U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent visited the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 on May 27, meeting with 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel and 东精影业 leaders to learn more about the university’s student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and research enterprise.
The visit also included tours of two of 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补’s world-class research facilities: the (HSFL) and the (HIMB).
Kent was joined by Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron, Special Assistant Cristian Clementi, Press Secretary for Higher Education Ellen Keast and Special Advisor Ethan Good.
Hensel welcomed the delegation with Debora Halbert, 东精影业 vice president for academic strategy; Chad Walton, 东精影业 interim vice president for research and innovation; Vassilis Syrmos, 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 interim provost; and Rob Wright, 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 interim vice provost for research and scholarship.
“We are trying together to make it the best environment possible for student achievement, and wherever we can partner to make that happen, we are happy to do so,” said Hensel. “Higher education, K–12, it all works together as an ecosystem, and when we collaborate and strengthen those connections, we succeed for our students. When it becomes fragmented, we lose the ability to reach their full potential.”
Showcasing innovation and student success
During the visit, university leaders provided an overview of the 东精影业 system, including student success efforts, workforce development initiatives, affordability, financial aid, enrollment trends and the university’s role as Hawaiʻi’s sole public provider of higher education. The discussion also highlighted 东精影业’s research enterprise, which secured a record $734 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2025, including more than $60 million from the U.S. Department of Education across 115 projects.
“We’re very excited to be here talking with President Hensel and her leadership team about the opportunities for higher education in Hawaiʻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland,” said Kent. “We still see some of the same challenges here in Hawaiʻi with the affordability of higher education, but the president and her leadership team are focused on how to get costs down, how to ensure outcomes translate into earnings and workforce pathways, and how to work with local communities and employers to make sure students are getting good-paying jobs.”
The delegation toured the HSFL clean room at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补, where university researchers design and build SmallSats for science and educational missions. The tour was led by Wright and Lance Yoneshige, integration and launch specialist engineer. The clean room is primarily used for the integration, assembly and testing of satellites.
Federal officials also traveled to the HIMB on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe Bay for a tour led by HIMB Director Megan Donahue. An organized research unit of 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补, HIMB is internationally recognized for research on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, climate resilience and ocean health.