Rate My Professor Frank Edwards

Frank Edwards' career at the University of Otago includes his earlier role as Kaitakawaenga Māori, or Māori Community Liaison Officer, at the Māori Centre. There, he organized whānau hui for senior Māori students and their families, facilitated connections through national and regional iwi events, and co-contributed to key resources such as the Whānau Guide alongside Grace Latimer. He represented the Māori community in interdisciplinary efforts like the BEATS Research Programme, which examined adolescents' travel to school patterns in urban, semi-urban, and rural settings. Transitioning to library leadership, Frank has managed reviews of impactful proposals, including Koloa mei Moana to commemorate Pacific contributions, and led wānanga at Puketeraki Marae to unite library whānau through tikanga Māori practices. These gatherings challenged staff preconceptions about knowledge sources and built stronger communal bonds. His efforts extend to student welfare during crises, such as providing guidance amid COVID-19, and celebrating milestones like Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori since 2012. Frank Edwards continues to advance Māori engagement, student success, and strategic development across the university.