Ardis Eschenberg recommended as next Windward Community College chancellor

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Deborah Nakagawa, (808) 956-0321
Executive Assistant, Vice President for Community Colleges
Posted: Nov 21, 2018

Ardis Eschenberg
Ardis Eschenberg

Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton has recommended to University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner the appointment of Ardis Eschenberg as the next chancellor for Windward Community College. The effective date of the appointment is January 2, 2019.  

“I am confident that under Dr. Ardis Eschenberg’s leadership, Windward Community College will continue its quest to achieve excellence as an innovative and model community college. Throughout her career at Windward Community College, Eschenberg has inspired faculty, staff, students as well as the community to be fully engaged in their journey to reach their goals,” Morton said.

“I am thankful and humbled for this opportunity to serve my community, colleagues, college and Hawai‘i,” said Eschenberg. “Windward O‘ahu is a special place where we all come together to provide for our children and ʻohana. I am so excited to be a part of this, making higher education accessible and successful across our moku."

Eschenberg currently serves as vice chancellor for academic affairs at Windward Community College in Kāneo‘he. Since 2010, she has been at Windward Community College and has also served as vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of language arts, humanities and academic support. For five years, Eschenberg was at Nebraska Indian Community College, which provides for the higher education needs of the Isanti and Umonhon nations. She served as an academic dean and instructor responsible for daily decision making and long-term planning, and, as advisor and learning center coordinator. She counseled and advised students who are primarily Native American, low-income, first-generation college students. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education as an administrator and instructor. Eschenberg holds a doctorate of philosophy in linguistics and master of arts in linguistics from the University at Buffalo, and bachelor of science in psychology and Russian from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Eschenberg’s role as an educator extends to the community as an active and contributory member. She has built and maintained effective collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituencies. She has a firm foundation in the college’s budgetary process and managing multimillion-dollar grants. Eschenberg has worked extensively with Native Hawaiian students to overcome the barriers they face. She understands the importance of credit and non-credit pathways to meet workforce and community needs and being responsive and adaptable to the needs of an evolving workforce.