Previous BOR RecruitmentsThe Regents Candidate Advisory Council of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ identifies candidates for the university system’s governing Board of Regents. The council presents pools of qualified candidates to the governor of Â鶹´«Ã½ from which candidates are nominated and, with the consent of the state senate, appointed by the governor.
The advisory council was created by Act 56, 2007 Â鶹´«Ã½ Legislature, in conformity with the amendment to Article X, Section 6 of the Â鶹´«Ã½ State Constitution ratified by the voters on Nov. 7, 2006. The council is tied to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ for administrative purposes. In 2013, Act 72 was passed to further define the candidate advisory council.
Eight members, including one ex officio, comprise the advisory council. They establish the criteria for qualifying, screening and forwarding candidates for membership on the Â鶹´«Ã½Board of Regents. The council advertises pending vacancies and solicits and accepts applications from potential candidates.
Born and raised on O‘ahu and growing up in Papakolea, Ernest K. Wilson is a retired executive and Army officer with over 50 plus years of experience in travel, hospitality, and food service industries, as well as military logistics, and higher education. He began his educational journey at Maryknoll School, completing his secondary education at the Kamehameha School for Boys, and later earning a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, master of science degree from Florida International University, and a Honorary Doctorate of Business from California International Business University.
As an Army officer, Ernie led organizations in Germany, Hawaii, the US Military Academy at West Point, and Vietnam. and served two tours in Vietnam as the staff officer in charge of food service operations for all US Army and Allied Forces, and as the Director US Army Vietnam Club System respectively. As a civilian Ernie held numerous executive, management, and senior staff positions for hospitality organizations including Holiday Inns, Embassy Suites, Sheraton Hotels, and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. He also served as director or chair of several industry organizations, associations, and boards.
In the realm of higher education, Ernie spent over 15 years teaching, developing and implementing new curriculum and degree programs, and in administration, counting his service as the Dean of Hawaii Pacific University's Travel Industry Management Program, Program Director for the Casino Management Program and Director of Culinary Arts at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Dean of the School of Hospitality Resort and Culinary Management at Paul Smith’s College in New York, among his many accomplishments. Ernie also served on the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents for 10 years, holding positions of Board Vice-Chair, as well as Chair and Vice-Chair of a number of committees.
Select a committee member to learn more about that individual.
