Department Lecturers

Amanda Candēns
MA, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Religion, 2017)
BA, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Hawaiian Studies, 2015)

Office: Online Instructor
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: candens@hawaii.edu

Amanda Candēns is a specialist in the study of female deities with a focus on cross-cultural analysis within polytheistic traditions. In addition to her MA in Religion, she also holds a graduate certificate from UH Mānoa’s College of Education in Online Learning and Teaching through the College’s Learning Design and Technology program. Online courses taught by Amanda include REL 149 Introduction to the World’s Goddesses, REL 150 Introduction to the World’s Major Religions, REL 211 Understanding Ancient Religions, and REL 356 Women and Religion.

David Falgout
PhD, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Philosophy, 2014)
MA, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Religion, 2004)
MA, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (Philosophy, 2001)

Office: Sakamaki A-314
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:45pm – 2:45pm.
E-mail: dfalgout@hawaii.edu

David Falgout lectures often at Hawai‘i Pacific University, in Argument Writing, Religion, and Classics, and at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, in Philosophy and Religion.  His research interests are primarily in Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic religion and philosophy, with a focus on aesthetics, philosophy of religion, hermeneutics, and methodology in the study of religion.

Melvin Libman
DD, Jewish Theological Seminary of America (1989)
Rabbinic Ordination, Jewish Theological Seminary (1964)
MLH, Jewish Theological Seminary of America (1961)
BJEd, Boston Hebrew College (1958)
BA, Harvard University (1959)

Office: Moore 494
Office Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:30am to 12:30pm and by appointment.
E-mail: mlibman@hawaii.edu

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Mel is a graduate of Harvard University and the Boston Hebrew College. He was ordained as Rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. He also has done post-graduate work at the Hebrew University and New York University and is a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling from the Post-Graduate Center for Mental Health.

He has served congregations in Toronto, Washington D. C., New Haven and San Diego and has worked extensively in Jewish communal work. He has taught at Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific College, and Palomar College in San Diego. At UH Mānoa he currently teaches first and second year Biblical Hebrew.

Jay Sakashita
PhD, University of Stirling, Scotland (Japanese Studies, 1998)

Office: Sakamaki A-313
Office Hours: Mon., Wed. and Fri. 8:45am-9:30am, and by appointment
E-mail: jsakashi@hawaii.edu

An alumnus of the University of Hawai‘i, Jay received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Stirling in Scotland, where his research focused on contemporary Japanese religions. His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, journals, and books. Jay is also a Professor of Religion at Leeward Community College where he teaches several courses in religion, including those related to Christianity and Japanese religions. He has no hobbies, no time to read books, and absolutely no social life. This is his children’s fault.