Academic Advisor Pohai Kukea Shultz, in the College of Education (COE) Office of Student Academic Services (OSAS), was selected for the Outstanding New Advisor Award by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). With the COE since 2005, Kukea Shultz began working with OSAS in 2012.
In his nomination letter, Academic Advisor Niki Libarios wrote, “Dr. Kukea Shultz has demonstrated leadership initiatives and growth in all facets of our academic advising unit, most notably as it applies to the advancement of Native Hawaiians in higher education.”
Responsible for academic advising, recruitment, admissions, retention, graduation, as well as grant funding procurement, Kukea Shultz established Puʻuhonua: Hale for Native Hawaiian Student Support. The impact of Puʻuhonua has been profound with Native Hawaiian enrollment in the COE’s undergraduate programs more than doubling in size over the last few years.
“I feel honored to be recognized, but this award would not have been possible without the support of my colleagues who also work towards supporting Hawaiian students at UH Mānoa and the COE,” shared Kukea Shultz. “This is as much a recognition of their work, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute in some small way to the amazing vision and advocacy of those who have come before me and those who continue to work towards the betterment of our lāhui Hawaiʻi.”
In 2013, Kukea Shultz was selected as one of six fellows for the First Nations Futures Program Fellowship. She recently co-authored a book chapter on the Hawaiian Language Immersion program and serves on multiple boards and councils within the university and community. She will be recognized at the 2015 NACADA Annual Conference this October in Las Vegas.
