RFHD Chairperson Jennifer Mie Kajiyama Tinkham shares how the initiative empowers students in their education and enables them to serve as leaders
For Jennifer Mie Kajiyama Tinkham, the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative (RFHD) at BYU–Hawaii is about more than just academic study; it is a gateway to leadership. As founder of the initiative, she views her role as a catalyst for student empowerment, helping them bridge the gap between their education and their future careers. “This opens doors and expands what [students] believe is possible for themselves,” she explained, noting that the initiative is designed to enable students to serve as leaders in their chosen fields.
Kajiyama-Tinkham stated that she is tasked with “creating opportunities where students can step into meaningful experiences, rather than simply observing them.” She explained that she fulfills this role by helping students through mentoring sessions, conference preparations, research guidance and partnership building.
Student opportunities through connection building
Kajiyama-Tinkham said the opportunities provided by RFHD “quickly became personal for students,” helping them grow within the initiative. She noted that many students lead, contribute to, and shape the experiences of others. At conferences, students often present research, moderate sessions, and deliver concluding remarks, she said. “[Students] step into roles that place them not on the margins, but at the center of [important] conversations,” she said.
Over time, she said she noticed students forming their own perspectives on law and religious freedom while acquiring new connections and a clearer sense of purpose. This was evident when Kajiyama-Tinkham worked with a group of students preparing for a conference; she noted many were initially hesitant and unsure of their abilities. However, during the event, “they were not only participating, [but also] building significant connections,” she said.
Kajiyama-Tinkham specifically referenced the experiences of two students. “One student from Indonesia had the opportunity to connect with leaders from her home country, including a former judge,” she said. That connection allowed the student to secure an internship in Indonesia. A second student from Tonga secured similar connections that ultimately enabled them to serve in government.
Kajiyama-Tinhkam emphasized how these experiences are not isolated events, but have meaningful and long-lasting effects. “Students do not just participate in these spaces, but [also] shape conversations around human dignity, peacebuilding and religious freedom on a global level,” she explained.
Moving forward, Kajiyama Tinkham hoped that the RFHD can offer students more opportunities to hone their skills and research, as well as build connections with figures willing to invest in them. She emphasized the value each connection holds, noting that even one may enable students to serve in their home countries or desired fields. “If [students] leave with the confidence and connections to build bridges, lead with understanding and contribute to peace in their own communities, then I believe we are fulfilling both the purpose of RFHD and the broader mission of BYU–Hawaii,” she concluded.
How cultural diversity enriches RFHD
The Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative (RFHD) is a student-led interfaith organization originally founded at BYU–Hawaii. With the mission of advancing the understanding of human dignity through research, education and events consistent with gospel principles, the RFHD focuses on fostering religious liberty, human rights and diverse dialogue, specifically in Oceania and the Asian Rim.
Kajiyama-Tinhkam highlighted BYU–Hawaii’s culturally diverse environment and its significance in shaping the RFHD. She said, “It is not uncommon to have conversations where students from Indonesia, Fiji, Tonga and the Philippines are all sharing how religion, law and culture intersect in their own communities.” She added that such discussions draw from grounded experiences rather than abstract concepts. “[Students] are drawing from their own lives, their families and their communities,” she stated.
Kajiyama-Tinhkam also noted the support students give to one another within those settings. She shared how they listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions and genuinely attempt to understand other’s perspectives. She said, “[BYU–Hawaii’s] environment becomes the foundation for everything we do in RFHD.” She also reiterated how RFHD and the university’s missions and visions intertwine with one another. “I see the university’s vision come to life as our students engage with one another and with global leaders in ways that reflect intercultural peace, unity and the teachings of Jesus Christ,” she concluded.
A vision for leadership
In addition to her work with the RFHD, Kajiyama-Tinkham serves as an adjunct professor of legal studies and political science and is the director of legal studies at BYU–Hawaii. She originally studied political science at BYU–Hawaii before attending the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. While in law school, she said she supported the International Law and Religion Symposium, hosted by the International Center for Law and Religious Studies (ICLRS). “There was a genuine sense of collaboration, learning and shared purpose among people from very different backgrounds,” she said.
Kajiyama-Tinkham explained that her extensive experience in law, the ICLRS, and religious freedom allowed her to help launch what is now the RFHD. She recalled being invited to early discussions regarding the program and was later recruited for the founding team. “What began as a vision to better support students and connect them to global conversations has grown into something much more impactful,” she said. “For me, RFHD has always felt like a continuation of the experiences that shaped me as a student, now shared with the next generation.”