CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Makaahoa Duarte and the University of Hawaii's new chancellor, Peter Englert, exchange breath in a ceremonial gesture.
UH welcomes Three hours of chanting, hula and warm embraces greeted the University of Hawaii-Manoa's new chancellor yesterday.
new chancellor
Peter Englert comes with the
high esteem of Victoria UniversityBy Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@starbulletin.com
Many said they hoped the ceremonial show of welcome will be a sign of stronger bonds between the university administration and the native Hawaiian community.
"Our goal is to have more Hawaiians coming to this university," said Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, director of the UH-Manoa Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies yesterday at a ceremony celebrating Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert's official introduction to the flagship campus' faculty.
Englert, former pro vice chancellor and dean of science, architecture and design at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, is credited with bettering that institution's relationship with the local Maori community and increasing Maori enrollment at the university during his seven years there.
Shona DeSain, associate dean of students at Victoria University, said Englert has "an enormous sense of compassion" but is not afraid to stick to a plan and demand results. "He always has students as foremost rather than as the economic bottom line."
She and five other Victoria University senior faculty members attended the ceremony, which was both a welcome and a farewell to Englert.
About 50 UH faculty and staff members also attended the gathering, which featured Hawaiian welcome and Maori farewell chants.
"Never before have we had Polynesians bringing to us somebody who they've put their stamp of approval on," Kame'eleihiwa said.
Englert's salary is $254,000, the median salary for the chief executive officer of a Research I university, and his appointment runs until 2005. A native of Germany, Englert has bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in chemistry/nuclear chemistry from the University of Cologne, Germany.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Dancers from Halau Ku Mana performed yesterday during the welcoming ceremony for the University of Hawaii's new chancellor, Peter Englert. Shown performing, from left, are Kanai Chock, Shelly Ponimoi, Abraham Tui and Noelani Duffey.
He will be the first permanent Manoa chancellor since 1996, when the position was incorporated into the university president's office.
Englert told attendees in a short, emotional speech that he was honored to receive the "gift of belonging."
"I belong to this university, and I want to be a part of this community. There are so many things that I'd like to do."
He did not mention any concrete plans or future initiatives. UH President Evan Dobelle said that is because Englert has been encouraged to survey the campus and gather student and faculty commentary for six to eight weeks before making any administrative moves.
Englert, 52, who will be living in student dormitories at first and then in faculty housing when the semester starts, agreed, saying he will be "walking and talking" his way across the campus to better understand issues.
Later, he did say his goals for UH-Manoa included accentuating the campus' cultural diversity and underrecognized, one-of-a-kind programs.
University of Hawaii
