UH President Search | University of Hawaii System
Source: https://www.hawaii.edu/leadership/president-search
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
UH President Search | University of Hawaii System
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UH
President Search
University of Hawaiʻi is searching for its next president.
About UH
Leadership Profile
Committee
Communications
Jean Charlot mural, Bachman Hall
News & Updates
UH regents unanimously select Wendy Hensel as next UH President
October 17, 2024
President’s search in final stage
October 16, 2024
Regents on track to select next UH President in mid-October
October 2, 2024
About Our Search
The
University of
Hawaiʻi
Board of Regents
aimed 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.
Meet Our Next President, Wendy Hensel
The
University of
Hawaiʻi
Board of Regents
(
BOR
) voted to appoint Wendy Hensel as the next president of the
UH
10-campus system, the state’s sole provider of public higher education. The regents voted unanimously to appoint Hensel at the Thursday, October 17 continuation of the October 16 Special
BOR
Meeting at
UH
Mānoa.
Wendy Hensel held her first news conference shortly after being appointed to the position by the
UH
Board of Regents.
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
Two to four finalists are named
October
Final selection and negotiation
New president is announced
January
New president begins
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
View the Maui County forum recording
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
View the Kauaʻi County forum recording
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
View the Hawaiʻi County forum recording
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH
Mānoa Art Auditorium
View the Oʻahu campuses forum recording
Wednesday, September 25
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH
Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B
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
View the Maui County forum recording
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
View the Kauaʻi County forum recording
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
View the Hawaiʻi County forum recording
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH
Mānoa Art Auditorium
View the Oʻahu campuses forum recording
Wednesday, October 2
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH
Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B
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
October 17, 2024
Agenda
Recording
October 16, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Recording
Testimony
September 5, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
August 15, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
August 1, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
Testimony
July 18, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
May 16, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
Testimony
Late Testimony
April 18, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
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
Leadership Profile
The profile provides background on the university and includes the president’s position summary.
View Leadership Profile
Areas of Excellence
International Advantage
Location
Opportunity
Economic Development
Our Ten Campuses
Mānoa
Hilo
West Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi
Honolulu
Kapiʻolani
Kauaʻi
Leeward
Maui
Windward
Fast Facts
FOUNDED
1907
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
43,896
GRADUATE STUDENTS
5,037
FULL-TIME
49.3%
PART-TIME
50.7%
DEGREE PROGRAMS
711
Learn more about UH
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.
Last modified: October 23, 2024
2444 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
An
equal opportunity institution
Use of this site implies consent
with our
Usage Policy
copyright © 2026
University of Hawaiʻi
Accessibility at UH
X
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
Flickr
RSS
Contact
UH
If required, information contained on
this website can be made available in
an alternative format upon request.
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
Accessibility Statement
Calendar
COVID-19 Updates
Directory
Emergency Information
MyUH
Privacy Statement
Work at
UH
English
Gagana Samoa
Kapasen Chuuk
Lea faka-Tonga - Tongan
Tiếng Việt
ภาษาไทย
Ilokano
Tagalog
Cebuano
Kajin Majôl
简体中文
繁體中文
日本語
한국어
Español
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
About
UH
Attend
Campuses
Degrees and Programs
Leadership
Offices
Back To Top
Skip to content
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
UH
President Search
University of Hawaiʻi is searching for its next president.
About UH
Leadership Profile
Committee
Communications
Jean Charlot mural, Bachman Hall
News & Updates
UH regents unanimously select Wendy Hensel as next UH President
October 17, 2024
President’s search in final stage
October 16, 2024
Regents on track to select next UH President in mid-October
October 2, 2024
About Our Search
The
University of
Hawaiʻi
Board of Regents
aimed 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.
Meet Our Next President, Wendy Hensel
The
University of
Hawaiʻi
Board of Regents
(
BOR
) voted to appoint Wendy Hensel as the next president of the
UH
10-campus system, the state’s sole provider of public higher education. The regents voted unanimously to appoint Hensel at the Thursday, October 17 continuation of the October 16 Special
BOR
Meeting at
UH
Mānoa.
Wendy Hensel held her first news conference shortly after being appointed to the position by the
UH
Board of Regents.
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
Two to four finalists are named
October
Final selection and negotiation
New president is announced
January
New president begins
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
View the Maui County forum recording
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
View the Kauaʻi County forum recording
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
View the Hawaiʻi County forum recording
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH
Mānoa Art Auditorium
View the Oʻahu campuses forum recording
Wednesday, September 25
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH
Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B
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
View the Maui County forum recording
Kauaʻi
Open House, 2–3 p.m.
Kauaʻi Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium
Kauaʻi County Forum, 3–4 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
View the Kauaʻi County forum recording
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
View the Hawaiʻi County forum recording
Oʻahu
Oʻahu Campuses Forum, 4–5:30 p.m.
UH
Mānoa Art Auditorium
View the Oʻahu campuses forum recording
Wednesday, October 2
Oʻahu Campuses Open House, 8–9 a.m.
UH
Mānoa Bachman Hall Room 106A/B
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
October 17, 2024
Agenda
Recording
October 16, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Recording
Testimony
September 5, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
August 15, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
August 1, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
Testimony
July 18, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
May 16, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
Testimony
Late Testimony
April 18, 2024
Agenda
Materials
Minutes
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
Leadership Profile
The profile provides background on the university and includes the president’s position summary.
View Leadership Profile
Areas of Excellence
International Advantage
Location
Opportunity
Economic Development
Our Ten Campuses
Mānoa
Hilo
West Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi
Honolulu
Kapiʻolani
Kauaʻi
Leeward
Maui
Windward
Fast Facts
FOUNDED
1907
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
43,896
GRADUATE STUDENTS
5,037
FULL-TIME
49.3%
PART-TIME
50.7%
DEGREE PROGRAMS
711
Learn more about UH
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.
Last modified: October 23, 2024
2444 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
An
equal opportunity institution
Use of this site implies consent
with our
Usage Policy
copyright © 2026
University of Hawaiʻi
Accessibility at UH
X
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
Contact
UH
If required, information contained on
this website can be made available in
an alternative format upon request.
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
Accessibility Statement
Calendar
COVID-19 Updates
Directory
Emergency Information
MyUH
Privacy Statement
Work at
UH
English
Gagana Samoa
Kapasen Chuuk
Lea faka-Tonga - Tongan
Tiếng Việt
ภาษาไทย
Ilokano
Tagalog
Cebuano
Kajin Majôl
简体中文
繁體中文
日本語
한국어
Español
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
About
UH
Attend
Campuses
Degrees and Programs
Leadership
Offices
Back To Top