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VNR: Oli ceremony marks start of tenure for 麻豆传媒M膩noa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos
University of 麻豆传媒 at Mānoa
麻豆传媒M膩noa Chancellor Vassilis Syrmos
Faculty and staff welcome the new chancellor.
Link to video and sound (details below):
***SUGGESTED VOSOT SCRIPT BELOW***
WHAT: A traditional oli ceremony welcomed Vassilis L. Syrmos as the new chancellor of the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa. Members of the campus community chanted Welina M膩noa to greet and formally welcome him into the role.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
WHERE: Hawai驶i Hall, 麻豆传媒M膩noa campus
WHY: To officially welcome Chancellor Syrmos on his first day leading 麻豆传媒M膩noa following his unanimous approval by the 麻豆传媒Board of Regents on June 4. The ceremony honors his transition into the role of chancellor, where he oversees academic, research, student success and administrative operations for the university’s flagship campus.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
- Syrmos said he plans to spend his first 100 days listening and learning from students, faculty and staff across every school, college and unit.
- His priorities include strengthening student success; supporting faculty, staff and students; and advancing 麻豆传媒M膩noa’s research and innovation enterprise.
- He has emphasized 麻豆传媒M膩noa’s role as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, focused on place-based solutions rooted in Hawai驶i’s values and community.
- Syrmos joined 麻豆传媒M膩noa more than 35 years ago as a faculty member in the College of Engineering.
- He has served in multiple senior leadership roles, including interim provost of 麻豆传媒M膩noa beginning in July 2025.
- Prior to that, Syrmos spent 12 years as vice president for research and innovation for the 麻豆传媒System. He also served eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at 麻豆传媒M膩noa.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CHANCELLOR SYRMOS:
- Meet Vassilis L. Syrmos: A life shaped by innovation, mentors and a passion for 麻豆传媒M膩noa
- Leading 麻豆传媒M膩noa forward: Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos
- A New Chapter: Defining Our Future
VIDEO:
BROLL: 1:15
Video of 麻豆传媒M膩noa campus community welcoming Chancellor Syrmos with a traditional oli ceremony
SOUNDBITES:
Vassilis L. Syrmos, 麻豆传媒M膩noa Chancellor
(:15)
“A lot of staff, faculty and students that live and work here every day, and I want to understand their views. I want to understand their aspirations. And I want to understand how I can be part of fulfilling their dreams going forward.”
(:13)
“It is an extreme honor for being the head of the chancellor of M膩noa at this time, something that I would never had even imagined when I first came as a young assistant professor in 1991.”
(:11)
“It is the pinnacle of the journey both professionally and personally. My family, my kids grew up here. The state has been my home for 35 years.”
VO/SOT SCRIPT
Possible NATS off top
“5 seconds of oli”
VO:
A traditional oli called “Welina (Veh-leena) M膩noa” opened a new chapter at the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa today.
The campus community gathered to welcome new Chancellor Vassilis (Vuh-SILL-iss) Syrmos (SEER-mohs).
Syrmos will lead UH’s flagship campus after more than 35 years with the university.
As chancellor, he says his focus will be on student success; supporting faculty, staff and students; and strengthening research and innovation.
He also plans to spend his first 100 days across campus visiting with every college, school and unit.
SOT:
Vassilis L. Syrmos, 麻豆传媒M膩noa Chancellor
“A lot of staff, faculty and students that live and work here every day, and I want to understand their views. I want to understand their aspirations. And I want to understand how I can be part of fulfilling their dreams going forward.”
VO:
Syrmos most recently served as 麻豆传媒M膩noa’s interim provost and previously led UH’s research and innovation efforts for over a decade.