This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on January 2, 2025.
Aloha!
I hope your holiday season was relaxing and filled with the joy of time spent with family and friends. I am truly honored today to begin my tenure as your new president. Thanks to all of you who have warmly welcomed my husband and me to the UH ʻohana. I look forward to meeting the members of our community in the days and months ahead.
Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Stepping into this role is both exciting and humbling because of UH’s importance to so many. I share with our community the tremendous responsibility of ensuring that UH continues to serve its vital role in Hawaiʻi and build on its upward trajectory in many critical areas. We have important work to do together providing affordable, high-quality education, conducting groundbreaking research that matters, fulfilling our kuleana to being a Native Hawaiian place of learning and commitment to being an Indigenous-serving and inspired institution, expanding workforce development in service to our state, and so much more. Fortunately, as we begin 2025, we have a solid foundation of excellence across our 10-campus system, and I thank departing President David Lassner for his devotion and service to UH.
As a new member of this ʻohana, I look forward to getting to know each and every member of our community, building pilina and learning about what is important to you. I will be a regular presence at events across the university and hope to meet you personally as I visit each campus and workforce center in the next ninety days. Details on these visits will be shared in the days ahead. In the meantime, I invite you to learn more about me on the “Meet the President” webpage. My top priority will always be our students. Whether they are starting a two-week workforce training program or completing a PhD, I believe it is our moral obligation to ensure their success and prepare them for our rapidly changing future.
My husband Kenton and I were fortunate to spend the holidays in Hawaiʻi surrounded by the love of our children and friends, and we are reminded time and again of the warmth of Hawaiʻi and its people. We are fully committed to this community, its people, and the success of UH. While words are a start, my actions will ultimately define my leadership.
I am excited about the future of UH and confident that, together, we can build upon UH’s proud legacy and continue innovating, inspiring and leading. Mahalo nui loa for your support and Happy New Year!
With Aloha,
Wendy Hensel
UH President
