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Members of the UH's extended
community weigh in with a wish
list for the next president

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

great visionary and communicator. Makes tough budget decisions and sets priorities. Understands Hawaii and cares about the islands. Can handle a complex university system.

Big expectations for one person. No matter who replaces University of Hawaii President Kenneth Mortimer next year, the job will be tough.

"Many academic searches talk about the next president as being God on a good day," said a tongue-in-cheek David McClain, dean of the College of Business Administration at UH-Manoa. "I hope that when we go through the search and come down to a final pool of candidates, we are able to make a decision. There might not be a perfect candidate."

As the dust settles from Mortimer's May 5 announcement that he would leave a year from now, folks at UH's three university campuses, seven community colleges and one employment training center are shaping a portrait of the person they want next. Here are some of the brushstrokes:

Ken Kaneshiro, director of the Center for Conservation, Research and Training, Pacific Biomedical Research Center: Dealing with the native ecosystem, "there's a whole new world out there, a potential gold mine.

"Anybody who can focus on these kinds of opportunities is certainly someone we would be interested in seeing at the university ... a president who understands the unique resources we have here and takes advantage of what we have in our back yard. We'll be able to take UH to the next level internationally."

Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, director of the Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH-Manoa: The next president must be sensitive to native Hawaiian issues. One way to start: ask all departments to make a commitment to welcoming native Hawaiian students, mentoring them, and making sure they get through programs. Native Hawaiians are underrepresented in students and faculty.

The entire university should adopt the themes of native Hawaiian studies: malama 'aina and malama Hawai'i, care for the ancestors and land.

"What do we have that can bridge native and non-native Hawaiians together? The same things we can offer the rest of the world. Living in harmony with the land is very, very important."

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Outgoing University of Hawaii President Kenneth Mortimer
ponders the future from his Bachman Hall office window.
A new UH president will fill the vacant seat after
Mortimer leaves a year from now.

Chris Garnier, president of Associated Students of UH, and a football player: Most important is finding a president who has some kind of bond with Hawaii, not necessarily a person born and raised in the state, but someone who people can relate to and appreciate.

"Obviously the students make up the university, so the president definitely has to be willing and able to sit down and speak with students."

A new president will have to prioritize, giving most to programs that stand out like astronomy and native Hawaiian studies. That person also needs to be visible at athletic events.

"From football to the Legislature, the president needs to be as well-rounded as possible."

Patrick McFadden, president of the UH Foundation: With the prospect of tight budgets continuing, the new president "needs to communicate with public and private donors the importance of private giving to provide a margin of excellence to the programs we are pursuing. We can't go backward."

The endowment has roughly tripled, from $39 million to about $115 million, in part due to the stock market, part to increased gifts.

"The president is the most visible spokesperson, the conduit to programs, faculty and students. If people want to know the position of the university, the president gives that."

Libby Young, Windward Community College journalism associate professor: The new president should fully understand the mission of the community colleges, the communities they serve, and how they are different from four-year institutions. The president should also encourage communication among all campuses in the system.

"We would like to be at the table to discuss the issues as much as possible. People used to see Manoa as the flagship and the rest of us as satellites. In recent years, there's been more emphasis that we are all important parts of a 10-campus system. We all have a role to play in our communities."

Joyce Tsunoda, chancellor of UH community colleges: The new president must make a real commitment to Hawaii and to UH, and not use this as a stepping-stone for his or her own career.

"I hope this individual will be someone who can really understand and appreciate the unique organizational structure of UH. It's quite unusual to have a research and baccalaureate campus and community colleges as one family. What President Mortimer did, like no other president, was really focus on diversity."

Regent Billy Bergin, the Big Island, speaking personally, not for the regents: The president should be committed to Asian-Pacific cultures and the region.

"The very geographic focal point of this institution" is a key. Cultural concerns must be addressed and supported on issues such as development of Mauna Kea, land considered sacred to native Hawaiians.

Intensive communication is "utmost ... Times are tough and we all have to sacrifice to a certain degree." Faculty, staff and students "want to in a positive way participate in the management of the school."

Rose Tseng, chancellor, UH Hilo: The president should be someone who can really work with the public, encourage "team-building," and look at what's best for the entire state in providing higher education and developing the economy.

"Be open-minded and look at each island's strength."

J.N. Musto, executive director, UH Professional Assembly: The new president must be someone who looks at collective bargaining as a process, and understands and recognizes the faculty union.

"This just happens to be a legally binding process. I don't know of a regent or current UH administrator who either believes that, or if they do, is willing to accept it."

"Anybody who does not think this will be a political issue (president's selection) is on every level wrong. I'm afraid in that environment, UH will not end up with the kind of person it will need."

David McClain, dean of the College of Business Administration, UH-Manoa: If the successor continues the extra job of UH-Manoa chancellor, that will determine the qualifications necessary for a new president. If the offices are separated, the chancellor can be the "more academic leader, and the president can be more of a corporate-style chief executive."

If you keep the two together, then the president must have academic credentials, too.

Dr. Edwin Cadman, dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine: The president has to be a proven leader in his or her discipline, with a wide-ranging field of experience dealing with many different groups. That person must understand the complex UH system of a research university and college campuses. The president must appreciate the value of research.

Glenn Man, chairman, English Department, UH-Manoa: Budget cuts have been felt campus-wide, but certain programs are singled out to get more: science, medical school, business, Asian and Pacific studies. The humanities have suffered greatly. Faculty aren't replaced. The administration feels English can sacrifice faculty before they start hiring again.

Priorities need to be reassessed and readdressed, with more equitable spreading of resources.

"The new president needs to establish very clear lines of communication with faculty and students ... and have the ability to relate very well to the community, the Legislature and governor."

Regent Sharon Weiner, Oahu: The new president must be an able administrator and person who understands Hawaii and how Hawaii works. The top characteristics: an excellent communicator, fund-raiser, and can deal with changing economic conditions.

"There are so many constituencies and stakeholders. You can't satisfy them all. Being president of a statewide higher-education system is one of the toughest jobs on earth."