Candidate picked
for UH school

A University of Washington acting dean has been selected as the final candidate in the search for dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Business Administration.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is expected to vote at its Nov. 18-19 meeting on a recommendation for V. Vance Roley, who is an acting dean and a professor of finance at the University of Washington. Roley was chosen as the final candidate by the Board of Regents' personnel committee last month, according to sources close to the selection process, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

University officials declined to confirm Roley's selection. Carolyn Tanaka, associate vice president for university relations, said the board is expected to vote on an appointment at its upcoming regular meeting.

During the meeting, which is set to take place on Maui, the public can comment on the committee's recommendation before the matter goes to a vote, Tanaka said.

Roley was first identified as a finalist in August. The other finalist was Steven J. DeKrey, associate dean and director of the Master of Business Administration and Master of Science programs at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

In addition to his experience at the University of Washington, Roley has close ties to Asia and has worked on joint MBA programs with business schools in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. He has also held administrative and teaching positions at Harvard University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Council of Economic Advisors.

"I feel that the College of Business Administration has established an excellent reputation in international business education and research and I would like an opportunity to lead this institution to even greater success," Roley said in his application package. He could not be reached for comment about the latest hiring development.

If the Board of Regents approves Roley's selection, he will fill a void left when David McClain stepped down and joined the university's administration. James R. Wills Jr. has been serving as interim dean. McClain, who had been serving as acting president of the university since Evan Dobelle was fired on June 15, was recently named interim president for a two-year period.

Terms of McClain's two-year contract include an annual salary of $325,000, residence at College Hill, a $326 monthly car allowance and a $190,000, year-long sabbatical at the end of his term.

An economist by training, McClain joined the University of Hawaii in 1991 when he was named the Henry A. Walker Jr. Distinguished Professor of Business Enterprise. Between 2000 and 2003, he served as dean of the business college, where he helped raise the visibility of the school in the local community and increased its reputation in the academic world.

During McClain's tenure as business school dean, the college added a dozen new faculty members and increased the number of internships to 400 from 40, according to a recent article in the business school's quarterly magazine.

U.S News & World Report recently ranked the school's undergraduate international business program as the 12th best in the nation.

More information about Roley and about the search process has been posted at www.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/business.