VNR: U.S. Department of Education leader visits ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ research facilities

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Communications, (808) 956-8856
University of Hawaii System
Posted: May 27, 2026

Link to video and sound:

WHAT:
U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent visited the University of Hawaiﾊｻi at Mﾄ］oa to meet with university leadership and tour two of ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ’s world-class research facilities: the Hawaiﾊｻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) and the Hawaiﾊｻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 27, 2026

WHERE:
University of Hawaiﾊｻi at Mﾄ］oa and the HIMB, Moku o Loﾊｻe (Coconut Island), Kﾄ］eﾊｻohe Bay, Oﾊｻahu

WHO:
Office of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education:

  • Under Secretary Nicholas Kent
  • Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron
  • Special Assistant Cristian Clementi
  • Press Secretary for Higher Education Ellen Keast
  • Special Advisor Ethan Good

University of Hawaiﾊｻi:

  • ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ President Wendy Hensel
  • Debora Halbert, vice president for academic strategy, ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ System
  • Chad Walton, interim vice president for research and innovation, ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ System
  • Vassilis Syrmos, interim provost, ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Mﾄ］oa
  • Rob Wright, interim vice provost for research and scholarship, ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Mﾄ］oa

MORE INFORMATION:

  • The visit provided an opportunity for U.S. Department of Education leadership to learn more about the University of Hawaiﾊｻi’s research enterprise, student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and higher education programs.
  • The delegation toured the HSFL clean room at ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Mﾄ］oa, where university researchers design, build, launch and operate small satellites for science and educational missions.
  • The HSFL tour was led by Rob Wright, interim vice provost for research and scholarship at ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Mﾄ］oa, and Lance Yoneshige, integration and launch specialist engineer.
  • The HSFL clean room is primarily used for the integration, assembly and testing of satellites.
  • The group also traveled to the HIMB on Moku o Loﾊｻe in Kﾄ］eﾊｻohe Bay for a tour led by HIMB Director Megan Donahue.
  • HIMB is an organized research unit of ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ Mﾄ］oa and is internationally recognized for research on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, climate resilience and ocean health.
  • University and federal education leaders discussed topics including research, higher education programs, postsecondary pathways, student success, affordability, student aid, accreditation and workforce development.
     

Link to video and sound:

B-ROLL  1:10
(Assorted shots of Under Secretary Nicholas Kent and U.S. Department of Education officials meeting with ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ leadership, touring the Hawaii Space Flight Lab clean room, viewing satellite technology and research activities)

Soundbites:

Wendy Hensel, ﾌﾇﾐﾄﾊﾓﾆｵ President (:10)

"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. "

Nicholas Kent, U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary (:12)

"We're very excited to be here talking with the president and her leadership team about how we can, what are the opportunities for higher education in Hawaiﾊｻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland."