Teaching Medal Award Winner

Cheryl Maeda
Maui

Cheryl Maeda is an associate professor in fashion technology at UH Maui College.

Known for her patience, passion and high-quality instruction, Maeda succeeds to the fullest as a teacher and a mentor. She helps all of her students with the confidence, matter-of-fact wisdom and skill of a proven expert in her trade. She makes herself available for help and questions far beyond what is required.

“My creative life has changed so much since I began the fashion tech program,” one student commented. “I credit that to Cheryl’s excellent teaching abilities, her comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry and her personal interest in all her students.”

Maeda is a one-woman program, serving as the fashion technology program coordinator, professor, curriculum and program developer and community liaison. Students value her efforts to encourage and direct them towards career and business opportunities, and she has developed a number of venues for her students to showcase their work, including the UHMC Fashion Technology Couture Fashion Show, the UHMC Fashion Technology Showcase and the UHMC Fashion Technology Holiday Fair.

Another students noted, “She opened my eyes up to a wide variety of options I did not realize were available to me before entering her classes.”