Cheri Souza
Hawai‘i Postsecondary Success Program Officer
Now is the time to strengthen Hawai‘i’s diverse communities by investing in our young people. I am honored to be working in the community I grew up in and am inspired by the Foundation’s commitment to supporting positive changes that will last long into Hawai‘i’s future.
Cheri Souza (she/her) joined Stupski Foundation in 2021 as the Hawai‘i postsecondary success program officer. She leads the Hawai‘i postsecondary success portfolio focused on holistic student support initiatives and work-based learning throughout the islands, with an emphasis on underrepresented students and rural communities. In her role, Cheri is committed to fostering partnerships and collaborations across the Hawaiian Islands to provide students with the access and support they need to realize their educational and career goals.
Grantmaking With Aloha
In Hawai‘i, Cheri has shifted the Foundation’s postsecondary success grantmaking to include a wide spectrum of partners, from postsecondary institutions focused on traditional pathways to smaller community-based organizations that work to create greater access to career opportunities and reduce the inequalities often experienced in rural communities. She has focused on supporting partnerships that create leadership and career opportunities that also center the unique values and culture of Hawai‘i.
Early Career
A proud product of the Hawai‘i public education system and a lifelong resident of O‘ahu, Cheri is passionate about helping young people in Hawai‘i discover their talents through education and work-based learning opportunities. Cheri brings to the Foundation more than 15 years of experience working in higher education. Through her work at community college, baccalaureate, and graduate institutions, she has had the opportunity to engage with students at public and private institutions in Hawai‘i, California, and Washington state. Prior to joining the Foundation, Cheri led initiatives at the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges to improve the college-going rate of Hawai‘i’s high school students. Her key programs and strategies included supporting work-based learning pathways, academic counseling, and developing student leaders.
Professional & Community Recognition
Cheri is a recipient of the University of Hawai‘i Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, and she was selected to participate in the University of Hawai‘i President’s Emerging Leadership Program, the Hawai‘i ACTE Emerging CTE Leaders Program, the Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance, and the Rockwood Equity in Philanthropy Fellowship.
In 2024, Cheri was one of 205 individuals selected from thousands of applications across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to be part of the Obama Foundation’s Leaders program. Cheri has also served as the NACADA Region 9 chair and is on the board of advisors for the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and the board of directors for ‘Alana Ke Aloha Krause Family Foundation.
Academic Achievement & Interests
Cheri received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and Master in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University before returning to Hawai‘i to earn her doctorate in education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has a certificate in Wellness Coaching from Cornell University.
In her free time she is an active hula, baseball, and soccer mom. When she is not moonlighting as their personal chauffeur, she enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, hiking, and camping and indulging in her love for animals of all types.
Cheri’s Insights
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Ep. 61 | Dr. Cheri Souza | Stupski Foundation -
Ep. 77 - Money as Medicine in Advisor Wellness? -
Flashback interview | Dr. Cheri Souza | NACADA Interview -
Ep. 100 Part III | Jennifer Nguyen & Dr. Cheri Souza | Navigating the Changing Academic Landscape
