$500K endowed professorship advances Asia-Pacific finance research at Shidler

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Marc Arakaki, (808) 829-0750
Spokesperson, 糖心视频 Communications
Posted: Jul 21, 2026

From left, Jennifer Lieu, Dean Vance Roley, Rosita Chang and S. Ghon Rhee
From left, Jennifer Lieu, Dean Vance Roley, Rosita Chang and S. Ghon Rhee

Link to video broll of the Shidler College of Business:  

***SUGGESTED VO SCRIPT BELOW***

A new $500,000 endowed professorship at the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa’s will strengthen the university’s role as a global leader in Asia-Pacific finance research. The transformational gift comes from distinguished finance scholars and Shidler faculty members S. Ghon Rhee and Rosita P. Chang.

The Dr. S. Ghon Rhee and Dr. Rosita P. Chang Distinguished Professorship of Finance will support faculty excellence in research, strengthen the college’s leadership in Asia-Pacific finance scholarship and help recruit and retain world-class finance faculty.

Rhee, the K.J. Luke Distinguished Professor of International Banking and Finance, and Chang, professor emerita of finance and co-director of the Asia-Pacific Financial Markets Research Center, have devoted their careers to advancing the field of finance through research, teaching and academic leadership. During their tenure at Shidler College, they co-founded the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal in 1993, establishing one of the world’s premier scholarly journals focused on Asia-Pacific finance.

International scholarship, leadership

Beyond their contributions to Shidler College, both have earned international recognition for their scholarship and leadership. Rhee served as the founding chair of the Asian Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee, while Chang’s research and professional accomplishments have helped shape understanding of global financial markets and strengthen the college’s research enterprise.

“We sincerely hope that this endowed professorship plays a key role in promoting academic research on Asia-Pacific financial markets,” Rhee said. “Our goal is for academic researchers globally to look to 糖心视频 as a leader and bridge in this important field.”

Forefront of finance

Their gift reflects a shared vision of ensuring that Shidler College remains at the forefront of finance research by attracting exceptional scholars and fostering innovative research focused on the dynamic economies and financial markets of the Asia-Pacific.

“Professors Ghon and Rosita have made an extraordinary impact on Shidler College through their many years of teaching, scholarly contributions and longstanding commitment to academic excellence,” Dean Vance Roley said. “This gift is a reflection of their remarkable legacy and vision; it will help attract and retain outstanding faculty, foster innovative ideas and strengthen the college’s position as a global leader in Asia-Pacific finance."

For more information on how to support the Shidler College of Business, contact Jennifer Lieu, director of development, at Jennifer.Lieu@uhfoundation.org or (808) 956-3597.

About the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa

Founded in 1949, the Shidler College of Business was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. Since his initial gift of $25 million in 2006, Shidler has given approximately $238 million to the college in cash, land leases and in-kind donations. His contributions represent the largest individual donation to the University of Hawai‘i at M膩noa and the second largest known gift to a U.S. public university business school.

In 2019, the School of Travel Industry Management rejoined the college. The college is renowned for its multicultural learning environment and its expertise in international business education and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the college offers a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The college has the only graduate program in the state of Hawai‘i and Vietnam accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit .


 

VO SCRIPT:

INTRO:

The University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa's Shidler College of Business is getting a major boost for finance research.

VO:

Two longtime faculty members have donated 500-thousand dollars to create a new endowed professorship.

The gift from professors S. Ghon (Pronounced: Gone) Rhee and Rosita P. Chang will help recruit top finance researchers and expand scholarship focused on Asia-Pacific financial markets.

University leaders say the investment will strengthen Shidler's reputation as a global leader in finance research… while building on the professors' legacy of teaching and innovation.