Kristeen Hanselman has been tapped to succeed J.N. Musto as executive director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Hanselman, who has been the faculty union’s associate executive director since 2007, will take over Sept. 1.

Musto previously announced he would be retiring after more than 35 years leading the union, which represents nearly 4,000 faculty members statewide.

UHPA’s board of directors unanimously voted in favor of Hanselman’s appointment following a national search, the union said in a news release.

Hanselman has mostly been responsible for contract grievance enforcement, collective bargaining, membership engagement programs, government affairs and communications.

"As the faculty union, our role is to listen to their concerns and to look at ways we can collectively initiate positive change so that Hawaii residents can benefit from a public higher education system that offers quality instruction and world-class research," Hanselman said in a statement. "We provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure we can all be proud of the University of Hawaii."

Hanselman has more than 35 years of leadership experience in public unions and political affairs, including serving in various capacities for the Michigan Education Association and Washington Education Association. She also worked on the executive staff of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union.

"We’re very pleased that Kris has decided to step forward to fill this important leadership role," David Duffy, UHPA’s president and a Manoa botany professor, said in a statement. "She has proven that she is a relentless advocate for what is right and fair, and is not afraid to challenge the UH administration when the rights of faculty have been violated or stand up to the Legislature when it attempts to micro-manage the programs and curricula of the UH."

Before leaving office last year, former Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed off on a new two-year labor contract with UHPA that includes 4 percent across-the-board raises in each of the next two years as well as increases to the minimum salaries members are paid by rank.

The $32 million contract takes effect July 1.