University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics Department human resources specialist Paula Nishimoto was recognized with the Willard Wilson Award for Distinguished Service. Her “can do” attitude is recognized by many people and 34 years of service for the athletics department has never gone unnoticed.
Nishimoto has gone above and beyond in her service for UH, and her title as a human resources specialist is just a small part of her contribution. She has taken on many additional projects and reports to ensure the success for the athletics department. With the state’s only division 1 athletics program, Nishimoto takes pride in her involvement in hiring coaches and staff who will impact the entire UH community.
See what her nominators have to say:
- She is a wonderful representative of our university, as she conducts herself with confidence and a level of knowledge and professionalism that really reflects an environment of organization and compliance.
- She gives her time and expertise to explain the best course of action or reveal where the roadblocks are so athletics department executives are able to make educated decisions. Her role spans beyond human resources. Paula is often asked to take lead on fact-finding projects to help provide accurate information for legislative meetings and/or board of regents meetings.
- Paula is always looking for ways to improve the process while maintaining the integrity of it. The athletics department would not be able to function or transition without Paula’s work ethic and commitment to making us better.
- Her process, diligence, attitude, willingness to take on challenges has allowed us to expeditiously hire great coaches who want to be in Hawaiʻi for the right reasons.
Overseeing hundreds of staff is no challenge too big for Nishimoto. She is an alumna of UH Mānoa and earned her bachelor of arts degree in business marketing and management. Nishimoto is known to be a team player who not only dedicates her time as a human resources specialist but also attends sporting events to support the student athletes and coaches.
The Willard Wilson Distinguished Service Award was established in 1969 to honor the UH Board of Regents’ retiring secretary, who set the standard for exemplary service. The winner, selected from full-time employees at all 10 UH campuses, must have a minimum of 20 years of service and display a consistent pattern of extraordinary dedication to the university that is constantly above and beyond the responsibilities of the nominee’s position, among other criteria.
See past Willard Wilson awardees.
