The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ has announced the members of the search advisory committee for the next chancellor of UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.
The committee reflects broad representation from faculty, staff, students, campus governance, administration, the UH Foundation and the community. As previously announced, David Karl, the director of the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (CMORE), and former UH regent Jan Sullivan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Oceanit, are serving as co-chairs.
“The strength of this committee reflects the depth and diversity of the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ community,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “Their perspectives will help ensure an inclusive, transparent and engaged search process.”
Search advisory committee members
- David Karl, CMORE Director and Victor and Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Professor (co-chair)
- Jan Sullivan, former UH regent and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Oceanit (co-chair)
- Rosie Alegado, Professor of Oceanography and the Sea Grant College Program, Director, Microbial Ecology & Evolution in Â鶹´«Ã½ Laboratory, Director, Ulana ʻIke Sea Grant Center of Excellence, and Kuali?i Council member
- Erin Centeio, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Professor and Co-Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science Coordinator Health and Physical Education, College of Education
- Christian Fern, Executive Director, University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Professional Assembly
- Jaret Leong, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Director of ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Academy and Academic Pathways, College of Social Sciences, and UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Staff Senate member
- Tuleen Ziadeh, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ undergraduate student and Associated Students of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Vice President
- Emily Palmer, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ graduate student and UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Graduate Student Organization Vice President
- Sarita Rai, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Director, Study Abroad Center, and Vice Chair of the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Faculty Senate Executive Committee
- Luis Salaveria, UH Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer
- T. Samuel Shomaker, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Dean and Barry & Virginia Weinman Endowed Chair, John A. Burns School of Medicine
- Kapua Sproat, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Professor & Director, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law & Co-Director, Native Hawaiian Rights Clinic, William S. Richardson School of Law
- Chad Walton, UH Vice President for Research and Innovation (Interim)
- Scott Wo, Chair, UH Foundation, and Owner/Executive, C.S. Wo & Sons, Ltd.
The search was formally launched in February following a December vote by the UH Board of Regents to accept a Board permitted interaction group report and re-establish the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ chancellor position. The process includes an open nomination and application period, campus visits by finalists with open forums and stakeholder meetings scheduled for April 27–28, 2026, April 30–May 1, 2026, and May 4—5, 2026, and final recommendation to the UH president for consideration by the Board of Regents.
The goal is to appoint the next UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ chancellor with a start date as early as July 2026. More information about the search, timeline and opportunities for campus engagement is available on .