UH President Search
University of Hawai‘i is searching for its next president.
About Our Search
The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents aims to select the next president of the 10-campus system to replace current President David Lassner, who announced in September that he will retire in 2024.
News & Updates
- Public forums for UH Presidential candidates set to start September 18, 2024
- Finalists for UH President named, public forums scheduled September 11, 2024
Meet Our Finalists
The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) has named two finalists for the next president of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system. Public forums start September 23 in each of the four counties. Regents will interview the candidates and make a decision in October.
Public Event Schedule
Watch the live feed (for viewing only)
Wendy F. Hensel
Monday, September 23
Maui
Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
Maui County Forum, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Pilina Events Center
Join the Maui County forum webinar
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
Join the Kauaʻi County forum webinar
Tuesday, September 24
Hawaiʻi Island
Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127
(Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
Hawaiʻi County Forum, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
Join the Hawaiʻi County forum webinar
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH Mānoa Art Auditorium
Join the Oʻahu campuses forum webinar
Wednesday, September 25
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Mānoa Bachman Hall
Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig
Monday, September 30
Maui
Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Maui College, Pilina Events Center
Maui County Forum, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Pilina Events Center
Join the Maui County forum webinar
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
Join the Kauaʻi County forum webinar
Tuesday, October 1
Hawaiʻi Island
Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127
(Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)
Hawaiʻi County Forum, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
UH Hilo Performing Arts Center
Join the Hawaiʻi County forum webinar
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH Mānoa Art Auditorium
Join the Oʻahu campuses forum webinar
Wednesday, October 2
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH Mānoa Bachman Hall
Search Committee
The board decided that every regent will serve on the selection committee.
Gabriel Lee
Ernest Wilson
PSAG BOR Liaison
Wayne Higaki
William F. Haning III
Diane Paloma
Laurie Tochiki
PSAG BOR Liaison
Laurel Loo
Neil Abercrombie
Lauren Akitake
Mike Miyahira
Joshua Faumuina
Advisory Group
The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents unanimously approved the 12 people nominated to serve on the Presidential Search Advisory Group for the search for UH’s next president.
Jaret KC Leong
PSAG Co-Chair
Director of Mānoa Academy and Academic Pathways; UH Staff Council Co-Chair
Erin E. Centeio
PSAG Co-Chair
UH Mānoa Associate Professor in the College of Education; All Campus Council for Faculty Senate Chairs (ACCFSC) Co-Chair
Kamakanaokealoha Aquino
Native Hawaiian Coordinator, Pūko’a Council Representative
Domineque Bonifacio
Leeward Community College ASUH senator
Timothy “Tim” Dolan
University of Hawaiʻi Foundation Vice President of Advancement and Chief Executive Officer
Jerris R. Hedges
UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Emeritus
Duane K. Kurisu
Former UH regent, aio Chairman and CEO
Lindsey Millerd
UH West Oʻahu ASUH President; UH Student Caucus Representative
Tammi Oyadomari-Chun
Hawaiʻi 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
Lance Yamamoto
Kapiʻolani Community College Acting Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services
Timeline
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 Hawaiʻi 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
Public Forum Recordings
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Forum Recording
Tuesday, April 30, 1:30 p.m.
Passcode: #!3zZ#n9
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Forum Recording
Wednesday, May 1, 9:00 a.m.
Hawaiʻi Community College-Pālamanui Forum Recording
Friday, May 3, 9:00 a.m.
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Forum Recording
Friday, May 3, 2:00 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College Forum Recording
Monday, May 6, 9:30 a.m.
University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu Forum Recording
Tuesday, May 7, 8:30 a.m.
Special Board of Regents Meetings on Presidential Search
| September 5, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | ||
| August 1, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | Testimony | |
| July 18, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | ||
| May 16, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| April 18, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | Testimony | |
| March 21, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| March 7, 2024 | Agenda | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony | |
| February 16, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| January 4, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| December 7, 2023 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| November 16, 2023 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Testimony | Late Testimony |
| October 19, 2023 | Agenda | Materials | Minutes | Late Testimony |
Areas of Excellence
International Advantage
Location
Opportunity
Economic Development
Fast Facts
FOUNDED
1907
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
43,896
GRADUATE STUDENTS
5,037
FULL-TIME
49.3%
PART-TIME
50.7%
DEGREE PROGRAMS
711
Mission and Purpose
With a focus on creating a healthy and thriving future for all, the University of Hawai‘i provides broad educational opportunity as the higher education destination of choice in the Pacific that nurtures the personal success, leadership capacity and positive engagement of every resident of Hawai‘i. It achieves global impact by enriching the fundamental knowledge of humankind through engagement in world-class research, scholarship and service that promotes the welfare and sustainability of Hawai‘i’s people and environment. Woven through all it does is an appreciation of and commitment to indigenous Hawaiian people, culture, values and wisdom.
