Vice President for Student Affairs and University/Community Relations
Rockne Freitas
Rockne Freitas assumed the newly created position of vice president for student affairs and university/community relations for the University of Hawai‘i System in July 2010.
Merging two vacant vice president positions at the system level—vice president for student affairs and vice president for external affairs and university relations—the post provides leadership in systemwide student affairs policies and procedures and student life activities, as well as university and government relations and communication efforts.
Freitas also works on key special projects systemwide, including the completion of the community college in Palamanui and assisting with the progress of the new West O‘ahu campus.
As chancellor of Hawai‘i Community College for the previous six years, Freitas served as the chief executive of the main campus in Hilo and its University of Hawai‘i Center in West Hawai‘i.
He previously served as vice president and executive director of the Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation and has held leadership positions at Kamehameha Schools and GRG Enterprises. Freitas also held posts as vice president for university relations for the UH system and associate athletic director for UH Manoa.
A former National Football League player and coach, Freitas was inducted into the Hawai‘i Sports Hall of Fame and the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame. He also served as a trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Freitas holds a PhD and MEd in education from UH Manoa and BS in animal science from Oregon State University. His doctoral research focused on developmental systems and guidelines for drug prevention, education, monitoring and counseling for intercollegiate athletics.
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2444 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
