UH Board of Regents approves permanent reassignment of John Morton as vice president for community colleges; Manuel Cabral appointed interim chancellor for Leew

University of Hawaiʻi
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Posted: Mar 15, 2007


HILO, Hawaiʻi — At its monthly meeting held today at Hawaiʻi Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved the reassignment of Interim Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton to a permanent status and a three-year reappointment as vice president for community colleges. Morton has served in an interim capacity since July 2005, overseeing the university‘s seven community colleges located on four islands, which serve more than 23,000 students across the state.

Morton has been with the university‘s community college system since 1970 when he joined the Leeward Community College faculty in chemistry and political science. From 1984 to 2005, he served as provost/chancellor of Kapiʻolani Community College, during which time the new campus was built on Diamond Head. Beginning in January 2002, Morton spearheaded the implementation of the university‘s systemwide student information system, also known as Banner, and continues to oversee its development and implementation.

Active in community affairs, Morton has served as president of the Hawaiʻi Services on Deafness Board and the Hawaiʻi Health Information Corporation Board, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of ASSETS School. Morton holds a BS in chemistry and MA in political science from the University of Illinois and a PhD in communication and information sciences from UH Mānoa.

In other action, Manuel Cabral, a professor and chair of the Mathematics and Science Division at Leeward Community College, has been appointed interim chancellor of the campus. Cabral‘s appointment is effective March 19, 2007, through June 30, 2008, unless sooner relieved, during which time the university will recruit to fill the position on a permanent basis.

The Leeward CC chancellor position was made vacant by the departure of Peter Quigley who has accepted a new appointment as assistant vice chancellor at the UH Mānoa campus.

Cabral, who has served in various positions at Leeward CC for 27 years, earned a bachelor‘s degree in mathematics and French from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and a master‘s degree in mathematics from Indiana University. During his 27 years at Leeward CC, he has served as the Faculty Senate Vice Chair, Chair of the Leeward CC Campus Council, and for the past 19 years as the Mathematics and Science Division Chair.

He has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and leadership with the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents‘ Excellence in Teaching Award and the Outstanding Leadership Award of the National Community College Division Chair Academy.