TCUP-HUB

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Building Connections and Capacity

The TCUP Hub concludes its first proposal writing and grant management workshop in Honolulu

Panelists (from left to right) Summer Helms, grant writer and evaluator; Victoria Rivera, assistant vice president for research administration and compliance at the University of Hawaiʻi; Dr. Ardis Eschenberg, chancellor of Windward Community College; and Stanford Fichtman, assistant director of the grants office at Kapiʻolani Community College shared practical insights on proposal development, institutional processes, budgeting, compliance, and lessons learned from their collective experience supporting successful grants and sponsored projects in a session that emerged as a workshop favorite.

By Frankie Hayes-Ellis (Harriss)

The TCUP Hub’s Proposal Writing and Grant Management Workshop recently concluded in Honolulu, bringing together participants from 12 institutions for four days of learning, networking, and collaboration focused on strengthening STEM opportunities and grant capacity across Indigenous-serving institutions.

To meet the diverse needs of participants, the workshop was divided into two groups. Group 1, with 21 participants from both tribal and Hawaiʻi–serving institutions, explored development of proposals for the National Science Foundation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (NSF-TCUP).

Group 2, with 12 participants, focused on Hawaiʻi-specific grant management, institutional processes, and post-award success. Together, participants engaged in interactive sessions, proposal development activities, mock proposal reviews, panel discussions, and peer networking opportunities.

Through a fast-paced juggling exercise, presenter Valerie Barko challenges participants to keep multiple priorities (balls) aloft, illustrating how even strong institutions can struggle when too many unrelated initiatives compete for attention.

Feedback highlighted that one of the workshop’s greatest strengths was the opportunity to learn directly from colleagues and practitioners. One participant described the experience as “a really humanizing and connective workshop. I valued seeing the real humans behind the systems.” Others pointed to the mock review panel and discussions with experienced grant professionals as particularly valuable, with one participant noting, “The mock panel session gave me a new perspective on grant writing. I learned what reviewers look for and the mindset behind proposal selection.”

Participants also expressed enthusiasm for continued engagement through future workshops, mentoring opportunities, proposal coaching, networking communities, grant management training, and AI-related discussions. Several participants stated that they would welcome more hands-on proposal development activities and additional opportunities to collaborate with colleagues facing similar institutional challenges.

The strong participation, thoughtful discussions, and overwhelmingly positive feedback reinforced a clear message: there is significant interest across the TCUP community for continued professional development, collaboration, and peer support. The TCUP Hub and Hawaiʻi Mini-Hub look forward to building on this momentum through future workshops, networking opportunities, and community-driven learning activities.

Over four days of learning, collaboration, and connection, participants engaged in hands-on activities, discussions, and networking designed to support stronger proposals, projects, and partnerships.

Dr. Frankie Hayes-Ellis (Harriss) heads the Hawaiʻi mini-Hub.

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