Liezl Alcantara, PhD

Liezl is a Senior Researcher for the Office for Educator Growth and Development at Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu, Hawai’i).

She received her Ph.D. in Community Psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, where she earned her M.A. in the same subject. Her work there revolved around community-based research, evaluation, and action. In her roles at DePaul’s Steans Center, Egan Urban Center, and University Ministry, she was involved in assessment initiatives, program development and improvement, leading trainings and workshops, and consulting projects. Through her Dissertation, she investigated community-university partnerships from the perspective of community partners.

Liezl grew up in Seattle, attended Our Lady of the Lake from 6th through 8th grade, then Seattle Preparatory School (where she first encountered the Jesuits). For her Senior Year, she attended Matteo Ricci College at Seattle University — easily the most academically rigorous experience she has ever had. After graduating from Gonzaga in 2005, Liezl spent a year teaching English in South Korea with the Fulbright Program. Since 2006, she has been in graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago. Liezl and her husband, Daniel Houglum, have recently relocated to Hawai’i after living spending time in Seattle and the Midwest. Daniel is a pianist and holds a Ph.D. (Music Composition) from the University of Iowa.