The American Association of University Women at UH Mānoa’s mission is to promote AAUW’s values both on-campus and in the community. As a Registered Independent Organization (RIO) at the UH Mānoa campus, AAUW-UHM’s programs and initiatives aim to provide the tools necessary for women to gain economic security, to pursue their education, and advocate for women’s rights—with the broader goal of working towards a more equitable society. 

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AAUW-UHM is housed in the UH Mānoa Office of Civic and Community Engagement (OCCE) under the supervision and mentorship of OCCE Director Atina Pascua. AAUW-UHM is generously sponsored by the AAUW Honolulu Branch. AAUW-UHM interns work collaboratively with the AAUW Honolulu Branch on communication and outreach efforts.

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For the 2020-2021 Academic Year, AAUW-UHM put on a total of 16 virtual events, including an Antiracist Parenting webinar series, a Women in STEM event, a series of Wahine webinars, and several educational movie nights. Many of these events were presented in partnership with other UH Mānoa or community programs, including Student Parents at Mānoa, the UH Library System, Read to Me International, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps VISTA. AAUW-UHM’s events are open to students from other UH campuses, as well as the general public. The 2020-2021 events attracted 260 unique attendees. 

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The AAUW-UHM team for the 2021-2022 Academic Year consists of five student interns with diverse interests, backgrounds, and skills, including an undergraduate student, a post-baccalaureate student, and three graduate students. The intern team is led by Student Branch Coordinator Ronja Steinbach, a two-time recipient of AAUW Honolulu’s academic scholarship.

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AAUW-UHM sends monthly newsletters with updates about upcoming events. To be added to their mailing list, email aauw.uhmanoa@gmail.com. You can also keep up with AAUW-UHM on Instagram and Facebook.

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To learn more about AAUW-UHM, visit the UH Mānoa Civic and Community Engagement website.
 

Meet the
AAUW-UHM
Interns

Ronja Steinbach (Student Branch Coordinator)

Hello! My name is Ronja Steinbach and I am a junior at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa where I am studying marine biology and botany. My current research is focused on fungi’s ability to degrade plastic pollution in our oceans. I am a native New Mexican and I grew up in a bicultural German/American household. I love being outdoors and spend much of my free time hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, reading, and doing yoga, among other activities.

I have been an AAUW Intern since my freshman year and most of my work has been focused on Title IX, Women in STEM, women’s empowerment, and community building. Through AAUW, I have been afforded the opportunity to work with a passionate team of people to create positive change in our community. I am confident that we can build a stronger, more equitable, and just society. I look forward to making climate justice, with a focus on women’s issues, a central focus of my work, throughout my academic journey and professional career.

Susannah Lee Kandikatti
(Intern)

Samantha Larson
(Communications Intern)

Hi everyone, my name is Samantha Larson, but I go by "Sammi." I’m currently a second-year student in the Communication MA program at UH Mānoa, where I also received my BA in Political Science in the spring of 2020. This is my second year as a communications intern with AAUW UH Mānoa, and I also work with the AAUW Honolulu Branch on their monthly newsletter. I love being a part of the AAUW UHM team because it’s such an encouraging and uplifting environment. This semester, I hope that we can expand our reach both on and off-campus, and create safe spaces for personal and professional growth, support, and meaningful connection despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

Jaela Henderson
(Communications Intern)

Aloha! My name is Jaela, and I am so excited to be joining the AAUW-UHM team for a second-year, this time as a communications intern. In the upcoming semesters, I will be supporting the intern team through monthly newsletters, and working with the AAUW Honolulu branch on social media communications.
 
I was raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, and currently reside in ʻEwa. This year, I am a senior in Ethnic Studies and Political Science, and am participating in the Educational Administration B.A. to M.Ed. pathway. My research interests include gender-equity and transformative justice. In my free time, I enjoy playing with my 2-year-old puppy, Kahiʻukā!