When I first told family that I had been chosen as chancellor at UH Hilo, my mother’s cousin posted a message on my Facebook that my late father would be proud of me. I have been thinking of that a lot lately, as I approach the 15th anniversary of my father’s passing and my sixth anniversary as chancellor.
I was touched by our cousin’s words, of course, and while I am sure Dad would be proud of my accomplishments, I think there are other things that he might be more proud of: that I found a way to telework in 2021 so I could see my mother through cancer treatment, that I was there when my mother’s washer died after 30 years and took her to the appliance store to pick out a new one, that I provide tech support and all manner of other things to my mother. Professional achievements are great, but being a kind and generous person may mean more. I was raised to be ha‘ha‘a, though of course we did not call it that. There were numerous expressions like “Don’t toot your own horn,” “Don’t get too big for your britches,” etc.
While I rarely take pride in myself, I take great pride in the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the various leaders I have hired, the amazing work of our faculty in teaching and research, and dedication and skill of our staff, and, of course, the accomplishments of our students and alumni. My role is to facilitate all this work and achievement while ensuring that we meet the needs of our county and state.
I had a veteran dean tell me years ago that to be a good administrator, you need to find your gratification and reward in the accomplishments of others, and nowhere is that more true than at a university where we are all about supporting our students in their academic and professional journeys.
Yesterday, we celebrated another UH Hilo commencement. Every semester, as I look over the crowd in attendance, I see a variety of emotions: joy (of course!), pride (in the students), relief (in some cases), hope (for the future). Some of our students have had enormous challenges ranging from financial pressures to family emergencies, academic struggles to homesickness. Many have taken advantage of every opportunity that has come their way — study abroad, athletics, research, community service, leadership experiences, internships; others are glad just to have passed all their classes.
Regardless of what the transcripts say or how long a student has been with us, I am proud of them all. Completing a university education is an accomplishment in and of itself. Completing a degree at UH Hilo is particularly special because of the values that our students bring to the work. I rarely meet a student who is not planning to give back to their ‘ohana and community in some meaningful way. I encounter our alumni around the island in a variety of roles, roles in which their UH Hilo education is an asset and enables them to fulfill their goals, both personal and professional.
Importantly, some of those alumni work on our campus and on the Hawaii Community College campus. These alumni, having sat in the seats that our current students now occupy, have particular insights into the student experience and are well-positioned to work with those current students to support their success.
Despite some of our institutional challenges, I hope all of our students and alumni are as proud of our institution as I am. Research has shown that institutional pride rubs off on students: If we are proud of our university, the students will be, too, and that pride translates into a stronger sense of belonging and better success in their classes.
It’s tempting in times like these to focus on challenges and hardships and become disheartened. Certainly some of the decisions in Washington, D.C., of late have made the work more complicated and can lead some to think that the public does not support us. But the students buoy us up, and as we proudly watch them walk across the stage at commencement, we see the value in what we do. I hope you do, too.
Bonnie D. Irwin is chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Her column appears monthly in the Tribune-Herald.
