{"id":230026,"date":"2026-02-25T08:58:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=230026"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:02:10","slug":"uh-launches-search-to-re-establish-uh-manoa-chancellor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/25\/uh-launches-search-to-re-establish-uh-manoa-chancellor\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> launches search to re-establish UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa chancellor position"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Hawaii<\/p>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> has officially launched a national search to select the next chancellor of UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, re-establishing the position to ensure dedicated executive leadership for the flagship campus of the UH<\/abbr> 10-campus system, the state\u2019s only public higher education system.<\/p>\n

Currently, the UH<\/abbr> president also holds UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa chancellor responsibilities, while academic affairs, research, enrollment management and student affairs are led by the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa provost. Splitting the roles was discussed by the Board of Regents during the 2024 presidential search. UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa is the only UH<\/abbr> campus without a dedicated chancellor. While this hybrid structure has provided continuity, it does not offer M\u0101noa the same level of focused executive representation and advocacy as the other UH<\/abbr> campuses.<\/p>\n

In August 2025, the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS<\/abbr>) released a report<\/a> evaluating the UH<\/abbr> System Structure that recommended separating the two positions. The Board of Regents subsequently formed a permitted interaction group to study the issue and, in December, voted to accept the recommendation and re-establish the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa chancellor position.<\/p>\n

“We initially anticipated launching a fall 2026 search. However, it has become clear that moving forward now is in the best interests of both UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa and the 10-campus system—a decision unanimously supported by the M\u0101noa Faculty Senate,” said UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel in a February 25, 2026 email to the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa campus (below). “Not only is this a critically important leadership position, but the challenging federal landscape, reorganization conversations and changes in AI<\/abbr> and other technology make clear this is an inflection moment for the campus and the system.”<\/p>\n

Hensel said the search will be inclusive, transparent and engaged and announced that David Karl, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, and former UH<\/abbr> regent Jan Sullivan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Oceanit, have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the search committee.<\/p>\n

Next steps<\/h2>\n

Each step in the search will be communicated widely as they occur and include:<\/p>\n