![University of 鶹ý at Mānoa](/its/template/system_2019/images/uh-nameplate.png")
Longtime 鶹ýleader Vassilis Syrmos recommended as 鶹ýMānoa chancellor
University of 鶹ý at Mānoa
Vassilis Syrmos
Vassilis Syrmos has been recommended by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel to serve as the next chancellor of 鶹ýMānoa, the flagship campus of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system. His appointment will go before the 鶹ýBoard of Regents (BOR) for final approval on Thursday, June 4. If approved, he will begin serving on July 1, 2026.
A faculty member in the 鶹ýMānoa College of Engineering for 35 years, Syrmos brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience. He has served as interim provost of 鶹ýMānoa since July 2025. Before that, he served for 12 years as 鶹ývice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at 鶹ýMānoa.
“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the 鶹ýSystem and at 鶹ýMānoa,” said Hensel. “He brings a deep understanding of 鶹ýMānoa’s budget, operations and role within the broader 鶹ýSystem, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”
As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the 鶹ýCancer Center’s research and strengthen its National Cancer Institute designation through the doubling of Hawaiʻi’s cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve 鶹ýMānoa’s financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.
As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year 鶹ýexceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making 鶹ýthe only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.
“I am deeply honored to be recommended as the next chancellor of 鶹ýMānoa,” said Syrmos. “Having served the university for more than three decades, I consider Hawaiʻi and this campus my home. I look forward to working with President Hensel in strengthening student success, advancing research and innovation and working closely with our faculty, students, staff and community partners as we continue to move 鶹ýMānoa forward as Hawaiʻi’s flagship university.”
Nationwide search
Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that also included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The search attracted 32 applicants and nine nominations or inquiries.
The BOR voted to re-establish the 鶹ýMānoa chancellor position in December 2025, following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of 鶹ýpresident and 鶹ýMānoa chancellor. The faculty senate unanimously endorsed an immediate launch to the search in spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated Manoa leadership in discussions regarding the separation of hybrid positions and offices shared between Manoa and the system.
The search included a representative advisory committee, open nominations and applications, campus visits by finalists, public forums and stakeholder meetings. All three finalists participated in two-day campus visits that included more than 20 meetings with stakeholder groups and a public presentation and Q&A session, each of which was viewed by more than 500 people. Community feedback generated more than 650 comments across all finalists, in addition to input from shared governance groups.
Chancellor responsibilities
As chancellor, Syrmos will serve as the chief executive officer of 鶹ýMānoa, reporting to the 鶹ýpresident and serving on the president’s senior leadership team. He will oversee a budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees, providing leadership across academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.
Syrmos is expected to advance 鶹ýMānoa’s mission as Hawaiʻi’s flagship research university while strengthening connections across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia and upholding the university’s responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community, language and culture.