Drs. David and Susan Chandler
HONOLULU – Dr. Susan Chandler, founding director of the College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and Dr. David Chandler, professor emeritus in the College of Social Science, Department of Sociology, have made a $14,000 gift to establish a fellowship in the study of public policy or conflict studies. The fund will support a full-time graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree, or Ph.D. in public policy or conflict studies in the departments of Sociology, Political Science, Urban and Regional Planning, Communications or Community Psychology at the College of Social Sciences at UH Mānoa.
“Susan has served Hawai‘i in many dimensions, as a social worker, professor of social work, the director of the Department of Human Service for 8 years in the Cayetano Administration. She launched the UHM Public Policy Center and initiated many dynamic programs. With this fellowship, her legacy will live on. We are most grateful,” said Denise Eby Konan, dean of the College of Social Sciences.
Prof. Susan Chandler, BS, MSW, Ph.D, Cert. Public Administration, is the director of the Public Policy Center where she teaches in the areas of public policy analysis, organizational change, policy implementation, collaborative governance and pubic administration. She joined the University of Hawai‘i in 1976. Prof. Chandler earned her B.S. at Cornell University, her MSW at UH Mānoa, and her Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley.
When asked why they decided to create a fellowship, David Chandler shared, “I wanted to honor Susan for all that she has done to serve the people of Hawai‘i.” Chandler continued, “This fellowship builds on our lifelong commitment to addressing socio-economic disparities. Our hope is that this fellowship will help nurture a community of well-educated citizens, committed to building a more equitable world.”
Prof. David Chandler is a sociologist and practicing mediator specializing in conflict resolution in higher education, family and divorce disputes. He was one of the original founders of the Neighborhood Justice Center, now known as the Mediation Center of the Pacific.
“Susan and David have devoted their professional careers to assisting low-income residents in Hawai‘i. Through this fellowship and their philanthropy, their efforts to address socio-economic disparities will continue through the work of future graduate students,” said UH Foundation President and CEO Donna Vuchinich. She continued, “It is always very special working with faculty members who have chosen to support UH not only through their teaching but also through their philanthropy. It has been an honor to partner with the Chandlers in their effort to grow their impact through their giving.”
To find out how you can support students, faculty and programs in the College of Social Sciences, please contact Matt Henry at (808) 956-6701 or [email protected]. You can also make a secure gift online at www.uhfoundation.org/GiveToSocialSciences
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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.
