UH Hilo announces appointments of permanent administrators

James Mike

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin today announced the appointments of James Mike as the permanent dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences and Christopher Holland as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students following public posting of the August 20 UH Board of Regents meeting agenda. Mike’s appointment is effective December 14, 2020 while Holland’s appointment is effective September 8, 2020.

“I am excited to have Drs. Mike and Holland join our UH Hilo 'ohana,” Irwin said. “Both bring many years of administrative experience and steadfast support for students and faculty. They are well qualified to help lead UH Hilo into the future.”

Mike comes to UH Hilo from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania where he is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a position he has held since 2006. As dean, he manages a college of nearly 2500 majors, 170 tenure-track faculty, and 19 departments, with a $20 million budget. He also served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2019 and acting dean of graduate studies from 2017 – 2019. Prior to Shippensburg University, he was associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of chemistry at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Mike is the author of numerous administrative and academic published abstracts and presentations, refereed publications, and articles, and a member of various professional organizations, including the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Association of American Colleges & Universities, and the American Chemical Society.

Mike received his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, and his M.S. and B.S. from Youngstown State University.

Mike replaces James Beets, who served as interim dean. Beets will continue to serve in an interim capacity until Mike joins UH Hilo in December.

Most recently, Holland served as Assistant Dean and Chief Housing Officer at George Mason University where he oversaw 40 residential facilities across four campus locations with over 6,200 residential beds in a housing program operated by over 150 professional staff and over 200 student staff. From 2014-2018, he served as the Vice President of Student Services at Florida State College at Jacksonville where he oversaw 250 professional staff in areas of Recruitment, Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Advising, Career Development, Diversity and Social Initiatives, and Military and Veteran Services at five campuses, two centers, and three military bases.

Holland has also served as a Dean of Students at three higher education institutions: College of St. Joseph in 2008; Brevard College from 2008-2012; and Purchase College from 2013-2014. The diversity of those institutions have provided him with various perspectives about private liberal arts operations and working on small campuses, ensuring an excellent fit with UH Hilo’s unique characteristics of diversity, size and being a residential campus with opportunity for growth.

Holland received his Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama in 2008.