The Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum announced 16 local leaders who are joining the ninth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program, and eight are alumni from the University of Hawaiʻi. The program seeks to cultivate the conditions in which Hawaiʻi thrives by equipping leaders with the skill and cross-sector relationships necessary to affect societal change.
These individuals were chosen through a rigorous application process, selected based on their accomplishments, innovative skills, ability to collaborate with other leaders, and motivation to make a positive change.
“We are excited to bring back this unique opportunity for emerging leaders to engage in impactful discussions, learn from one another, and help make Hawai‘i even better,” said AJ Halagao, president of Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum and Shidler College of Business alumnus. “We strive to develop, engage, and inspire leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change.”
The eight UH alumni who were selected as the ninth cohort of Omidayar Fellows:
- Katie Bennett (UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law), Founder and Lead Mediator, Family Mediation Hawaiʻi
- Amanda Corby Noguchi (UH Mānoa, Kapiʻolani Community College), President and Creative Director, Under My Umbrella, Inc.
- Stacy Ferreira (UH Mānoa), CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
- Vicky Hanes (UH Hilo – Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy), COO, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
- Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni (UH Mānoa – Shidler College of Business), President and CEO, Partners in Development Foundation
- David Kopper (UH Mānoa), Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
- Kaulana Mossman (UH Mānoa), Community Planning Liaison Officer, Department of Defense Pacific Missile Range Facility
- Laura Reichhardt (UH Mānoa – Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing) Director, Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing
For the full list of the ninth cohort, see the Omidyar Fellows website. The program has a history of selecting UH alumni and employees.