HPU Capstone Symposium 2026

Welcome

The Capstone Symposium is an annual virtual event at Hawai'i Pacific University to promote academic excellence, learning with real-world purposes, interdisciplinary exchanges, and HPU-community connections. The organizing committee is happy to welcome you to our new event website! Here you will find more information about the event's objectives, the speakers, and the schedule. You will also be able to explore the content and see the list of participants. 

THE CAPSTONE SYMPOSIUM PROVIDES PRESENTERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO:

• share what they have accomplished in their degree program

• showcase their competency, creativity, and innovation in certain areas

• relate discipline-specific learning outcomes to real-world applications

• link their knowledge and abilities to future employment or higher education

• substantiate professional development and achievement

THE CAPSTONE SYMPOSIUM ENABLES THE AUDIENCE TO LEARN ABOUT:

• what HPU students can accomplish by the time they graduate

• what different degree programs can offer

• how HPU contributes to the local community and the world

Majors Represented

Business Analytics, Business Management, Cinematic and Multimedia Arts, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice Administration, Diplomacy and Military Studies, Environmental Studies, International Relations, Marine Affairs, Marine Biology, Nursing, Oceanography, Physical Therapy, Political Science, Public Health, Social Work, Strategic Communication, Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Organizing Committee

Dr. Hanh Nguyen, Professor, College of Liberal Arts, Chair; Dr. Brett Neilson, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Organizer; Dr. Noelia Paez, Associate Professor, College of Business, Organizer; Dr. Mary Smith, Associate Professor, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Organizer; Dr. Sabrina Thomas, Director, HPU Libraries.

Acknowledgements

The 2026 Capstone Symposium organizers would like to thank the following faculty, staff, and offices:

Capstone mentors: Dr. Ashley Boles, Dr. Redouane "Red" Briou, Dr. Peter Britos, Dr. Derek Cegelka, Dr. Lori Daniels, Dr. Joshua Forakis, Dr. John Hart, Dr. Russell Hart, Dr. Leeah Javier, Dr. Burgel R. Maria Levy, Dr. Cataixa Batista Lopez, Dr. Peter Mataira, Dr. Jennifer Merkle, Dr. Ngoc Phan, Dr. Barbara Quimby, Dr. Larry Schuetz, Dr. Grace Schonhardt, Dr. Mary L. Smith, Dr. Haley Tiffany, Dr. Aundrea K. Vidal, Dr. Carmella Vizza, Dr. Lynda Voiles, Dr. Qing Zhang

Proposal reviewers: Dr. Heather Medicine Bear, Dr. Christina Cuka, Dr. Maria Levy, Dr. Cynthia Lynch, Dr. Brett Neilson, Dr. Hanh Nguyen, Dr. Noelia Paez, Dr. Mary Smith, Dr. Erika Collazo-Vargas, Dr. Daniela Wagner-Loera, Dr. Sabrina Thomas

Judges: TBA

Sponsors and Supporters: The Office of Academic Affairs, Career Development Center, Marketing and Communication, HPU Libraries, and Student Life.