areas around the country (San Francisco, Seattle, Boston). I also worked with disadvantaged communities in Boston and formed a nonprofit to leverage the assets of a number of community health centers. During all of these experiences, I maintained a close relationship with the local university (UCSF, University of Washington, Northeastern University) while teaching graduate courses and precepting students. Somewhere along this journey, I earned a PhD and during a Fullbright Fellowship in Israel, I had the opportunity to reflect on what I wanted for the remainder of my career. This reflection took me to a nursing deanship, Provostship (chief academic officer) and eventually here to Chaminade University. I was and am most interested in finding a mission fit between my own beliefs and values and that of the institution I lead. I have found this at Chaminade University.

If you could look into a crystal ball, what would you want to know about your future?
Hmm, that is an excellent question. I would want to know that I can continue to have a positive impact on the people I serve in my current position.

What are two of your proudest accomplishments of your career?
People are the most important asset we have as a society, therefore keeping people at the center of what we do as leaders is critical. My proudest accomplishment throughout my career has been mentoring others. It has been an honor and privilege to be a mentor and support others’ successes. Many of the people I mentored over my career have gone on to build highly successful and fulfilling careers. Another proud accomplishment was successfully and with great care, closing a hospital. This was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. I oversaw a small hospital in Seattle and managed its closure. During the year of transition, we were able to work with all of our employees to either help them secure new positions or prepare them for successful retirement. We also worked extensively with community partners to assure the services being discontinued by the hospital’s closure would be available within the area.

Biggest sacrifice for my career.
Early in my career, my husband and I jointly made career choices that necessitated several moves. These moves were not conducive to my own professional advancement. That being said, all of the ensuing professional positions provided me with a rich and varied background in many different positions in multiple regions in the United States. All of these experiences shaped how I think about the world and relate to others, so what seemed like sacrifices at the time ended up being assets for my professional career.

If you could tell your younger self some advice, what would it be?
Hold true to your beliefs and values and listen to what others have to say. I cannot overemphasize the value in listening. Really hearing other people’s viewpoints helps us all learn and is critical to making successful decisions.