{"id":216620,"date":"2025-05-28T10:23:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=216620"},"modified":"2025-06-05T11:03:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T21:03:28","slug":"chris-lee-creative-legacy-at-uh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/28\/chris-lee-creative-legacy-at-uh\/","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood to Hawai\u02bbi: Chris Lee\u2019s creative legacy at <abbr>UH<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><figure id=\"attachment_216637\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216637\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-lee-chris-headshot-wide1.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Lee headshot\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-216637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-lee-chris-headshot-wide1.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-lee-chris-headshot-wide1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-lee-chris-headshot-wide1-130x73.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-216637\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Lee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Chris Lee, founder of the <a href=\"https:\/\/acmsystem.hawaii.edu\/\">Academy for Creative Media System<\/a> (<abbr>ACM<\/abbr> System), has been named emeritus faculty by University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> President Wendy Hensel. Lee served as director of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> for more than two decades. He led the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> initiative, which spans all 10 campuses and continues to empower students to pursue careers in digital storytelling, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous narratives rooted in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Reflecting the state\u2019s unique cultural diversity, <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> is the first majority Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander media school in the country. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/online.flippingbook.com\/view\/329946827\/\"><b>Lookbook: Celebrating 20 Years of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> System<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_216659\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216659\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-acm-blue-bayou-master-class-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"group photo\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-216659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-acm-blue-bayou-master-class-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-acm-blue-bayou-master-class-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/manoa-acm-blue-bayou-master-class.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-216659\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Blue Bayou&#8217;s<\/em> director Justin Chon and <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> grad\/editor Reynolds Barney join Chris Lee and <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> students at a Master Class.<br \/><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now, the Hollywood veteran is stepping down, leaving a legacy that expanded <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s creative pipeline and opened doors for homegrown storytellers and creators.<\/p>\n<p>Lee said, &ldquo;There are so many people to mahalo for this honor. I am so grateful to the 2004 Board of Regents, which originally approved <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> as a system-wide initiative, key alumni like Roy and Hilda Takeyama who gave generously to both start and sustain us, legislators and governors who financially supported the build out of the program across the islands, the local production industry that has embraced our students, our exceptional faculty and, most of all, our talented graduates who are driving <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s growing and vital creative economy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Under Lee\u2019s leadership, the <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> System launched <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> (now known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/cinema\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa School of Cinematic Arts<\/a>), <a href=\"https:\/\/westoahu.hawaii.edu\/academics\/degrees\/creative-media\/\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> <abbr>ACM<\/abbr><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/maui.hawaii.edu\/programs\/creative-media\/\"><abbr>ACM<\/abbr> at Maui College<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/kauai.hawaii.edu\/creative-media\/\"><span aria-label=\"Kauai\">Kaua&#699;i Community College\u2019s Creative Media<\/span><\/a> program. It also supported the creation of <a href=\"https:\/\/uluulu.westoahu.hawaii.edu\/\"><span aria-label=\"Uluulu\">&#699;Ulu&#699;ulu<\/span>: The Henry <span aria-label=\"Kuualoha\">Ku&#699;ualoha<\/span> Giugni Moving Image Archive of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> <\/a>at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/esports\/\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Esports<\/a>, and collaborated with <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ics.hawaii.edu\/\">Information and Computer Sciences<\/a> (<abbr>ICS<\/abbr>) department to develop <a href=\"https:\/\/acmsystem.hawaii.edu\/portfolio\/uh-manoa\/lava-lab\/\">LAVA and Creative Computational Media<\/a>. Lee enhanced existing media programs at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leeward.hawaii.edu\/dmed\">Leeward <abbr>CC<\/abbr><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu\/programs\/arts-and-sciences\/nma\/\"><span aria-label=\"Kapiolani\">Kapi&#699;olani<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>\u2019s New Media Arts<\/a>, <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>, <a href=\"https:\/\/conservatory.windward.hawaii.edu\/\">Windward <abbr>CC<\/abbr>\u2019s <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.hawaii.edu\/ics\/\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s <abbr>ICS<\/abbr><\/a>. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Many of them are earning a living doing what they love, right here in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, telling their stories to the broadest possible audience. That was always the goal.<br \/>&#8212;Chris Lee <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Uniquely, <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> fostered the first comprehensive articulation agreements between all seven community colleges and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>, where Lee also led the development and funding of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>\u2019s state-of-the-art Student Production Center.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Chris Lee\u2019s foundational leadership and contributions have catalyzed creative media education across the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System and elevated <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s stories to a broader audience,&rdquo; said <abbr>UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel. &ldquo;Drawing from his groundbreaking career in Hollywood, he helped build a thriving creative pipeline here at home. We thank him for his decades of service and are proud to honor him with emeritus status for his lasting influence at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> and our state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#reflections\" class=\"local-scroll-link\">Tributes and reflections on Chris Lee and his legacy at <abbr>UH<\/abbr><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>A systemwide vision<\/h2>\n<p>Raised in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and an alumnus of <span aria-label=\"Iolani\">&#699;Iolani<\/span> School, Lee graduated from Yale University before starting a successful career as a motion picture executive and film and television producer. The first person of Asian ancestry to lead a major Hollywood studio, serving as President of Production at TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, he oversaw iconic films such as <em>Jerry Maguire, Philadelphia, As Good As It Gets<\/em> and more. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_216647\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216647\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-acm-chris-tom-cruise-valkyrie-set-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Tom Cruise and Cruise Lee sitting\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-216647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-acm-chris-tom-cruise-valkyrie-set-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-acm-chris-tom-cruise-valkyrie-set-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-acm-chris-tom-cruise-valkyrie-set.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-216647\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom Cruise and executive producer Chris Lee on the set of <em>Valkyrie<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After returning to <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in the early 2000s, Lee was invited to &ldquo;start a film school&rdquo; at <abbr>UH<\/abbr>. He imagined a cross-campus network that could elevate creative media education statewide.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Rather than just focusing on one campus at M\u0101noa, I visited every campus in the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;I met with faculty, staff and  students and saw what already existed, including the animation program at <span aria-label=\"Kapiolani\">Kapi&#699;olani<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> and  the TV studios at Leeward <abbr>CC<\/abbr>, and thought, &lsquo;What if we built something that connected all of them?&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In January, 2004, the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents formally established <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>, and Lee became its Founding Director. Over time, the initiative grew into a coordinated system offering specialized pathways in creative media, animation, gaming and digital content creation.<\/p>\n<h2>Empowering students and communities<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40777\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40777\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/west-oahu-takeyama-gift.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-full wp-image-40777\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40777\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roy and Hilda Takeyama and daughter <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Regent Jan Sullivan with Â鶹´«Ã½administrators when the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2015\/11\/19\/1m-academy-for-creative-media-donors-honored-by-regents\/\">Takeyama Foundation made a $1 million gift to the Academy for Creative Media at the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2013West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>, now the flagship for <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>, students can now pursue degrees in creative media, game design, communications and more. <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s School of Cinematic Arts focuses on narrative filmmaking, animation and Indigenous storytelling. The community colleges and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo offer strong foundations in production, media theory and animation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What made this possible was the advent of affordable digital technology,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;Thanks to early support from donors and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> alumni, including Roy and Hilda Takayama and Jay Shidler, we gave students a &lsquo;Digital Toolbelt&rsquo;&#8212;Macs with editing software, cameras and sound equipment. It let them tell stories that were true to themselves and shareable with the world through online platforms.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Creating an industry pathway<\/h2>\n<p>From the start, Lee emphasized that <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> wasn\u2019t just about making films. &ldquo;It was about preparing a workforce that could thrive in the future digital economy, in storytelling, animation, games, immersive media and beyond,&rdquo; he said. Today <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> graduates from every <abbr>UH<\/abbr> campus are driving <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u02bbs growing creative economy. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"blocklink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/online.flippingbook.com\/view\/851541543\/\">2025 ACM System Lookbook &#8211; The Graduates Edition<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Many of those early students have gone on to make significant contributions to film and television, including Daniel Ledoux Miller, co-director and co-writer of <em>Moana 2<\/em>; Bryson Kainoa Chun, a writer for <em>Moana 2<\/em> and <em>Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.<\/em>, who, along with fellow <abbr>UH<\/abbr> alumnus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/21\/students-alumni-shine-at-hiff\/\">Alika Tengan<\/a>, was named to the inaugural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/12\/15\/best-indigenous-film-tv-writers\/\">Indigenous List<\/a> recognizing top Native screenwriters.<\/p>\n<p><abbr>ACM<\/abbr> graduates work for Pixar, Disney, HBO, NBC and Netflix, but most have stayed in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> to build production companies or lead communications teams in sectors far beyond entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Every business now wants an in-house videographer and social media content,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;While graduates from <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Manoa\u2019s <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> like Christopher Makoto Yogi and Alika Tengan debuted their features at the Sundance Film Festival, students coming out of <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> are making TikTok capstones and going on to run campaigns for companies like BMW\/Mini and even Honolulu City Hall.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>A hub for the future<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_169409\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-169409\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wewt-oahu-acm-student-producation-center-opening-3.jpg\" alt=\"two people cutting lei\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-169409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wewt-oahu-acm-student-producation-center-opening-3.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wewt-oahu-acm-student-producation-center-opening-3-130x130.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-169409\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Lee and Maenette Benham at the grand opening of the <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> Student Production Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The $37-million <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> Student Production Center at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2022\/11\/21\/acm-student-production-center-grand-opening\/\">opened in 2022<\/a> and has already become a hub for content creation, film and student collaboration. Adjacent to the facility is the proposed site of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/06\/film-studio-developer\/\">state-of-the-art motion picture and television studio<\/a>, currently under development.<\/p>\n<p>The project, spearheaded by the Island Film Group team in partnership with <abbr>UH<\/abbr>, will include modern sound stages, production facilities, and a town square with live-work, retail, dining and lodging. The studio is envisioned as a transformative center for the West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> region and the state\u2019s growing media industry.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the natural next step in <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>\u2019s evolution,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;Combined with the <abbr>UHWO<\/abbr> Student Production Center, this complex will help elevate <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> to a global level. One of the project requirements is integration with <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>, which means our local students will have real opportunities\u2014paid internships, mentorship and jobs with living wages.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Driving innovation across the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> <\/h2>\n<p>Even as he steps back, Lee is helping guide <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>\u2019s evolution through new initiatives. Most recently, he has been actively involved with the Aloha <abbr>AI<\/abbr> Institute, a proposed <abbr>UH<\/abbr> initiative that, like <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> System, aims to unite all 10 Â鶹´«Ã½campuses. The project will equip students with the tools and opportunities to explore AI\u2019s role in creative fields, particularly in integrating Indigenous knowledge and cultural narratives.<\/p>\n<p>Lee also helped create a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/05\/16\/new-certificate-creative-media\/\">computational creative media degree<\/a> at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <abbr>ICS<\/abbr>, launched in fall 2024, which prepares students to use <abbr>AI<\/abbr> tools in video games, animation and digital content. His push into esports led to <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s largest tournament in 2024, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/01\/hawaii-esports-invitational\/\"><span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Esports Invitational<\/a>, hosted at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>. The event brought together six <abbr>UH<\/abbr> campuses, out-of-state universities such as Michigan State, and local high schools, showcasing how <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> initiatives are preparing students for future careers while supporting economic diversification.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_216676\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216676\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-Jason-Leigh.-David-Garmire.-Chris-Lee-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"three men sitting in front of graphic screens\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-216676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-Jason-Leigh.-David-Garmire.-Chris-Lee-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-Jason-Leigh.-David-Garmire.-Chris-Lee-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/system-Jason-Leigh.-David-Garmire.-Chris-Lee.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-216676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jason Leigh. David Garmire. Chris Lee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>A lasting impact<\/h2>\n<p><abbr>ACM<\/abbr>\u2019s transformation into a nationally recognized, culturally grounded media school stands as part of Lee\u2019s enduring legacy\u2014one that elevates <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s stories and storytellers on the global stage.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everybody hopes they leave someplace better than how they found it,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;Now we have hundreds of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> graduates. Many of them are earning a living doing what they love, right here in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, telling their stories to the broadest possible audience. That was always the goal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"reflections\">Reflections on Chris Lee<\/h2>\n<p><em><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Chris Lee\u2019s story is about an island son done good&#8212;eventually reaching the highest levels of Hollywood success as a major studio executive. His dedication and passion for his craft, along with his unwavering vision to have our local students achieve similar successes, was the driving force that led to the creation of the Academy for Creative Media at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> and the establishment of the state-of-the-art Creative Media Facility at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>. We are grateful to him and for his contributions to UH, our students, and the state&#8212;and we wish him well on his future endeavors.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vassilis Syrmos<br \/>\nVice President for Research and Innovation, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What has been most impactful about Chris Lee\u2019s accomplishment is giving students in Hawai\u02bbi&#8212;aspiring filmmakers, game designers, and <abbr title=\"virtual reality\">VR<\/abbr> creators&#8212;the opportunity to train with cutting-edge tools that rival, and often surpass, those at the top media schools in the country. It\u2019s not just opening doors to real careers&#8212;it\u2019s also turning <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> into a hub for creative talent from around the world. This is the foundational step that sets the stage for what comes next: the creation of a film production studio integrated with the <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> program. That means immediate job opportunities for graduates and a direct connection to industry professionals who can lead masterclasses, workshops, internships, and ultimately help grow a thriving, homegrown creative workforce in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jason Leigh<br \/>\nProfessor, Information &#38; Computer Sciences, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Chris moved home to <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> to pursue the bold vision of building a creative media industry to help diversify <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s economy.  This was a big goal that went far beyond academia\u2013through his successful career in Hollywood he understood the link that was required to anchor academia to a constantly changing industry. He brought his energy and passion to pursue a vision of building something that didn\u2019t exist. He is the rare person that had the tenacity and passion to pursue that vision despite the slings and arrows that face someone that is disrupting the status quo. We owe him a debt of gratitude for all that he created, and for the many students that he inspired.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jan Naoe Sullivan<br \/>\nChief Operating Officer, Oceanit<br \/>\n<abbr>UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents (2011-2021)<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When Chris was at Yale studying political science, he landed an internship with <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Congressman Cec Heftel in Washington, <abbr>D.C.<\/abbr> That summer, he moved in with me. While watching <em>Good Morning America<\/em>, he turned to me and said, &lsquo;I\u2019m going to work there next year.&rsquo; I laughed\u2014but he got the job. That\u2019s Chris: fearless, confident, and determined. He went on to lead one of Hollywood\u2019s top studios in the \u201990s, then returned to <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in the 2000s to build a world-class, system-wide film school. He\u2019s transformed our creative media landscape and inspired a new generation of storytellers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Heather Haunani Giugni<br \/>\nCollections Specialist\/Producer, <span aria-label=\"Uluulu\">&#699;Ulu&#699;ulu<\/span> Archive, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For two decades, Chris Lee devoted his knowledge, talents, and experience as a Hollywood motion picture and television producer to creating the unique 10-campus Academy for Creative Media program within the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. His vision for <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> has benefited generations of <abbr>UH<\/abbr> students with exciting career opportunities. A true champion of the power of storytelling and its economic impact, Chris recognized early on the potential of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> to shape <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s creative future. He deserves commendations and support for his vision, efforts, and achievements. Kudos and mahalo to Chris Lee!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Doris Ching<br \/>\nEmeritus Vice President for Student Affairs, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Chris Lee leaves an indelible imprint on <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s economy with the Academy for Creative Media expanding the number of creative media graduates throughout University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s 10-campus system. Not only was he the first Asian-American to head production for a major American film studio, but he led <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> government leaders in showcasing <abbr>ACM<\/abbr> and Waianae Searider students at Shanghai film festivals as early as 2004. His trailblazing efforts resulted in a wide range of media education partnerships between Asian higher ed institutions and <abbr>UH<\/abbr>. After completion of <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West-<span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>\u2019s media production facility in 2022, Chris Lee has really put <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> talent on the global map.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Carol Fukunaga<br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Senator, District 11<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When I think about Chris Lee&#8217;s impact at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> and across the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System, I refer to the <span aria-label=\"Olelo\">&#699;&#332;lelo<\/span> <span aria-label=\"Noeau\">No&#699;eau:<\/span> <span aria-label=\"O\">&#699;O<\/span> ka <span aria-label=\"pii\">pi&#699;i<\/span> n&#333; ia a K&#333;k&#299; o Wailau. This is used in admiration for someone who reaches the top despite difficulties. Chris challenged himself to build a system-wide emphasis on creative media across all 10-campuses; establishing a hub, the Academy for Creative Media (<abbr>ACM<\/abbr>) at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>. He has created opportunities and has inspired imagination for so many of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>&#8216;s youth. Who, because of <abbr>ACM<\/abbr>, are resourceful, resilient, and relentless. Indeed, <span aria-label=\"O\">&#699;O<\/span> ka <span aria-label=\"pii\">pi&#699;i<\/span> n\u014d ia a K\u014dk\u012b o Wailau &#8212; we stand in admiration of Chris Lee.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maenette Benham<br \/>\nChancellor, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Academy for Creative Media founder Chris Lee  has been named emeritus faculty by <abbr>UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,29],"tags":[112,72,549,1056,1405,598,61,484,63,64,65,1037,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-216620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","category-people","tag-academy-for-creative-media","tag-board-of-regents","tag-creative-media","tag-digital-media-arts","tag-esports","tag-faculty-recognition","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-information-and-computer-science","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-new-media-arts","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216620"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":217211,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216620\/revisions\/217211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}