Fourteen University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa academic subjects were ranked among the world’s best in the 2026 , released on March 25.

Four subjects placed in the top 22 in the nation and top 100 in the world. Leading the way was geology (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), geophysics (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), Earth and marine sciences (No. 21 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world) and linguistics (No. 22 in the U.S. and No. 61 in the world).

Ten additional subjects placed in the world’s top 2% (within top 500 in the world out of ):

• English language and literature: No. 28 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 30 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Anthropology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–200 world
• Modern languages: No. 41 U.S., No. 251–300 world
• Environmental sciences: No. 66 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 68 U.S., No. 251–275 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 70 U.S., No. 401–450 world
• Education: No. 78 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Medicine: No. 99 U.S., No. 451–500 world
• Biological sciences: No. 100 U.S., No. 451–500 world

“These rankings highlight the exceptional work and commitment of our faculty, students and staff,” ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “They showcase the university’s global standing and reinforce that ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa offers outstanding educational opportunities and experiences for both our local community and those joining us from around the world.”

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa was ranked in three broad subject areas and 14 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs by asking academic experts to nominate universities based on their subject area of expertise), employer reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs among employers), research citations per paper (measures the impact and quality of the scientific work done by institutions, on average per publication), H-index (measures both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar) and international research network (measure of an institution’s success in creating and sustaining research partnerships with institutions in other locations).

The 2026 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026
• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026

As a student, Suzanne Neufang gravitated to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa because of its location and connection to the Pacific. Today, she works to strengthen the bonds that hold the business travel industry together as the CEO of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

“Having grown up in the middle of the continent in North America, it was so enriching for me to have such a view of not just Asia, but the Pacific, and then Hawaiʻi’s history in and amongst that,” said Neufang.

Inspired by ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ professors

While studying at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ, Neufang became fascinated by telecommunications—especially how vital technology is for a geographically isolated island chain. Encouraged by her professors, she researched and submitted a paper that was selected for discussion at the Pacific Telecommunications Conference in Waikīkī. Her thesis examined Integrated Services Digital Network, an early digital standard for transmitting voice and data over phone lines that was once viewed as the next stage of broadband.

“Thinking about what technology has to do with something as old as human communication, I think without the professors and the students who are challenging each other, I don’t think I would have made it that far,” said Neufang. “Both the theoretical as well as the practical was something that I enjoy mixing every day.”

Forging a path in communication industries

After graduating with a master’s degree in communication from ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ in 1992, Neufang spent a decade at Hawaiʻi Public Television and GTE Hawaiian Tel. That cemented her understanding and belief that communication and connection to others is integral to the human experience.

“While telecom and broadcasting can be considered mediated connections, travel as a face-to-face or now as we say in-real-life connection, was a natural evolution for me to navigate towards professionally,” Neufang said.

Neufang oversees the GBTA’s mission to deliver community, learning and advocacy for industry members worldwide. That includes delivering innovative business-to-business solutions to customers who need them. The tools she learned at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ help to lay the foundation needed to make connections on a global scale.

The earned high marks in nearly 20 academic subjects in the , with , and leading the way among the highest-ranked programs.

Oceanography ranked No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 7 in the world, atmospheric science placed No. 8 nationally and No. 11 worldwide, and hospitality and tourism management ranked No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 32 in the world.

The rankings were released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy and is considered one of the most comprehensive and objective assessments of university performance by discipline.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa also posted strong global and national placements across science, engineering, social science and other fields. tied for No. 17 in the U.S. and ranked No. 51–75 worldwide, while ecology and each tied for No. 24 nationally and placed No. 76–100 globally.

Additional ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa subjects recognized in the 2025 rankings include communication, education, political science, water resources, biological sciences, civil engineering, food science and technology, environmental science and engineering, agricultural sciences, economics, management and physics.

“These rankings reflect the depth and consistency of excellence at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa,” Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “Our faculty are advancing research that matters locally and globally, while preparing students to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.”

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from more than 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions. The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

Other recent rankings:

• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

The ancestor spirit represents my deep appreciation to my ancestors, who I feel are always guiding me in life.
—King James Mangoba ()

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Hamilton Library’s and the Center for Philippine Studies at the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ opened , an exhibition linking 1500s colonial maps with tattoos as living archives of Filipino cultural memory, on view through February 2026.

Opening events, held October 15–17, drew more than 100 participants for workshops, talks and live tattoo demonstrations. ¶«¾«Ó°Òµees explored how Filipinos have used body art and the written word to resist erasure—from rare 16th-century maps and letters from the Philippine Revolution to underground newspapers from the Marcos era, all part of Hamilton’s Philippine Collection.

Mapping identity through body and archive

Philippine Studies Librarian Elena Clariza opened the program with a presentation on early colonial maps, connecting “fragile maps on paper with living maps of the body—tattoos as archives of ancestral knowledge and cultural memory.”

Guest artists from California’s Spiritual Journey Tattoo Shop and members of Tatak ng Apat na Alon (Mark of the Four Waves) demonstrated traditional hand poke and tapping tattoo techniques, sharing their nearly 30-year effort to revive Indigenous Filipino tattoo practices.

“In the beginning it was just for us to find our identity, to represent the culture in some way,” said Elle Festin, tattoo artist at Spiritual Journey and a Datu (chief) of the Mark of the Four Waves tribe. “It’s important to get the tattoos to show the resistance and to revolt against the systematic colonial mentality.”

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ community connects to heritage

For King James Mangoba, a ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ double major in communication & marketing and Hamilton Library social media content creator, the event was a personal and cultural milestone.

“The rice symbolizes my family’s livelihood of rice farming back in the Philippines. The ancestor spirit represents my deep appreciation to my ancestors, who I feel are always guiding me in life,” he said. “This tattoo is a permanent reminder of where I came from and my appreciation to my ancestors who came before me.”

Doctoral candidate Matthew Melendez, from the , participated in the tattoo sessions. “Receiving knowledge from the Tatak ng Apat na Alon tribe through our cultural portal of batok (tattooing) has profoundly transformed me from within,” he said.

The event was co-sponsored by ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s Center for Southeast Asian Studies and Center for Philippine Studies, and Spiritual Journey Tattoo Shop. To support programs like this at Hamilton Library, visit the .

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Mark of the Four Waves members visit the Philippine Studies section at Hamilton Library.The post Exhibit links Filipino tattoos, maps across centuries first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]> 225411 /news/2025/11/13/the-human-connection/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:44:47 +0000 /news/?p=225355 Interactive activities and panel discussion help students build essential workforce skills.

For Grace Nushida, a leap across the Pacific became the experience that inspired her future. While studying at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, she earned a scholarship to study abroad in Okinawa—the only Hawaiʻi student selected to attend the newly opened Okinawan Prefecture Arts University in Shuri.

She describes her year abroad as a life-changing immersion into music, culture, cuisine and her Okinawan heritage.

Transformative experience abroad

“Studying in Okinawa was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to live in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language fluently, which pushed me far outside my comfort zone,” Nushida said. “Okinawa gave me the courage to fail, reflect and grow.”

Back home, Nushida completed a bachelor of arts in communications in 1996. She credits ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ for giving her the foundation to succeed both personally and professionally.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ isn’t just where I earned my degree, it’s where I learned how to lead, listen and grow.
—Grace Nushida

Formative years at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹

“My time at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ was incredibly formative. I had excellent professors in the College of Communications and one of my elective courses with Glen Grant left a lasting impression. He was legendary among students for his captivating storytelling, while dressing up and sharing Hawaiʻi ghost stories that made learning unforgettable,” she said.

Leadership, connection and community

Today, Nushida is sales manager at ¶«¾«Ó°ÒµA Health Insurance, where she works to make health coverage easier to understand and access. She stays closely connected to ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ and its alumni ʻohana, carrying forward the lessons and values she learned on campus.

“As someone who works closely with businesses across Hawaiʻi, I’m constantly presenting to, collaborating with or servicing ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ alumni. That shared connection opens doors, builds trust and reminds me we’re all part of something bigger,” she said. “¶«¾«Ó°Òµ isn’t just where I earned my degree, it’s where I learned how to lead, listen and grow.”

The David A. Ward chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s earned the for the 2024–25 academic year. This national award recognizes the chapter’s outstanding achievement and leadership in community engagement.

“We dedicated our time and effort to ensure that we upheld the highest standards set by PRSSA,” said Mailani Magbanua, chapter president and a in . “We can’t wait to see how our chapter will continue to flourish in the future.”

To earn the Star Chapter Award, PRSSA student chapters must meet at least eight of 11 rigorous requirements, which include strengthening relationships with a sponsoring professional chapter, addressing ethics in meetings, participating in community service, and engaging in national events and awards.

The ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa PRSSA students organized a variety of academic and professional events, including a speaker series, communication skills workshops, community service projects and fundraising efforts. The chapter also held semi-annual career day tours and, this past spring, offered members a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Hawaiʻi Business Magazine and Anthology Marketing Group.

“This award reflects our members’ passion and dedication to achieve the chapter’s goals,” said Ji Young Kim, faculty advisor and associate professor of communication. “This is the second time the chapter has earned this national recognition, and I am looking forward to their continued success.”

Added Amy Hennessey, the chapter’s professional advisor, “As an alumna, it gives me great pride to see how they’ve continued to build on the legacy of so many members before them. I continue to be inspired by the quality of our students and their contributions to the profession and our local PR community.”

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The School of Communication and Information is part of ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s .

University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ alumna Keʻalohi Lee Lucero is returning to the islands to showcase her latest feature film, . As the executive producer, she helped bring to life the heartfelt story of a father with terminal illness teaching his disabled son to bag groceries in preparation for a life of independence.

The critically acclaimed film has earned 12 awards so far, including Best Premiere at the Heartland International Film Festival. It stars Police Academy’s Lance Kinsey as Oscar, along with the up-and-coming Cole Massie as Oscar’s son Billy—both of whom were recognized for their roles.

“What makes Paper Bag Plan unique is that it redefines the superhero story—sometimes heroes don’t lift cars, they lift their children.” said Lucero. “I want this film to stick with people. I want people to contact their family members—their mother, their father, or their child, and just reach out to them.”

Consolidated Theatres Ward will be showing the film September 18–25, with the possibility of future shows based on reception. Lucero will be hosting a Q&A on September 19 and 20 after the 7 p.m. showings.

An industry veteran

Lucero is no stranger to Hollywood, working for years as a live studio director, producer and editor. Some of her most notable contributions have been to series such as Baywatch and America’s Got Talent.

However, she got her foot in the door as an intern for the Hawaiʻi Public Television station where she soon made her way to being their youngest live director.

“I fell in love with all of it,” said Lucero. “I spent every waking moment in that studio.”

This hands-on experience complemented her studies at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication. Lucero was also fascinated with the business side of the industry—which her ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ classes helped her to understand—as well as production.

“Collaborating creatively with like-minded people in my classes was really helpful,” said Lucero. “I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not gone to ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ.”

Passion project

While Lucero is still behind-the-scenes on larger scale productions, she has personally helmed feature films such as Paper Bag Plan, which she produced with her husband Anthony, the project’s director.

“We wanted to be unique and tell an original story, not just follow another manufactured formula,” said Lucero.

Unlike many box office productions that focus on drawing crowds in with big names, Paper Bag Plan takes a small idea and turns it into an epic story, while highlighting people with disabilities.

To learn more about the film, visit .

—By Josslyn Rose

University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students swept all 24 student awards at the annual Excellence in Journalism awards, hosted by the (SPJ), July 30.

Headlining the group were the following first-place winners:

• Student Investigative Journalism in Any Media—Lili Hurd ( major)
• Student Breaking News in Any Media—Emma Davidson (journalism major)
• Student Feature Journalism in Any Media—Flynn Hamlin (2024 journalism graduate)
• Student Sports Journalism in Any Media—Justin Gardner (2024 journalism graduate)
• Student Journalism Featuring Video—Lili Hurd
• Student Journalism Featuring Photography—Kiersten Morgan (exploratory major)
• Student Journalism Featuring Audio—Alyssa Francesca Salcedo (2025 journalism graduate)
• Student Editorial/Opinion Writing—Emma Caires (2025 journalism graduate)

Associate Professor Youjeong Kim from the in ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²Ñ²¹²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s and faculty sponsor of the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ SPJ Student Chapter, said, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students recognized for their hard work. They’re not just learning how to report the truth—they’re out there doing it, with heart and a strong sense of responsibility. Their work makes a real difference in Hawaiʻi, and I’m proud to support them.”

Other students who won awards included majors in , and . Suah Cho, an incoming PhD student in the communication and information sciences program, won three awards for stories that were published in Civil Beat, where she interned in 2024. Many faculty members and alumni also earned awards in professional categories.

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Taking a leap of faith across the U.S. and Pacific, Quentin Shores—a communications major from New Albany, Ohio—arrived at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa knowing no one. But it didn’t take long for him to uncover a passion for storytelling, public speaking, and building meaningful connections that would define his college experience.

“I didn’t even know there was a college out here, and I’d never been here. I didn’t know a single person here, so it was just kind of like a shot in the dark,” said Shores.

Discovering passion through community, social media

In his second year, Shores worked at the as a campus tour guide, where he discovered his passion for communications. His humor and charisma quickly resonated with prospective students and families, making each tour an unforgettable experience.

Meet more amazing ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ spring graduates

That experience opened new doors, leading to a student host role on ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ News’ weekly “What’s Up This Week” social media videos, where he honed his professional speaking and broadcasting skills. Shores was able to showcase and refine a range of his talents, aligning more closely with his passion for communication and performance.

“I feel like I’ve been able to match things like the art of public speaking and being able to present ideas clearly. ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ really helped me narrow in on what I’m good at and where I want to go with it.”

Shores wore many hats: DJ, social media manager for multiple organizations, and tenor saxophone section leader (and social media manager) for the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa Marching Band. His social media videos for the band drew more than 100k views.

“The band was like a found family experience,” Shores said. “So I was able to come into the university and have, like, basically a group of friends right off the bat. That really helped me integrate into the island, as well as culturally into the campus.”

A message of resilience and new beginnings

Selected as the student speaker for commencement, Shores hopes to remind his fellow graduates that success isn’t always a straight line.

“I want to reassure everyone that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Society makes you think you need to know exactly what you’re doing after college. The truth is, it’s always going to be hard,” Shores said. “But if you’ve gone to college and built skills, it’s just a matter of time. You’ve already done the hard part.”

After graduation, Shores plans to travel and soak in new experiences before heading to Orlando in the fall to join the Disney College Program. There, he hopes to bring stories to life, spark joy through performance, and continue honing his craft in communication.

“I came here not knowing anyone, not knowing what I was doing,” he said. “But now, I leave feeling like I really found myself. And I think that’s the whole point of college. I always tell people—don’t be afraid to take risks. You might just find your people, your purpose, and a place that feels like home.”

—By McKenzie Kurosu