US Department of Education leader visits University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research facilities

U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent on Wednesday, May 27, visited University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to meet with university leadership and tour two of its world-class research facilities: Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory and Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology.

Kent was accompanied by U.S. Department of Education Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron, Press Secretary for Higher Education Ellen Keast, special assistant Cristian Clementi and special advisor Ethan Good.

Also on the tour were University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel, Vice President for Academic Strategy Debora Halbert, Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship Rob Wright.

The visit provided an opportunity for federal Education Department leadership to learn more about the University of Hawaiʻi’s research enterprise, student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and higher education programs.

“We’re very excited to be here talking with the president and her leadership team about … the opportunities for higher education in Hawaiʻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland,” said Kent in a release about the visit.

Officials were led by Wright and laboratory integration and launch specialist engineer Lance Yoneshige on a tour of the clean room at Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory, where university researchers design, build, launch and operate small satellites for science and educational missions.

The clean room is primarily used for the integration, assembly and testing of satellites.

Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology Director Megan Donahue led the group on a tour of her facility on Moku o Loʻe in Kāneʻohe Bay.

The institute is an organized research unit of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and internationally recognized for research on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, climate resilience and ocean health.

University and federal education leaders also later discussed topics including research, higher education programs, postsecondary pathways, student success, affordability, student aid, accreditation and workforce development.

“We are trying together to make it the best environment it can be for student achievement, and wherever we can partner to make that happen, we are happy to do that and ready to go,” said Hensel in the release.