Leon Richards appointed chancellor of Kapiolani Community College

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Carolyn Tanaka, (808) 956-9803
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Jul 27, 2007


PEARL CITY, Oʻahu — At its monthly meeting held this week at Leeward Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved the appointment of Leon Richards as chancellor of Kapiʻolani Community College. Richards‘ appointment is for a three-year period, effective August 1, 2007.

He has been serving as interim chancellor of the campus since July 2005, replacing John Morton who is now the vice president for community colleges for the UH System.

Richards has been at Kapiʻolani CC since 1977, serving in a variety of positions including assistant dean of instruction, acting provost, dean of instruction, and senior academic dean. A noted expert in international education, particularly in the area of Asian studies, Richards has served as director for international education for the UH community colleges since 2000. His leadership in this area has aided in the campus‘ establishment as a premier community college in the country for international and global education.

He holds a master‘s and doctoral degree in political science (international relations) from UH Mānoa, a master‘s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language also from UH Mānoa, and bachelor‘s degrees in history and political science (education) from Alabama State University.