Leila Tewahade.
Leila Tewahade (Bachelor of Science in Biology), originally from Chadron, Nebraska, chose to attend Hawaiʻi Pacific University in search of an experience distinctly different from the one she grew up with. At HPU, she immersed herself in research, leadership, and service opportunities while earning Dean’s List honors every semester. She majored in Biology with a focus on conservation, ecology, and evolution, and minored in Oceanography.
As an undergraduate researcher, Tewahade worked across multiple laboratories, contributing to projects in neuroscience, marine ecology, molecular biology, and conservation science. She values the diversity of mentors she encountered, noting that each introduced her to new perspectives, skills, and ways of thinking that shaped her academic growth. Her senior capstone research focuses on understanding and controlling the spread of invasive coqui frogs on Oʻahu. Supported by a faculty mentor and a Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council grant, her work involved swabbing coqui frogs to test for chytrid fungus and developing experimental protocols using radio telemetry to monitor and track coqui movement.
Beyond the lab, Tewahade has volunteered extensively with local organizations, including Limu Hui in Waimānalo, where she contributes to limu outplanting and restoration efforts that support community-led ecosystem recovery. She also served as a Community Advisor and a Biology Teaching Assistant, roles that allowed her to build meaningful relationships with fellow students and contribute to the university community.
Upon graduation, Tewahade plans to remain in Hawaiʻi to complete her coqui frog research before traveling internationally, with long-term goals of pursuing a Ph.D.
