The University of Hawaii Board of Regents could name an interim president for the 10-campus system as early as next month as the board begins searching for a permanent replacement for President M.R.C. Greenwood — a process that could take months.
"We need to focus on who will be in charge on Sept. 1," said regent John Holzman, chairman of a task group responsible for the logistics of the presidential search.
"The first priority of any organization is just to do no harm," he said, "and that includes providing for a smooth, orderly transition as President Greenwood leaves on Aug. 31 and that we’re confident that we have the university in the hands of a capable administrator approved by the board, selected by the board and someone we can count on."
Regents on Thursday directed Holzman’s group to come up with two or three candidates who could serve in the interim. A vote on the recommendations is expected at a July regents meeting.
Holzman said it would be practical to focus on candidates already in the university system. He suggested the appointment have no specified end date.
"The person should be in that position until a new president arrives on the scene," he said. "So that could be some months. Exactly how many months is not clear."
The search process in 2009 that resulted in choosing Greenwood took about seven months.
Regents also approved forming a seven-member presidential selection committee to come up with a detailed plan for the search. The board agreed that plan needs to include a position summary, proposed selection criteria, a recommendation to solicit community opinions and a recommendation on whether a search firm should be hired to help with the process.
Holzman was named chairman of the selection committee. Other members are Jeffrey Acido, Chuck Gee, James Lee, Barry Mizuno, Saedene Ota and Jan Sullivan.
Greenwood, 70, announced her retirement early last month, saying she wants to spend more time with family and deal with health problems. Her contract was set to expire July 31, 2015.
Her announcement came after criticism from lawmakers and the public nearly a year after UH became embroiled in the so-called "Wonder blunder" from a botched Stevie Wonder concert that ended up costing the school more than $200,000.
A state Senate investigation of the missteps of the bungled concert led to wider concerns about university governance, operations and accountability.
While vetting possible search criteria, several regents said Thursday that potential candidates must be able to help heal and restore UH’s bruised reputation.
"Given the events of the past year, first and foremost, we need a leader that can help restore trust and confidence with the public, faculty, students, government officials and other stakeholders," said regent Coralie Matayoshi. "Ideally, it should be someone with experience with and appreciation for our state, its diversity, the culture of an island environment. … Because of where we are right now, I think it would be difficult and counterproductive to hire a person who is not familiar with Hawaii as the president of the University of Hawaii at this time."
Gee said a candidate’s political skills may prove particularly valuable.
"Having a local perspective is also very helpful — at least you know how to maneuver the political land mines," Gee said. "So while organizational skills is very important, political skills may be more important in this particular state. … I will be looking for that."
Gee also said that a new leader will need to be inspirational.
"I would want a leader that can carry the vision forward," he said.
After some debate the board agreed that while "superb academic credentials" are an important consideration, they shouldn’t be a prerequisite for candidates.
Holzman emphasized the need for a leader to value transparency and accountability, and be able to enhance the university’s role in the community.
"Perhaps one of the greatest objectives we have is to somehow, in the context of what this university (represents) in Hawaii, to somehow restore it to the role it should have of bringing people together, of people seeing it as a nexus of progress in our state, as an institution that should be supported, an institution that people can understand," Holzman said.
Regent Tom Shigemoto said candidates will need to have an understanding of the role UH athletics plays in the community.
"Like it or not, it is a huge part of the face of the university," he said.
Shigemoto also suggested a new president will need to be "a media darling" accessible to news organizations, especially in promoting university accomplishments.
Sullivan said she hopes the board can find someone who genuinely wants to help the university system.
"We need to find someone who really wants to do this and take this job for the right reasons," Sullivan said. "We don’t need somebody who wants to do it for money, for power or prestige. So, in their heart, to actually want to make the university a better place and to put everything they have into moving the university forward. It’s going to take a certain kind of person."
To further her point, Sullivan singled out regent John Dean, a bank turnaround expert who in 2010 took an annual salary of $1 as acting executive chairman of Central Pacific Financial Corp.
Jeffrey Acido, who holds the student seat on the board, said he hopes the next president can cultivate a culture of believing in the university’s students and faculty. Throughout his academic career, professors have often encouraged him to leave the UH system and pursue a degree elsewhere to ensure better job opportunities, he said.
"To have that quality and that culture and value (from) the president, man, it can really say something," Acido said. "I have yet to feel that."
