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Kalbert Young

Former State Budget Director Kalbert Young has been appointed to serve as the vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer (VPBF/CFO) of the University of Hawaiʻi System. The University of Hawaiʻii Board of Regents approved Young’s appointment in a meeting on December 4.

Young served the last four years as the state director of budget and finance, where he was responsible for the development of long-term financial plans and strategies, and coordinated the state’s $11-billion budget. In this role, he also worked closely with UH on significant components of the university’s budget, including campus-level initiatives. Prior to that, Young served more than six years as the director of finance for the County of Maui. His private sector experience includes government relations, budget and financial planning, and internal audit at Kamehameha Schools. He has also worked in the area of land planning and development for the Kapalua Land Company, a subsidiary of Maui Land and Pineapple.

He holds two degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa— a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in American history.

Young also serves as a trustee of the State of Hawaiʻi Employees’ Retirement System and as a trustee on the state’s Deferred Compensation Plan.

UH President David Lassner said, “Kalbert Young is highly regarded as a finance professional and as an outstanding communicator. He will be a tremendous asset to the entire University of Hawaiʻi as we work together with Governor Ige and the legislature to build a better future for our students and residents. ”

The VPBF/CFO position serves as UH’s chief financial affairs officer and is responsible for leading and directing the university’s systemwide financial management and budgetary functions.

Young said, “I am excited for the opportunity to work with everyone on the UH management team and within the UH community to implement improvements that will advance everyone’s goal of evolving, growing and building our state university toward even greater prominence. I look forward to my role in guiding the System’s financial, fiscal, and budget aspects in order to improve transparency and accountability for UH and our stakeholders—including students, faculty, staff, regents, legislature and taxpayers. As the only public university system with our state, UH is a valuable asset that is essential to Hawaiʻi’s economic progress.”

Young was recommended for the appointment to the VPBF/CFO position after a comprehensive, nationwide search. He succeeds Howard Todo, who has served in the position since October 2005 and who notified Lassner of his intent to retire in October 2015.

Young’s appointment is effective on or about January 5, 2015 and is subject to renewal based on satisfactory annual evaluations.

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