The University of Hawaii Board of Regents unanimously approved the hiring of a new chancellor at UH-Hilo and the promotion of Hawaii Community College Chancellor Rockne Freitas to a vice president in the UH system at its monthly meeting yesterday.

Donald O. Straney will start at UH-Hilo July 1 under a three-year contract with an annual salary of $306,504. The amount is adjusted to $285,072 this year because of UH salary reductions.

Straney was one of five finalists, including two candidates from UH-Hilo, who made formal visits to the campus for interviews and public meetings.

An evolutionary biologist, Straney is currently dean of science and professor of biology at Cal Poly Pomona.

In an interview yesterday, Straney said he was attracted to the job because the campus is growing, versus campuses in California, which are cutting back.

“;We're looking at the future and not moaning about the present,”; Straney said.

A new pharmacy school and the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea are among the major projects at UH-Hilo.

Straney's appointment disappointed supporters of Pharmacy School founding Dean John Pezzuto, one of the finalists. They had urged the regents to delay Straney's selection.

Others, including the alumni association and native Hawaiian faculty and staff, supported him.

Straney “;is extremely qualified, and although he is new, he will quickly relate to the community,”; said UH President M.R.C. Greenwood.

The board also approved the appointment of Rockne Freitas to become vice president of student affairs and university and community relations at the UH system on July 1.

Freitas would be paid $225,000 a year in the position, but this year his salary is reduced to $209,256 because of UH salary restrictions.

J.N. Musto, executive director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, told the regents that Freitas is a friend and has done a good job at HCC. But Musto expressed concern about the expansion of UH administrators and said it was his understanding that Freitas' position was going to remain unfilled.

Freitas previously has served as vice president of university relations for the UH system and associate athletic director for UH-Manoa. He also held leadership positions at Kamehameha Schools before becoming chancellor at HCC.

In his new job, Freitas will be responsible for systemwide student affairs policies and university and government relations, including lobbying the Legislature. He also will assist with the completion of an HCC-West Hawaii campus and the new UH-West Oahu campus.

Freitas also will receive $8,000 to cover moving expenses from Hilo to Honolulu. Straney will get up to $25,000 for his moving expenses from California.

Noreen Yamane has been named interim chancellor at HCC at a salary of $145,008, adjusted to $134,880 because of budget restrictions.