This message was shared with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ʻohana on July 29, 2020.
Aloha UH Mānoa ʻohana,
It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I inform you that Mary Guo, one of our graduate students in our Doctor of Nursing Practice program, died this past Sunday, July 26. The Honolulu Police Department arrested a suspect and opened a murder investigation in what appears to be a case of relationship violence.
Mary was a stellar student and researcher. She was a graduate of Roosevelt High School and UC Berkeley, where she double majored in Integrative Biology and Chinese. She then earned a bachelor of science in nursing and a masters in public health, both at UH Mānoa. Mary aspired to be someone who would be a force for good in our community and was considered to be a rising star in Hawaiʻi’s healthcare industry.
Her death is a loss for our campus community and Hawaiʻi.
For the family and friends of Mary, I find myself grasping for the right words to offer comfort and to understand a dark situation. I hope that there will be peace after this pain and that there will be justice. I know that those who knew and loved Mary will remember all of the good she brought into their and others’ lives and that they will keep her memory close to their hearts. We are planning to honor her memory by establishing a memorial scholarship fund in her name.
When a life is so needlessly lost, we are often left asking why. If you are in need of someone to talk to, we have counselors from the UH Mānoa Counseling and Student Development Center available to help. You can call (808) 956-7927, or schedule an appointment.
For those of you who face possible situations of domestic or relationship violence, we are here to help you. Please reach out at any time. Our UH Mānoa Campus Confidential Advocate (geneq@hawaii.edu) and Title IX Office can help guide you to the right resources. You can also contact our campus partner, Domestic Violence Action Center for off-campus resources.
Employees may also seek confidential Employee Assistance Program services through WorkLife Hawaiʻi by calling (808) 542-8445 to schedule an appointment.
Let us remember that we are here for each other and that we can find strength in each other.
Mālama pono,
Michael Bruno
Provost
