A University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 faculty member has received a national research award for her success in methods that improve education for all.

Professor Kavita Rao, director of the Research Institute (CERI), was presented with the David Rose Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Research Award during the UDL Convention International in Sacramento, California, in July. The award recognizes researchers who have demonstrated excellence in investigating and implementing ways that enhance the educational experience for all learners, regardless of their individual differences, abilities or backgrounds.

“The award represents years of work with many collaborators and colleagues who are passionate about reducing barriers in learning environments and supporting all learners through proactive and inclusive design practices,” Rao said.

Rao has worked in UDL implementation and research for 20 years with a focus on intentional and inclusive instructional design in K–12 and higher education environments. She has also been the chair of the UDL Implementation and Research Network for several years, spearheading the development of the UDL reporting criteria.

With the college since 2009, Rao has served as an assistant, associate and full professor in the (SPED) as well as the graduate chair for the program.

“This award is one of the highest honors someone who studies Universal Design for Learning can receive,” SPED Chair Rhonda Black said. “The fact that Dr. Rao鈥檚 academic peers nominated her demonstrates the high esteem in which she is held nationally and internationally. We are so lucky to have Dr. Rao as part of our ʻohana.”

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A $3.9 million grant aimed to improve the academic success alongside the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of Native Hawaiian (NH) keiki has been awarded to a pair of University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (COE) professors.

Professor Erin Centeio in the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and Professor Kuʻulei Serna in the received a $3,954,518 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Native Hawaiian Education Program).

This is the second round of funding for I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe—“So that our prized water gourds are made firm.” The first round of funding totaling $2.85 million was awarded in 2021.

For the second round of funding, Centeio and Serna will be collaborating with Associate Professor Summer Maunakea in the Department of Curriculum Studies to include ʻ腻颈苍补-based education. The three-year project is a partnership among the COE, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.

“The HIDOE serves a large proportion of NH youth who are at risk for long-term health issues, given the high obesity rates and lack of participation in physical activity,” Centeio said. “Many NH youth have experienced various forms of cultural trauma and find it hard to be successful in traditional academic venues.”

Goals of the project include:

• Improve the overall health and wellbeing of NH students
• Improve the quality of health and physical education according to Hawaiʻi state standards and benchmarks as well as national recommendations
• Identify meaningful intersections within overall health and education, addressing whole child development

Building upon the first round of I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe, which currently partners with 20 schools across four complex areas on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, round two will add 15 more schools across three new complex areas on Hawaiʻi, Maui and Molokai. The project will also continue professional development and learning for the current schools and will partner with K艒kua Foundation to expand programming in the current elementary schools to incorporate ʻ腻颈苍补-based education, reaching over 25,000 students in total.

“Based on the direct correlation between the overall health of youth and academic success in school, there is a drastic need for interventions surrounding the health of the whole child,” Centeio said. “This need, coupled with the unique and underserved population of NH youth, underscores how timely and warranted I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe is.”

Margaret Maaka, a professor in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (COE) (EDCS), has been appointed to the search committee for the new executive director of the (AERA). She will serve alongside colleagues and students from Stanford University, Howard University, University of California-Davis, Rutgers University, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Hewlett Foundation and the Foundation for Child Development.

“Throughout my AERA membership, I have embraced the belief that educational researchers must uphold the rights of all peoples, particularly those belonging to historically disenfranchised groups, to be self-determining in their educations,” Maaka said. “Over the years, I have mentored scores of graduate students and faculty members, especially junior faculty members, to present their research at AERA and to serve in governance roles.”

Founded in 1916, AERA has been improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. The more than 25,000 members are faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other distinguished professionals who work in a range of settings from academic institutions to research institutes, federal and state agencies, school systems, testing companies, and nonprofit organizations.

Maaka鈥檚 affiliation with AERA began in 1987 when she and three other COE (EDEP) graduate students attended a conference. Among her many roles over nearly four decades, she has held numerous officer positions, founded a special interest group (SIG), chaired the SIG Executive Committee and sat on the AERA Executive Council.

“I co-established the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific SIG in 2000 because of the critical need for a forum to discuss research on Indigenous knowledge and practices,” Maaka said. “My research interests also include community partnerships, educational psychology, Indigenous leadership, development and advancement, educational policy, and language and cognitive development.”