UH Maui College Names Wo Learning Champions

By Wendy Osher

Joyce Yamada and Debasis Bhattacharya, courtesy photo UHMC.

Two employees at University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC) were selected as Wo Learning Champions. The program is an initiative that was created to enhance professional development and faculty enrichment at the University of Hawai’i.

The Maui members selected this year are Joyce Yamada, a coordinator for the UHMC Dental Assisting Program, and Debasis Bhattacharya, a professor of applied business and information technology.

The two will be join other members across the state in designing a professional development program for faculty and staff that promotes enrichment at the state’s community colleges, focuses on learning, and invests in leadership development for junior members of the academic community.

“I am pleased to work with Debasis and our colleagues at our neighboring community colleges through the Wo Learning Champions program,” said Yamada.  “I look forward to active collaboration and sharing ideas for professional renewal and enrichment,” she said.

The program was founded in December of 2000 by Dr. Joyce Tsunoda, senior vice president of the University of Hawai‘i and chancellor for the community colleges.

The Wo Learning Champions initiative is funded through the support of the Bob and Betty Wo Family Foundation and the Jim and Juanita Wo Family Foundation.  Together, the Wo families have pledged a gift of $1 million over five years.