The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) voted to appoint Wendy Hensel as the next president of the UH 10-campus system, the state’s sole provider of public higher education. The 11 regents voted unanimously for Hensel at the Thursday, October 17 continuation of the October 16 Special BOR Meeting at UH ����ԴDz�. The appointment is effective January 2025.

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of an exhaustive, extensive, nationwide search and hiring process, where our stakeholders were able to participate at every stage,” said BOR Chair Gabe Lee. “I am confident that Wendy Hensel is the right person to lead UH and help guide the state through the significant challenges ahead.”

Hensel is currently the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost at the City University of New York (CUNY) and has served in that position since 2022. CUNY is a 25-campus system with an enrollment of 235,000 students.

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and

“There is one thing that stands out as I have gone through this process and spoken to literally hundreds of people, and that is how important the University of �鶹��ý is to the state and the people of �鶹��ý, especially the faculty, staff and administrators who are so committed to its mission,” said Hensel. “I humbly accept this position knowing that I have to lead by example and that I need everyone’s support to do everything possible to make sure �鶹��ýis the institution of higher education that �鶹��ý needs and deserves.”

Prior to CUNY, Hensel held leadership positions at Georgia State University as the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Law. She is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and earned a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Michigan State University, where she was a Harry S. Truman Scholar ​​and an intern at the U.S. Supreme Court. Read Hensel’s full CV.

The Board of Regents and Hensel agreed to the following terms:

• $675,000 annual salary
• $7,000 a month housing allowance
• Up to $60,000 for moving expenses
• Tenure fallback position in the UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law
• Term: three years with up to a two year extension subject to BOR approval

Extensive nationwide search

Hensel will succeed David Lassner who announced in September 2023, that he would retire at the end of 2024 after serving as president for more than 11 years. The extensive nationwide search for his replacement attracted 93 applicants.

The Presidential Search Advisory Group, volunteer representatives from UH stakeholder and governance groups who developed the position description and leadership profile, identified and interviewed 12 semi finalists. Three finalists were selected and two agreed to continue the process and participated in public events that included question and answer sessions and private meetings with stakeholders groups.

“Mahalo to the search advisory group and to thousands of people who participated in the process by completing the initial public survey and forums on what we need in a UH president,” said Lee. “And those who attended the public forums and provided feedback to the regents, which really helped inform our decision. It was invaluable.”

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) will interview the two finalists for president of the 10-campus system during a Special Meeting on Wednesday, October 16. The next president of the state’s sole provider of public higher education could be named as early as Thursday, October 17. The announcement could also come in the days and weeks to follow but is expected by the end of the month.

The finalists are Western Michigan University Provost and Vice President Julian Vasquez Heilig and City University of New York Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Wendy Hensel. More information on the candidates can be found on the UH President Search webpage and on UHNews.org.

Finalist public events

The two finalists participated in a series of public forums with question and answer periods and meet and greet events held at UH campuses in each county. More than 1,400 people attended a total of eight public events in person and virtually.

The finalists also met privately with governance groups and campus and system leadership teams.

The regents are considering feedback provided by UH community members and the general public after the events. More than 417 people submitted input through anonymous surveys after the public events and more than 30 people have submitted testimony for the October 16 meeting.

The nationwide search attracted 93 applicants. Twelve semi-finalists were selected and interviewed by an advisory group of representatives of UH stakeholder and governance groups, which also developed the position description and leadership profile.

The new president will succeed David Lassner who is retiring by the end of the year after serving since 2014 as UH’s 15th president.

The next president of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system is expected to be announced by mid-to-late October after the completion of a series of public events for the two finalists, Western Michigan University Provost and Vice President Julian Vasquez Heilig and City University of New York Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Wendy Hensel.

The UH Board of Regents will interview both candidates in person at an October 16 Special Board meeting that will take place in executive session. The regents will meet again on October 17, also in executive session, and areare expected to make an announcement on that day or shortly thereafter. The new president is expected to start by January 2025, succeeding David Lassner who has served in the position since 2013.

Finalist feedback requested

The regents are asking all stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the finalists that will be taken under consideration as they make their decision. More information on Vasquez Heilig and Hensel can be found on the UH President Search website including the video recordings of the moderated public forums where they each answered dozens of questions from the in-person and online audience.

Feedback can be submitted as testimony to the BOR via email to bor.testimony@hawaii.edu. The testimony will be posted in the week prior to the October 16 Special Board meeting.

There were also confidential online surveys open for a week for each finalist during their public events. The will be open until 6 p.m., Friday, October 4. The survey for Hensel closed September 27 after her public events schedule. The regents are taking the feedback shared in the survey under consideration as they decide.

Well attended public events

The forums were part of a series of public events and private meetings held September 23 to September 25 for Hensel, and September 30 to October 2 for Vasquez Heilig at UH campuses on Kauaʻi, Maui, �鶹��ý Island and Oʻahu.

Each finalist participated in four open houses and four public forums and answered a wide range of questions including their interest in and commitment to �鶹��ý, and the University of �鶹��ý and its 2023-2029 �鶹��ý. More than 1,400 people attended the forums in person and online. They also met with campus leadership teams and governance groups.

The public events for Julian Vasquez Heilig, one of the two finalists for president of the University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system, will begin Monday, September 30.

Vasquez Heilig will attend an open house and take questions at a moderated public forum on a UH campus in each of the four counties—Maui, Kauaʻi, �鶹��ý Island and Oʻahu (complete schedule below). The forums will be livestreamed and on Zoom and posted online afterward. Questions can be submitted on site or by using the Zoom chat function.

Confidential feedback on Vasquez Heilig can be provided through , which will be open until 6 p.m. Friday, October 4. For those who wish to provide feedback that will be posted online and made public, submit comments to bor.testimony@hawaii.edu, and they will be posted in the week prior to the next Special Board meeting, currently scheduled for October 16, 2024.

More information on Vasquez Heilig and finalist Wendy Hensel can be found on the UH President Search website.

Wendy Hensel public events

More than 750 people attended the public forums (in person and online) for Hensel the week of September 23 that were held at UH Maui College, Kauaʻi Community College, UH Hilo and UH ����ԴDz�. Hensel answered more than 70 questions on a wide range of topics. The videos are available online.

The schedule for both finalists also includes open houses (meeting sessions) and private meetings with campus and system leadership teams and faculty, staff and student governance groups.

Feedback can also be submitted to bor.testimony@hawaii.edu that will be publicly posted the week prior to the next Special Board meeting, currently scheduled for October 16, 2024.

Julian Vasquez Heilig

Monday, September 30—Maui and Kauaʻi

• Maui
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Pilina Events Center
• Kauaʻi
  2–3 p.m.: Open House—Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
  3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, October 1—�鶹��ý and Oʻahu

• �鶹��ý Island
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
• Oʻahu
  4–5:30 p.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Forum ( and recorded)—UH Mānoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, October 2—Oʻahu

• 8–9 a.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Open House—UH Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B

This editorial by UH Board of Regent Chair Gabriel Lee and Vice Chair Laurie Tochiki first appeared in the .

When University of �鶹��ý President David Lassner announced a year ago he would be retiring by the end of 2024, we, the UH Board of Regents, understood that selecting the next president to lead the 10-campus UH system—the state’s sole provider of public higher education— is the most important thing we will do during our terms as regents.

We have fully embraced the responsibility and weight of making this important decision, knowing that any decision will be questioned by some. The criticism we have received since the two finalists, Wendy F. Hensel and Dr. Julian Vasquez, were announced on September 11, is just proof of how much people of �鶹��ý care about UH and its importance to the state.

From the start, we have been committed to a thorough and inclusive search process starting with an online survey that received 2,092 responses and a series of public forums on �鶹��ý Island, Kauaʻi, Maui and Oʻahu that more than 500 people participated in. We wanted to know what people think UH needs most in a new leader; what goals, values and capabilities they should possess; and the most critical areas the new president will need to address in the next three to five years.

More on the UH president search

The 12-person Presidential Search Advisory Group (PSAG) was established to assist the regents and ensured representation of all UH stakeholder groups throughout the process, including student, faculty, staff and Native Hawaiian governance groups. The PSAG and the regents utilized the feedback from the survey and forums to develop the leadership profile and position description.

The profile and description were used to solicit candidates with great success.There were 93 applicants, all of whom expressed a strong desire to lead UH. The PSAG reviewed and assessed the initial candidate applications. Those members identified and, with the regents’ approval, interviewed 12 semi finalists, which led ultimately, then, to identification of the two finalists.

There is criticism for the lack of at least one “local” finalist, which we assume refers to someone who lives in �鶹��ý permanently. This was an open, worldwide recruitment with exceptional candidates with local ties, we stayed true to the inclusive search process, and the two finalists emerged.

Throughout, the PSAG and the Regents have conducted themselves with integrity, assessing the candidates based on qualifications and experiences. We have done our level best to ensure that the process is sound and executed with integrity, and we will continue to make decisions that are informed by community and university input and feedback every step along the way.

We are very excited about proceeding with these two excellent finalists, who will present their qualifications, and their understanding of and vision for the University of �鶹��ý at multiple forums and open houses throughout the state later this month. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity at any one or more of these forums to get to know these candidates, and to offer their opinions to the Board of Regents.

When the final selection is made in late October, we hope that everyone embraces our new president. Their success will be UH‘s success—impacting our families, our neighbors and our entire state.

The public events for Wendy F. Hensel, the first of the two finalists for president of the University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system, will begin Monday, September 23 and run through Wednesday, September 25 (complete schedule below).

The public events for the second finalist, Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig will run from Monday, September 30 to Wednesday, October 2 (complete schedule below).

The finalists will attend an open house and a moderated public forum in each of the four counties—Maui, Kauaʻi, �鶹��ý Island and Oʻahu (complete schedule below). The candidates will take questions at the forums, which will be livestreamed and posted online afterward.

“We are asking all members of the UH ʻohana and other stakeholders, along with the general public, to participate in the public events and provide feedback on our finalists,” said UH Board of Regents Chair in the September 11 announcement naming the two finalists. “That input will be critical as the regents deliberate and select the next UH President.”

Confidential feedback on Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig can be provided through this , which will be open until 6 p.m. Friday, October 4.

For those who wish to provide feedback that will be posted online and made public, submit comments to bor.testimony@hawaii.edu, and they will be posted the week prior to the next Special Board meeting, currently scheduled for October 16, 2024.

More information on Hensel and Vasquez Heilig can be found on UH News and the UH President Search website.

Public Event Schedule

View the live feed of each forum

Wendy F. Hensel

Monday, September 23—Maui and Kauaʻi

• Maui
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—Pilina Events Center
• Kauaʻi
  2–3 p.m.: Open House—Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
  3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, September 24—�鶹��ý and Oʻahu

• �鶹��ý Island
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
• Oʻahu
  4–5:30 p.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Forum ( and )—UH Mānoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, September 25—Oʻahu

• 8–9 a.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Open House—UH Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig

Monday, September 30—Maui and Kauaʻi

• Maui
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Pilina Events Center
• Kauaʻi
  2–3 p.m.: Open House—Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
  3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, October 1—�鶹��ý and Oʻahu

• �鶹��ý Island
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
• Oʻahu
  4–5:30 p.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Forum ( and recorded)—UH Mānoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, October 2—Oʻahu

• 8–9 a.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Open House—UH Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B

More information regarding the search process is available online.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) has named two finalists for the next president of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system:

• Wendy F. Hensel is currently the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost for The City University of New York (CUNY), where she oversees every aspect of the student and faculty experience across the 25 campus system. Prior to joining CUNY, Hensel held leadership positions at Georgia State University as Dean of the College of Law and later Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. She is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and earned a bachelor’s with highest honors from Michigan State University, where she was a Harry S. Truman Scholar ​​and an intern at the U.S. Supreme Court. Read Hensel’s full CV.
• Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig is currently serving as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for Western Michigan University (WMU). Prior to joining WMU, Vasquez Heilig was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky, part of his nearly two decades of leadership. His experience includes successful fundraising and financial management and spearheading strategic initiatives that bolstered research and educational innovation. Vasquez Heilig earned his PhD and master’s degrees from Stanford University and holds additional degrees from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Read Vasquez Heilig’s full CV.

The finalists will be introduced to the UH community and general public through a series of open houses (meet and greet opportunities) and public forums (question and answer sessions) scheduled for the weeks of September 23 and September 30 in each of the four counties: Maui, Kauaʻi, �鶹��ý and Honolulu (full schedule below).

“There was a tremendous amount of interest shown in the president’s position, and now we have two excellent candidates,” said BOR Chair Gabe Lee. “We are asking all members of the UH ʻohana and other stakeholders, along with the general public, to participate in the public events and provide feedback on our finalists. That input will be critical as the regents deliberate and select the next UH President.”

The two finalists will also meet with campus and system leadership teams and faculty, staff and student governance groups, including the Pūkoʻa Council, a group of UH Native Hawaiian leaders.

“It was very important to the regents that representatives from each campus and the various UH stakeholders have an opportunity to meet the finalists,” said Lee. “I know that all of these stakeholder groups will also provide valuable input to the regents.”

The UH Board of Regents are asking the public to provide feedback on Wendy F. Hensel that will be used to inform the selection of the next president. Confidential feedback can be provided through this , which will be open until 6 p.m. Friday, September 27.

For those who wish to provide feedback that will be posted online and made public, submit comments to bor.testimony@hawaii.edu, and they will be posted the week prior to the next Special Board meeting, currently scheduled for October 16, 2024.

The regents will interview each candidate after the public events and are scheduled to announce their decision in mid to late October.

There were 93 applicants for the position, a group that was then narrowed down by the Presidential Search Advisory Group. The Advisory Group interviewed 12 semifinalists in late August and then forwarded their recommendations for the finalists to regents for the final decision.

“On behalf of the Regents, I would like to personally thank the applicants for their interest and the Presidential Search Advisory Group for their time and expertise,” said Lee.

The new president will succeed David Lassner, who will retire by the end of the year after serving since 2014 as UH’s 15th president.

Public Event Schedule

View the live feed of each forum

Wendy F. Hensel

Monday, September 23—Maui and Kauaʻi

• Maui
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—Pilina Events Center
• Kauaʻi
  2–3 p.m.: Open House—Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
  3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, September 24—�鶹��ý and Oʻahu

• �鶹��ý Island
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and )—UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
• Oʻahu
  4–5:30 p.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Forum ( and )—UH Mānoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, September 25—Oʻahu

• 8–9 a.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Open House—UH Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig

Monday, September 30—Maui and Kauaʻi

• Maui
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Pilina Events Center
• Kauaʻi
  2–3 p.m.: Open House—Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
  3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, October 1—�鶹��ý and Oʻahu

• �鶹��ý Island
  8–9 a.m.: Open House—UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
  9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum ( and recorded)—UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
• Oʻahu
  4–5:30 p.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Forum ( and recorded)—UH Mānoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, October 2—Oʻahu

• 8–9 a.m.: Oʻahu Campuses Open House—UH Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B

More information regarding the search process is available online.

The search for the next president of the University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system is on schedule, with the finalists for the position expected to be announced next month, according to UH Board of Regents (BOR) Chair Gabriel Lee. Lee provided the update at the August 15 BOR meeting at the University of �鶹��ý at UH Maui College adding that there were more than 90 applicants for the position.

“The regents are grateful to the Presidential Search Advisory Group (PSAG) for its hard work in reviewing the applications and look forward to its recommendations and the next stage of the search,” said Lee. “The board plans to publicly identify the finalists in September and will hold a series of public forums to introduce them to all of our stakeholders. This will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to provide feedback to the regents, who will make the final selection.”

The schedule for the public forums, expected to be held in mid to late September, will be announced after the finalists are named. All 11 regents are serving on the selection committee and are tentatively scheduled to name the new president in October or November with a start date in early 2025.

The national recruitment by , the search firm hired by the BOR, was formally launched in late May. The new president will succeed President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire at the end of 2024.

The PSAG is made up of 12 stakeholders from across the UH System and local community. Along with reviewing the applications and recommending the finalists, the group assisted with the development of the leadership profile and position description, which were based on feedback received from six public forums held on four islands and a public survey.

The 10-campus UH System is �鶹��ý‘s sole public system of higher education, with more than 9,200 employees serving about 48,000 students. It fulfills its mission of providing affordable, quality higher education through seven community colleges, two regional universities and a globally acclaimed research university with education and research centers throughout the state. UH offers unique opportunities, grounded in �鶹��ý, to meet the needs of the people and islands it serves, from workforce training to preeminent academic programs and research.

The national recruitment for the next president of the University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system will officially begin in late May 2024 after the UH Board of Regents (BOR) approved the position description and leadership profile at the May 16 BOR monthly meeting at UH ����ԴDz�. The position description and leadership profile were based on feedback provided through six public forums that were held on four islands, and a public survey along with input from the regents and the Presidential Search Advisory Group (PSAG), who edited and finalized the profile before it was brought to the board.

• UH President Search Website

“We are very pleased that the next phase of the search can officially begin, and the regents thank the PSAG for their important work on the leadership profile,” said BOR Interim Chair Gabriel Lee. “We are hoping there is a lot of local and national interest in the position and that we are able to attract the best candidates possible to lead the state’s sole provider of higher education.”

, the search firm hired by the BOR, will officially launch the recruitment in late May with outreach and national advertisements. The search is following the timeline approved by the regents on March 21.

• May to August—Candidate recruitment period
• August—Review of candidate materials, first round of candidate interviews
• September—Three to four finalists are named
• October—Final selection and negotiation, new president is announced
• Early 2025—New president begins

The PSAG is made up of stakeholders from across the UH system and local community. The group assisted with county forums along with the development of the leadership profile and position description. The PSAG will review candidate applications, identify and recommend candidates for interviews, interview the first round of eight to 12 candidates and recommend semifinalists to the selection committee, which consists of all 11 regents.

As part of the listening phase of the search promised by the regents, approximately 565 people attended the six public forums held across the state in person or via Zoom. The public survey completed in February received 2,093 responses.

The new president will succeed President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire at the end of 2024.

The University of �鶹��ý completed a series of public county forums to gather feedback that will help inform the search for next president of the 10-campus �鶹��ýSystem, the state’s sole provider of public higher education.

Approximately 85 people attended the six forums in person, and roughly 480 participated via Zoom. The forums, which took place on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and �鶹��ý Island and finished on May 7, were scheduled by the UH Board of Regents (BOR) as part of the listening phase of the search process. A public survey completed in February received nearly 2,000 responses.

“We plan to take all of the feedback from the forums and the listening sessions and try to incorporate it into the presidential profile that’s going to go out to essentially search for candidates to apply,” said Erin Centeio, co-chair of the presidential search advisory group (PSAG).

Centeio said that the PSAG plans to incorporate all the feedback from the forums and the surveys into a presidential profile that will be presented to the BOR at their meeting on May 16.

“Beyond the profile, these listening sessions are going to help us understand who the community wants for a next president,” said Centeio. “As we look at applicants and do first round interviews, we will be looking to these forums as well as everything that’s been submitted to be able to help guide us in who the next president should be.”

The board announced at its March 21 meeting that it plans to name finalists in September and announce the next president in October. The new president will begin in January 2025 and will succeed David Lassner, who announced in September 2023 that he will retire by December 2024.

“The selection of the next president will likely be the single most important decision made by this board and we are committed to doing it thoroughly in an inclusive and transparent manner,” said BOR Chair Gabriel Lee in a previous BOR meeting.

The PSAG is made up of UH stakeholders and will make candidate recommendations to the search committee, which consists of all 11 regents. WittKieffer, a Chicago-based firm, was hired to assist in the search and will work with the BOR to develop the position description and profile of an ideal president and then recruit candidates.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents has scheduled six county forums to gather feedback from the general public to help inform the search for the next president of the 10-campus UH System, the state’s sole provider of public higher education.

Each forum will be ninety minutes long and available in-person and virtually via Zoom. They will take place over a week-long period from April 30 to May 7, with two forums on Oʻahu and �鶹��ý Island, and one forum each on Kauaʻi and Maui. The complete schedule and Zoom information is below.

The forums are part of the listening phase promised by the regents, which included a public survey that was completed in February with more than 2,000 responses.

, the Chicago-based firm hired to assist in the search, is using the feedback from the public forums and surveys, along with input gathered from interviews with the regents and the Presidential Search Advisory Group (PSAG), to develop the position description and leadership profile. The regents are expected to review both at the May 16 monthly board meeting, and if approved at that time, WittKieffer will begin the recruitment process.

The PSAG is made up of UH stakeholders and will make candidate recommendations to the search committee, which consists of all 11 regents. The board announced at its March 21 meeting that it plans to name finalists in September and announce the next president in October. The new president will begin in January 2025 and will succeed David Lassner, who announced in September 2023 that he will retire by December 2024.

County forum schedule and Zoom meeting information:

Tuesday, April 30, 1:30 p.m.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa
Information Technology Building
1st Floor Conference Room 105A/B
2520 Correa Road
Honolulu, HI 96822

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 993 9260 8196
Passcode: 896965
Dial in: +1 669 444 9171 US

Recording:

Passcode: #!3zZ#n9

Wednesday, May 1, 9 a.m.

University of �鶹��ý Maui College
Kaʻaʻike Building Room 105BCD
310 W. Kaʻahumanu Avenue
Kahului, HI 96732

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 970 2402 9809
Passcode: 013158
Dial in: +1 669 444 9171 US

Recording:

Friday, May 3, 9 a.m.

�鶹��ý Community College–Pālamanui
Panini 126-127
73-4225 Ane Keohokalole Highway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 933 9068 7174
Passcode: 446556
Dial in: +1 408 638 0968 US

Recording:

Friday, May 3, 2 p.m.

University of �鶹��ý at Hilo
200 W. Kawili Street, UCB 100
Hilo, HI 96720

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 926 0797 6064
Passcode: 044150
Dial in: +1 669 444 9171 US

Recording:

Monday, May 6, 9:30 a.m.

Kauaʻi Community College
Fine Arts Auditorium (Bldg 5)
3-1901 Kaumualiʻi Highway
Lihuʻe, HI 96766

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 986 5755 9996
Passcode: 629812
Dial in: +1 669 444 9171 US

Recording:

Tuesday, May 7, 8:30 a.m.

University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu
Campus Center, Room C208
91-1001 Farrington Highway
Kapolei, HI 96707

Zoom:
Meeting ID: 921 1539 7556
Passcode: 941100
Dial in: +1 669 444 9171 US

Recording:

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) aims to name the next president of the state’s public higher education 10-campus system by fall 2024, and for the next president by the beginning of 2025. The updated timeline was announced at a March 21 BOR presidential search special meeting during a presentation (PDF) by , the firm selected to assist in the search.

“The selection of the next president will likely be the single most important decision made by this board and we are committed to doing it thoroughly in an inclusive and transparent manner,” said BOR Chair Gabriel Lee. “Now, we have clarity on the process forward that includes a number of opportunities for internal and external stakeholders to have their voices heard.”

April

• WittKieffer interviews regents individually for input on candidate profile/position description
• Presidential Search Advisory Group (PSAG) holds first meeting after completing ethics, financial disclosures and confidentiality agreement
• PSAG meets with WittKieffer to provide input on candidate profile/position description

April/May

• Public forums in each county (East and West �鶹��ý Island, Maui County, Honolulu County, and Kauaʻi County) to solicit public input on candidate profile/position description

May

• WittKieffer develops a leadership profile that includes the position description based on the collective input from regents, the county forums, PSAG members and the results of the public survey (2,093 completed)
• Leadership profile is reviewed and approved by PSAG and then by the regents at May 16 BOR monthly meeting

May to August

• Candidate recruitment period

July to August

• Review of candidate materials

August

• First round of candidate interviews

September

• Three to four finalists are named

October

• Final selection and negotiation
• New president is announced

January

• New president begins

Advisory group

The BOR also finalized the responsibilities of the PSAG. Members will begin meeting in April after completing ethics and financial disclosures and a confidentiality agreement.

• Assist WittKieffer with county forums
• Review and assist WittKieffer in developing the leadership profile and position description based on collective input from regents, the presidential survey, the county forums and PSAG members
• Review and assess the initial candidate applications and identify candidates for BOR consideration first interview round
• Interview the first round of 8–12 candidates
• Recommend semifinalists for regent consideration, from which 3–4 finalists will be selected for final campus in-person interviews

The regents unanimously approved the 12 PSAG nominees on March 7 and announced on March 1 that had been hired for the search. The new president will succeed President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire in 2024.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents unanimously approved the 12 people nominated to serve on the Presidential Search Advisory Group PSAG for the search for UH’s next president. The vote came on March 7 during a special meeting of the regents.

Approved members of the search group:

• Jaret KC Leong—Director of Mānoa Academy and Academic Pathways; UH Staff Council Co-Chair, PSAG Co-Chair
• Erin E. Centeio—UH Mānoa Associate Professor in the College of Education; All Campus Council for Faculty Senate Chairs (ACCFSC) Co-Chair, PSAG Co-Chair
• Lindsey Millerd—UH West Oʻahu ASUH President; UH Student Caucus Representative
• Kamakanaokealoha Aquino—Native Hawaiian Coordinator, Pūko’a Council Representative
• Dominique Bonifacio—Leeward Community College ASUH senator
• Jerris R. Hedges—UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Emeritus
• Lance Yamamoto— Kapiʻolani Community College Acting Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services
• Duane K. Kurisu—Former UH regent, aio Chairman and CEO
• Tammi Oyadomari-Chun—�鶹��ý Department of Education Deputy Superintendent of Strategy
• Dirk Soma—Kauaʻi Community College Associate Professor of Business
• Noe Noe Wong-Wilson—Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo President, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Development Futures Initiative Founding Co-Author

Communications to the PSAG can be made through email at psag@hawaii.edu.

Acting board Chair Gabriel Lee stepped down from his role as a liaison from the BOR to the advisory group held with fellow Regent Ernie Wilson. The board voted unanimously for Regent Laurie Tochiki to replace Lee.

Regents also voted to require advisory group members to sign a confidentiality agreement and have an ethics inquiry on any potential conflicts. The BOR will decide on the group’s exact responsibilities at a future meeting.

In related news, the firm selected to help in the presidential search, WittKieffer, will present recommendations for next steps to the regents at the March 21 board meeting.

�鶹��ýPresident David Lassner announced in September 2023 that he is retiring in 2024.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) has hired , a Chicago-based firm to assist in the search for the next president of the UH 10-campus system, the sole provider of public higher education in �鶹��ý. WittKieffer will work with the BOR to develop the position description and profile of an ideal president and then recruit candidates.

The regents reviewed 13 applicants before selecting WittKieffer, which was founded in 1969 and has a long history of leadership searches including in higher education. The search firm has worked with UC Berkeley, Syracuse University, University of Oxford, the University of Hong Kong and more.

The BOR initiated a request for proposals in January for a search firm to help find the replacement for UH President David Lassner, who announced last year he would retire in 2024.

President Search Advisory Group

Regents have scheduled a continuation of a February 16 special meeting for March 7 to vote on the candidates for the Presidential Search Advisory Group and determine the groupʻs exact responsibilities. The 12-member advisory group will represent UH stakeholders in the search process and assist the selection committee, which is composed of the 11 regents.

The selection committee, advisory group and WittKieffer will also utilize data collected in a public survey on the next president that received 2,092 responses.

Bolstering University of �鶹��ý research is crucial to maintaining UH‘s prestigious R1 status (for institutions with very high research activity) and is a top priority, according to a poll of UH Professional Assembly (UHPA) faculty members to inform UH’s search for its next president.

“UHPA and UH faculty both play key roles in setting high standards for quality research and teaching for the UH, and recognize that the UH is key to creating a better quality of life for �鶹��ý residents,” said Christian Fern, UHPA executive director. “The poll results provide a snapshot of what faculty believe are important for the next UH president as the search process by �鶹��ýBoard of Regents gets underway.”

The top three priorities identified by the UHPA for the new president:

1. Providing more support for research to maintain the UH’s R1 institution status
2. Making public higher education more accessible for �鶹��ý school graduates
3. Elevating the prominence of the UH within the state

Additionally, faculty emphasize the need for:

• Strengthening community colleges’ role within the UH system
• Considering all roles within the system holistically
• Increasing accessibility of public higher education for �鶹��ý high school graduates
• Fostering an inclusive academic environment

Respondents also raised concerns about declining enrollment rates, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the importance of making education accessible. Fern noted, “We want to make sure these issues are front and center for the next UH president.”

Furthermore, the poll assessed the understanding of academic institutions by the UH Board of Regents and �鶹��ý State Legislature. Results indicate a perceived lack of understanding, with respondents expressing reservations about both bodies’ grasp of academic integrity and freedom.

As the search progresses, the faculty’s input underscores the imperative for the incoming president to prioritize research, accessibility and understanding of academic values.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) postponed the vote on the candidates for the Presidential Search Advisory Group at the February 16 BOR special meeting in Hilo. The regents planned to schedule a special meeting to take up the unfinished business in the near future with BOR Chair Alapaki Nahale-a saying, “substantive issues need to be resolved for the integrity of the process.”

An announcement will be made when the meeting is scheduled.

The BOR also received an update on the search firm for the president’s search. A firm has been selected and will be announced when the contract is finalized.

The public survey on the next president closed on February 15 after being open for 60 days. There were 2,092 responses, and the data collected will be utilized by the search committee and the advisory committee.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) will consider candidates for the stakeholder advisory group that will assist in the search for the next president of the state’s public higher education system. The regents will vote to approve up to 12 candidates for the Presidential Search Advisory Group at a February 16 special presidential search BOR meeting at UH Hilo.

The candidates are being recommended to the board by a group that consists of a representative from each of the four UH governance groups (All Campus Council of Faculty Senate Chairs, University of �鶹��ý Staff Council, University of �鶹��ý Student Council and ​​Pūkoʻa Council) and Regent Ernest Wilson and Gabriel Lee, the BOR vice chairs. The selection process for the advisory group was approved January 4 at a special presidential search BOR meeting.

The Presidential Search Advisory Group candidates are:

• Jaret KC Leong—Director of Mānoa Academy and Academic Pathways; UH Staff Council Co-Chair
• Erin E. Centeio—UH Mānoa Associate Professor in the College of Education; All Campus Council for Faculty Senate Chairs (ACCFSC) Co-Chair
• Lindsey Millerd—UH West Oʻahu ASUH President; UH Student Caucus Representative
• Kamakanaokealoha Aquino—Native Hawaiian Coordinator, Pūko’a Council Representative
• Dom Bonifacio—Leeward Community College ASUH senator
• Jerris R. Hedges—UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Emeritus
• Brandon Marc T. Higa—Former UH regent, Kapiʻolani Community College Grants Office Director
• Duane K. Kurisu—Former UH regent, aio Chairman and CEO
• Tammi Oyadomari-Chun—�鶹��ý Department of Education Deputy Superintendent of Strategy
• Dirk Soma—Kauaʻi Community College Associate Professor of Business
• Livingston “Jack” Wong—Kamehameha Schools Chief Executive Officer
• Noe Noe Wong-Wilson—Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo President, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Development Futures Initiative Founding Co-Author

More information on the candidates can be found in the meeting materials. To be considered, candidates had to agree to advise the search committee, be open to receiving recommendations and names, observe confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest.

The regents say they are committed to an open and inclusive process and will provide all stakeholders—faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, other constituencies—opportunities to share their views in soon-to-be scheduled listening sessions. The board also sent out on the next president available until February 15 to collect data that will be used by the advisory group and selection committee.

The regents will receive an update at the February 16 meeting on the status of the selection of a search firm to assist the Board with the presidential search. The search firm will work with the BOR to develop the profile and to recruit candidates. The regents aim to hire a new president in summer 2024. President David Lassner announced in September that he will retire in 2024.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) determined at a January 4, 2024 special board meeting how the stakeholder advisory group for the search for the next president of the 10-campus system will be developed.

A representative from each of the four UH governance groups (faculty, staff, students and ​�ċPū���ʻ�� Council) and two regents are tasked with forming an advisory group not to exceed 12 total members for recommendation and approval by the full board. The regents voted to have BOR Vice Chairs Ernest Wilson and Gabriel Lee work with the governance groups. The goal is to have the advisory group ready for the full board to vote on at the February 16 BOR meeting at UH Hilo.

The regents also voted to require the group to be open to receiving recommendations and names, and the willingness to observe confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest. The decisions were made after more than 65 people submitted testimony in writing or testified in person at the board meeting.

“By choosing a committee of the whole approach, all of these conversations are happening in the public sphere, as it should be,” said BOR Chair Alapaki Nahale-a. “I am very happy that our stakeholders are using this opportunity because their feedback is meaningful and impactful. This is the type of engagement that I know the regents are looking forward to in every step of the process to ensure that everyone’s voice continues to be heard.”

Public input encouraged in president search

On December 17, 2023, the BOR asked all stakeholders of the 10-campus system and the general public to complete a short confidential survey on the next president. The will be open through February 15 and collect data that will inform the stakeholder committee and the advisory committee.

As of January 4, 837 people had completed the survey, which is part of a listening phase that will include open public forums. The regents say they are committed to providing all stakeholders—faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, other constituencies—an opportunity to share their views on a new president.

The BOR set most of the hiring process at a December 7 BOR meeting that includes hiring a search firm with access to �鶹��ý expertise and/or �鶹��ý focus by January 31, 2024. The firm will conduct a national search and recruit candidates for consideration.The new president will succeed President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire in 2024.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR) is asking all stakeholders of the 10-campus UH system—students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community members—to complete a short, confidential, eight-question survey on the next president of the state’s public higher education system. The confidential survey can be found at and will be open through February 15.

Questions include:

• What does UH need most in a new leader?
• What will be the most critical work to be done by the new President in the next 3 to 5 years?
• What goals, values and/or capabilities should the next UH president have to lead?

“This is the first opportunity for our students, employees, alumni, community members and other constituency groups to participate in this very important process,” said BOR Chair Alapaki Nahale-a. “The feedback we will receive from this survey will be a critical part of the process to select the next leader of UH, whose success is critical to the future of �鶹��ý.”

The BOR set the hiring process for the next president at a December 7 board meeting to find a successor for UH President David Lassner. Lassner announced in September that he will retire at the end of 2024 or when the next president officially starts.

The BOR is currently in the process of hiring, by January 31, an executive search company with access to �鶹��ý expertise and/or �鶹��ý focus to conduct a national search and recruit candidates.

The board is holding a special public meeting on January 4 to finalize details of the advisory group of representatives from stakeholder groups including students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. The advisory group will provide advice and counsel to the selection committee, which all 11 regents are serving on.

The feedback provided in the survey and public forums will be utilized by the search firm, selection committee and advisory board to ensure stakeholder input is an integral part of the hiring process.

The recruitment process will run through April 15, followed by an evaluation period as the BOR aims to make an official selection in June.

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents aims to select the next president of the 10-campus system in June 2024, according to the process approved by the regents during a five and half hour long meeting on December 7. The process includes hiring a search firm with access to �鶹��ý expertise and/or �鶹��ý focus by January 31, 2024 to conduct a national search and recruit candidates. The recruitment process will run through April 15, followed by an evaluation period and the official selection in June. The new president would begin in fall 2024, replacing current President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire in 2024. The regents acknowledged that it is an aggressive timeline and will adjust it if needed.

“This is one of the most important positions in �鶹��ý, and we know that a lot of people have strong, oftentimes, opposing opinions, even among the regents, on what unique skill set the next president should possess and how to identify that person,” said BOR Chair Alapaki Nahale-a after the meeting. “Where we as regents are united is that we want what’s best for the University of �鶹��ý. We are excited to launch this process to bring all perspectives together to make the right choice and bring someone who can build on President Lassner’s legacy.”

The board also decided that every regent will serve on the selection committee, and the UH President position will retain its UH Mānoa responsibilities. However, the regents officially noted that they intend to consider removing the UH Mānoa duties from the president’s responsibilities to allow the president to focus on the 10-campus system. Non-academic duties at UH Mānoa were transferred to the president during a two-phase reorganization and . The reorganization eliminated the UH Mānoa chancellor position and established the UH Mānoa provost, who is responsible for all academic areas of UH ����ԴDz�.

The regents also committed to a listening phase to provide opportunities for stakeholders—faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, other constituencies—to share their views on a new president. This phase of the search will include a survey and other forums open to anyone who wants to participate.

The board will hold a special meeting on January 4 to determine final details including the makeup, function and selection of the advisory group. The advisory group will consist of representatives from stakeholder groups including faculty, staff and students.

The selection process details were finalized during deliberations on the report by the Presidential Selection Process Permitted Interaction Group. The group of five regents met in compliance with the state’s Sunshine Law to develop the report.