Dean
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Nathan M. Murata, PhD. Professor and Dean, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Nathan Murata completed his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and joined the faculty at Chaminade University to start their special education program. He left Chaminade to pursue a position at the University of Toledo, OH. Nathan returned to Hawaii as an Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (KRS) department, University of Hawaii at Manoa. He became a Full Professor, served as Department chair and Associate Dean prior to becoming Dean of the College of Education. During his tenure in the KRS department, he led the accreditation reports (WASC, NCATE at that time), served as assessment coordinator, and program director for the K-12 teacher. Nathan has always prioritized student success as the foundational core of being an educator.
While College of Education (COE) Dean, he oversaw eight departments and two research units with total enrollments close to 1900 undergraduate and graduate students. While the COE is ranked 64% by News and World Report, he continues to work on improving overall rankings. He promoted diversity and inclusion by advocating for a Native Hawaiian working group to serve as advisors to the college. This important component is part of the overall college and university strategic initiatives – Being a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning. “Globally Prepared, Locally Committed” this is the overall theme that drives part of his work as Dean.
He co-authored three textbooks, numerous publications and local, state, national and International presentations. He secured over $3.5 million dollars in U.S. DOE, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Programs training grants, and contracts worth over $1.5 million from the State of Hawaii, Department of Health focusing on the Hawaii Concussion Awareness and Management Program (HCAMP) in collaboration with the Hawaii Department of Education. HCAMP is the only state supported concussion awareness and education program in the country. Currently, he is Co-PI for HuTT808 project along with colleagues from UMASS, Lowell and Adelphi University on Reducing Head Impacts for Hawaii High School football players. He recently received a foundation donation for $300,000 to continue the HuTT808 project with the State of Hawaii. Working within the context of Adapted Physical Education, and with the support of external partners, he organized the first Interscholastic high school basketball games featuring both students with disabilities and those who are at-risk called Friday Night Prime Time.
Leveraging Innovation and Partnerships to Increase Educator Diversity
Friday, February 16, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM MST