Arapata T. Meha was recently named the new Dean of Admissions at the BYU-Hawaii in Laie. As former Associate Dean and Director of Admissions at the university, Meha brings a wealth of experience to the position.
Keith Roberts, Vice President of Academics, describes Meha as "the perfect person for this job at this time." According to Roberts, as a New Zealand native and graduate of BYU-Hawaii, Meha is not only a successful alumni , but is a Pacific Islander who understands the university and its mission. . "He has certainly been well-prepared academically and professionally for this position and we're really excited to have him."
"I've had the opportunity to travel in the Pacific with him and have seen his commitment and his understanding of the students and their families," said Roberts.
Along with his understanding of the university and its students, Meha brings a broad background of education and experience in higher education to his new position. That background includes a Masters of Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with an emphasis in higher education administration, work as the director of the Native Hawaiian Vocational Education Project in the Community College system of the University of Hawaii, as well as his work for the past eleven years in the Office of Admissions and Records at BYU-Hawaii as Associate Dean and Director.
"As Dean of Admissions and Records I would continue in the forward direction established by Dean Jeffrey Bunker," said Meha. "I am committed to ensuring that staff in all areas directly involved in enrollment management have the tools and resources required to improve the quality of their work."
Only one in ten applicants to BYU-Hawaii are accepted, so Meha sees his job as Dean of Admissions, "as an art, rather than a science. I think there is a place for the quantitative side of what we do," he said, "but there's a more important role for us to look carefully at every individual to try to determine which individuals should be here at this time."
Criteria used in selecting those admitted to BYU-Hawaii include: a commitment to graduate from BYU-Hawaii with a four-year degree, a strong desire to contribute to the international mission of the university, with emphasis primarily in Asia and the Pacific, a competitive GPA and/or test score, and attendance at LDS seminary or institute, or active involvement in community services and extracurricular activities.
For those admitted, BYU-Hawaii offers an top-ranked educational experience that incorporates academic, spiritual, and social opportunities to learn and grow. A diverse student body, and qualified faculty, surrounded by a uniquely beautiful environment enhances BYU-Hawaii's goal to prepare students to be leaders in promoting international peace and understanding.