This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on May 5, 2025.
Aloha UH Mānoa ʻOhana,
I am writing to share that I will be stepping down as Provost effective July 1 to return to the faculty as a Professor of Ocean Engineering in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. This decision comes with both excitement and reflection about our work together over these last nearly 10 years. I am eager to return to my roots in teaching and research—passions that drew me to academia in the first place—but I do so with deep appreciation for the opportunity to have served this extraordinary institution.
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Though I will be leaving the Provost’s office, I will continue to serve UH Mānoa in new ways. I will begin a sabbatical year, during which I will remain actively engaged in several special projects on behalf of President Hensel. This includes our continued work to optimize the organization and academic programs of the UH Cancer Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kakaʻako, and my role with the new Pacific Engagement Council to strengthen and expand UH’s research, education, and service initiatives across the Pacific region.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to help guide this campus through a period of growth and transformation. Our university has never been stronger. The increase we have seen in student enrollment over the last five years is a testament to the dedication of our admissions teams, the inspiring work of our faculty, and the supportive environment fostered by our student success professionals. Over that period, we have welcomed a more diverse and vibrant community of learners from all 50 states and 122 nations.
Our remarkable success in increasing our graduation and retention rates is a testament to the hard work of our students and faculty, as well as the creativity and innovation of the finest and most dedicated group of deans and academic administrators I have ever had the privilege of working with.
Likewise, the extraordinary success we have had in expanding our research enterprise, attracting talented scholars and securing record-breaking extramural funding, are a direct reflection of the skill and dedication of our faculty, their support staff and their students.
As this chapter in my academic career draws to a close, I find myself filled with a profound sense of gratitude and a deep appreciation for the journey we have shared. Serving this institution has been an extraordinary privilege, and an experience that has enriched my life in countless ways.
I would like to thank President Hensel for her thoughtful support through this transition. I have often said to many of you that it is easy to fall in love with this university; we are so strongly connected to the future of the people and places of Hawaiʻi. I look forward to continuing our work together!
Me ke Aloha,
Michael
