A transitional period has begun for the University of Hawaii system, and with it, hopes for a new era that will take the state’s institution of higher learning upward, not dragged down by its problematic leaders.
M.R.C. Greenwood has made her exit from UH-Manoa’s Bachman Hall, replaced temporarily by longtime UH executive David Lassner, who quietly assumed the reins at the start of September. Meanwhile, a seven-member selection committee begins searching for a permanent UH president. Perhaps jolted by two leaders from afar who turned out to be controversial, the committee is looking this time for a candidate with strong Hawaii ties. All things being equal, that would be an asset — recent history has shown a gullibility for self-aggrandizing resumes. But searchers, of course, must keep all options open. Too much is at stake to blow another, third shot for true leadership.
The legacy left by Greenwood, 70, is mixed indeed. She started off badly by rejecting College Hill in favor of an additional $5,000-a-month allowance for housing off campus, and her administration bungled the $200,000 "Wonder blunder." Recognized in the studies of obesity and diabetes, she is now being paid $147,000 for each of two half-years at UH’s John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Still, in her four years in charge of the university, she improved the UH’s standing as a research institution. She deservedly is satisfied with increased graduation rates and attraction of more Native Hawaiian students to the 10 campuses.
Greenwood was preceded at the UH’s helm by low-key David McClain, formerly dean of business administration at UH who worked under Evan Dobelle, UH president from 2001-2004. McClain was quietly popular and earned high marks, but he opted to step down in 2009 to return to being a business professor.
Before McClain, a publicized search brought Dobelle, a New Englander, and high hopes for UH. But Dobelle was ousted by the Board of Regents, which criticized his mismanagement of special funds accounts; the regents paid him millions of dollars in cash and benefits to go away. Dobelle is under attack now as president of Westfield (Mass.) State University for extravagant expenses.
No wonder that UH Regent Carl Carlson, who chairs the current search committee, said that the subgroups — recommending selection criteria, deciding what profession help will be needed and helping outreach efforts — are moving ahead with an assumption that a candidate with strong Hawaii ties is being sought.
"It’s not a decision, but what I would say is a working assumption that makes a lot of sense," Holzman has said. "I think there’s a sense, not just among us, but among a lot of people in this state, that we’re looking for someone who not only appreciates these islands but hopefully will have the experience here, too, and know us as a people … and that’s something that’s hard to find."
Meanwhile, Lassner, 58, reportedly said he agrees with Greenwood’s priorities. Lassner has been at UH since earning his graduate degree in 1977 and has been at the campus since then in various positions, most recently as first vice president for information technology and chief information officer.
Lassner said those projects have given him a unique look on how the UH system works. If he can keep a steady hand in steering the UH system past these turbulent times, that would be laudable. The foremost thing for him and other top UH administrators — current and future — to remember is directional: upward.
