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The rigor of Pacific’s physics and math faculty certainly challenged Campbell, but in the process he discovered that he enjoyed the science of physics and engineering, and the art of design.

“Once I got to design, you basically get to create communities,” Campbell said. “You get this blank slate of a parcel and you get to design the roads, what it looks like, where the lots go, and how we serve the homes. So it was kind of that piece that really stuck with me.”

The creation of community is central to a major theme in Campbell’s life: to give back to the people, the ‘Ohana of Hawaiʻi, who have given him so much. For example, there’s a new state mandate for people to convert homes using cesspools for wastewater mitigation to individual wastewater systems by 2055. The cost of such a project is minimal compared to some of his other work, but it can be cost-prohibitive for homeowners — so Campbell is looking for ways to help.

“For me, being able to get larger projects or diversify to bigger public projects or even federal projects, that will allow us to do those jobs for not necessarily free, but by keeping it as cheap as possible for all of our local people,” Campbell said.

Campbell also has formed two nonprofits with friends. The produces a handful of golf events and an apparel line with proceeds benefiting Hawaiʻi youth golf programs. Launchd LLC produces golf tournaments for Make-A-Wish Hawaiʻi and Never Quit Dreaming, and helped create the first junior golf program for children with disabilities.

While Campbell’s physics degree set him up for success as an engineer, Pacific now has more direct pathways to a career in engineering. The university’s engineering physics major allows students to cover the basics in the science of engineering, coupled with a comprehensive education covering topics like business, computer science or environmental science. Meanwhile, Pacific’s engineering science 3:2 dual-degree program allows students to earn an engineering science degree in a liberal arts environment before transferring to a partner school to complete a second, more specialized engineering bachelor’s degree. 

Campbell is thrilled that Pacific now has a more direct path to an engineering degree, but he adds that the ability to earn a well-rounded liberal arts education is critical as he leads the growth of PDG Hawaiʻi.

“It is more than just the physics. It’s everything else around it that Pacific asks you to do and learn,” he said.

“The personal skills I gained were awesome. Taking on a physics major at Pacific gave me the mindset of, ‘Hey, if I can get through that, I think I can pretty much figure out how to get through anything.’”

And, like he did when he made the move from Honolulu to Forest Grove, Campbell believes Pacific is a great place for future Hawaiʻi students to take a chance away from the islands.

“It’s a lot, going away that first semester. I feel like a lot of kids go away for a semester or a year, but then come back,” Campbell said. “But you have such a solid local community that I think you are going to want to stay. I think it’s hard to beat. They intentionally go out of their way to try to help good Hawaiʻi kids stick it out.”