SOEST alumna named on Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 list
University of Hawaiʻi alumni play a vital role in the local business community, from executives and small business owners to impactful leaders across various industries. This year, SOEST alumna Alyssa Agustin was recognized on the Pacific Business News (PBN) 40 Under 40 list. The PBN 40 Under 40 program recognizes young professionals in Hawaiʻi who demonstrate leadership, career achievement, and a strong commitment to the community.
“I am honored to be selected in 2025 for my leadership in managing coastal projects and for my service to the community through mentoring and STEM education,” said Agustin, who is a project manager at Sea Engineering.
The recognition highlighted Agustin’s work launching Hawaiʻi’s first Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) STEM Camp for high school students, as well as her broader efforts in professional development and volunteer leadership.
Agustin earned a bachelor’s of science in Global Environmental Science in 2013 and a master’s of science in Oceanography in 2017. Mark Merrifield, who was an oceanography professor and the director at the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Level Center, advised both her undergraduate and graduate research which focused on wave-driven sediment transport, marine debris deposition patterns, and the processing of tide gauge data.
At Sea Engineering, Agustin manages a wide range of coastal and marine infrastructure projects. She leads coastal assessments, environmental permitting, construction oversight, drone-based aerial surveys, stakeholder coordination, and business development and marketing.
“I’m deeply grateful for the education and mentorship I received through SOEST,” Agustin shared. “SOEST gave me a strong foundation in scientific thinking, data analysis, and technical communication. It’s been incredibly rewarding to build a career that stays grounded in ocean science while contributing to real-world coastal resilience and infrastructure solutions in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.”
Agustin recently graduated from the SAME National Leadership Development Program and now serves as a National Elected Director on the SAME National Board of Direction. Her leadership capstone project was the creation of a new STEM camp for high school students on Oʻahu’s North Shore that brought together 28 volunteers and multiple agencies to deliver an unforgettable, hands-on educational experience. It was so successful that it will now be an annual camp integrated into the SAME National Camp Program. Additionally, Agustin and her husband created a character-building program for teens, called “Level Up”.
“Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who have shaped my journey in meaningful ways,” said Agustin. “So, I’m especially passionate about giving back to the next generation of scientists and engineers through mentoring, leadership development, and STEM outreach.”
For a list of the other UH alumni included on the 40 Under 40 list, see the UH News story.