Seven University of Hawaiʻi Community College faculty and staff have been selected as the 2015 Wo Global Learning Champions (WGLC). This year, the cohort will visit Aotearoa, New Zealand, where participants will focus on how to support the University of Hawaiʻi’s strategic goal of being a premier indigenous-serving institution.
The program was funded by the James and Juanita C. Wo Foundation.
Inaugural Wo Global Learning Champions
- Christine Quintana, Hawaiʻi Community College
- Larissa Leslie, Hawaiʻi Community College
- Mary Hattori, Kapiʻolani Community College
- Ryan Girard, Kauaʻi Community College
- Joyce Yamada, UH Maui College
- Liping Liu, UH Maui College
- Ellen Ishida-Babineau, Windward Community College
Expansion of existing Wo Learning Champions program
The Wo Global Learning Champions expands the existing Wo Learning Champions, a professional development program James Wo and his brother Robert initially funded for the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges in 2001.
“Brother Bob and I have long believed that international education is critical to Hawaiʻi’s success today and in the future,” stated Jim Wo. He added, “We have been encouraged by the progress of the professional development program under Louise Pagotto’s leadership and we support her aspiration to make the community colleges more globally-connected places of learning.”
WGLC provides a global initiative for professional development and participants will have first-hand experience interacting with their counterparts in higher education institutions in other countries.
“The importance of international education to Hawaiʻi cannot be overestimated,” said Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton. “An international education helps our educators develop an understanding and appreciation for the cultural differences among people in their immediate environment as well as throughout the world. This makes them better educators and better leaders.”
For the full story, read the UH Foundation news release.
