Ex-UH executive to decide in inquiry

Eight months after the University of Hawaii launched an internal investigation of UH Manoa’s chief academic officer over faculty and staff complaints of bullying and racist and sexist behavior, UH expects to hand the case over for an outside decision-maker.

In a memorandum to Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman last year, 22 faculty and staff members accused Reed Dasenbrock, vice chancellor of academic affairs at Manoa since 2009, of close to 30 incidents that “reflect behavior unbecoming a senior executive.”

The faculty members accused Dasenbrock of harassing and intimidating female employees, making racist remarks and denying resources to programs or units led by faculty members who have accused him of unfair treatment — allegations that Dasenbrock has denied.

“Dasenbrock’s management style and behavior toward groups and individual members of our university community demonstrate an inability to lead the academic affairs of the state’s flagship campus with dignity, diligence, and competence,” the complaint said. “The concerns outlined here are serious enough that we believe that Dr. Dasenbrock should be removed from his position.”

UH initiated an investigation in May and appointed a three-member fact-finding committee made up of UH officials outside of UH Manoa. A final report is underway, according to a UH spokesman, and will be turned over to former UH executive Linda Johnsrud, who will issue a final decision.

Johnsrud worked for UH for 25 years, including 10 years as system executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, before leaving in 2013 to join the University of Texas.

“She agreed to review the final report and will be coming down with a decision on whether policies around workplace harassment and any other policies have been violated,” said UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl. Johnsrud, who is vice president for academic affairs and interim provost at UT Arlington, is not being paid for her assistance.

Meisenzahl acknowledged that the investigation has been lengthy but said the university wanted to ensure it was thorough and balanced.

“We’re really trying to do the right thing here, and I think that’s part of the reason it’s taken this long,” he said. “Ultimately, we’re talking about a man’s career and reputation, and we’re also talking about serious concerns from a number of faculty. We wanted to make sure (the investigation) was thorough, that we left no stone unturned and that it was a fair and unbiased process.”

The Manoa Faculty Senate — whose seven-member Executive Committee includes six faculty members who signed the complaint against Dasenbrock — passed a resolution last week expressing a “lack of confidence” in Dasenbrock and asking that he be immediately removed from his post.

The resolution, which cites the pending complaint, says in part, “the record shows that Dasenbrock has created a hostile campus environment via public threats and insults, lack of respect and civility, hostility, and retaliation against faculty and staff who disagree with his views, and this environment has persisted after the complaint was filed.”

Dasenbrock, who would be able to appeal any decision by Johnsrud, declined a request for comment.

As chief academic officer, the deans of UH Manoa’s 15 schools and colleges report to Dasenbrock, as do some associate and assistant vice chancellors. In all, nearly 4,500 employees work in units that report to Dasenbrock, who earns a $296,112 salary. As with most administrative appointments, Dasenbrock has so-called return rights to return to academia, in his case to the English Department, if he chooses.