UH President Search
University of Hawai‘i is searching for its next president.
Feedback on Presidential Search Profile: UHPresident@wittkieffer.com
About Our Search
The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents aims 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.
News & Updates
- Six public forums scheduled for UH president’s search April 17, 2024
- BOR aims to hire next president by fall 2024 March 22, 2024
- Regents approve members for UH presidential search group March 8, 2024
- UH Board of Regents hires search firm for president search March 2, 2024
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.
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
- Three to four finalists are named
October
- Final selection and negotiation
- New president is announced
January
- New president begins
Special Board of Regents Meetings on Presidential Search
| May 16, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 18, 2024 | Agenda | Materials | Recording | 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 |
Search Committee
The board decided that every regent will serve on the selection committee.
Gabriel Lee
Ernest Wilson
Wayne Higaki
William F. Haning III
Diane Paloma
Laurie Tochiki
Laurel Loo
Neil Abercrombie
Lauren Akitake
Abigail Mawae
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. The vote came on March 7 during a special meeting of the regents.
Jaret KC Leong
Director of Mānoa Academy and Academic Pathways; UH Staff Council Co-Chair
Erin E. Centeio
UH Mānoa Associate Professor in the College of Education; All Campus Council for Faculty Senate Chairs (ACCFSC) Co-Chair
Lindsey Millerd
UH West Oʻahu ASUH President; UH Student Caucus Representative
Kamakanaokealoha Aquino
Native Hawaiian Coordinator, Pūko’a Council Representative
Domineque Bonifacio
Leeward Community College ASUH senator
Jerris R. Hedges
UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Emeritus
Brandon Marc T. Higa
Former UH regent, Kapiʻolani Community College Grants Office Director
Duane K. Kurisu
Former UH regent, aio Chairman and CEO
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
Leadership Profile
The profile provides background on the university and includes the president’s position summary.
Areas of Excellence
International Advantage
Location
Opportunity
Economic Development
Fast Facts
FOUNDED
1907
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
43,896
GRADUATE STUDENTS
5,037
FULL-TIME
49.3%
PART-TIME
50.7%
DEGREE PROGRAMS
711
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.
