VNR: U.S. Department of Education leader visits UH research facilities

Contact:

Link to video and sound: https://go.hawaii.edu/osi

WHAT:
U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent visited the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to meet with university leadership and tour two of UH's world-class research facilities: the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 27, 2026

WHERE:
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the HIMB, Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island), Kāneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu

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 Hawaiʻi:

• UH President Wendy Hensel
• Debora Halbert, vice president for academic strategy, UH System
• Chad Walton, interim vice president for research and innovation, UH System
• Vassilis Syrmos, interim provost, UH Mānoa
• Rob Wright, interim vice provost for research and scholarship, UH Mānoa

MORE INFORMATION:

• The visit provided an opportunity for U.S. Department of Education leadership to learn more about the University of Hawaiʻi's research enterprise, student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and higher education programs.
• The delegation toured the HSFL clean room at UH Mānoa, 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 UH Mānoa, 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 Loʻe in Kāneʻohe Bay for a tour led by HIMB Director Megan Donahue.
• HIMB is an organized research unit of UH Mānoa 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: https://go.hawaii.edu/osi

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

Soundbites:

Wendy Hensel, UH 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 Hawaiʻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland."