Regents meet, but are not ready to announce interim UH president

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is talking with a candidate to temporarily replace outgoing President M.R.C. Greenwood, but isn’t ready to make the name public.

“We’re focusing on a candidate. We need to do some more vetting, due diligence, and we expect to have an announcement pretty soon,” said Regent John Holzman, who had led the presidential search effort, after today’s board meeting.

Holzman, who was selected as the new chairman of the regents, said the board might convene a special meeting July 30 to vote on the interim appointment, who would take over Sept. 1.

In other board business, the regents voted unanimously to approve a $24,470 monthly salary for Greenwood to join the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s faculty following a one-year unpaid leave. That would amount to a nearly $294,000 annual salary, making her the highest-paid professor at the medical school.

Holzman said Greenwood — an internationally recognized expert in nutrition, obesity and diabetes — would focus on establishing a diabetes and obesity center at the medical school.

“I think we are getting a bargain,” said Regent Chuck Gee.