Debora Halbert has been named the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s new associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, beginning August 1, 2015.
Halbert is currently an associate professor and chair of the political science department at the College of Social Sciences, where she has also served as graduate chair. She has submitted a dossier for promotion to full professor this year with a positive departmental, college and campus review.
Halbert currently chairs the Institutional Learning Objectives Implementation Task Force and works closely with the Mānoa Assessment Office on issues related to UH learning objectives. She teaches future studies, public policy and law and society in political science.
Said UH Mānoa Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education Reed Dasenbrock, “Professor Halbert is an outstanding faculty member who will help us move forward on all the things we need to do to improve the quality of education at Mānoa.”
Added Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, “Dr. Halbert has impressive academic credentials and administrative experience, both at UH Mānoa and at Otterbein. Her leadership will be particularly helpful in our continuing efforts to clarify our expectations for student learning and to evaluate student success. Her familiarity with our campus, students and programs is very valuable; she will be able to hit the ground running.”
More on Halbert
Prior to arriving at UH Mānoa in 2008, Halbert worked at Otterbein University, a small comprehensive college with a dedication to the liberal arts in central Ohio, from 1996. While at Otterbein, Halbert chaired the Department of History and Political Science, as well as numerous university-wide committees.
Additionally, she worked closely on issues of curriculum development to help develop an interdisciplinary environmental studies degree. She was instrumental in developing a legal studies interdisciplinary minor at Otterbein and was the primary advisor for pre-law students. Halbert also taught courses for Otterbein’s integrative studies core curriculum as well as courses for its innovative Senior Year Experience Program.
Halbert earned her PhD in political science from UH Mānoa and her master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University.
Her academic interests include the study of law and policy with a focus on intellectual property. Halbert was most recently invited to sit on the newly formed Student Engagement, Retention and Graduation committee, which is a natural connection between the Institutional Learning Objectives Implementation Task Force and other aspects of student success.
