Wendy Hensel, previously serving as executive vice chancellor and university provost at The City University of New York, has been voted the new president of the University of Hawaii (UH). Announced on Thursday, Hensel's selection was unanimous among the UH Board of Regents. She's set to lead the 10-campus university system succeeding President David Lassner's retirement in December, as detailed by West Hawaii Today.
While some regents expressed disappointment that the search did not yield a local candidate, they eagerly anticipated Hensel's tenure. Former Governor Neil Abercrombie, stated "This is a big day for everybody." However, Hensel’s new role does not come without scrutiny. Allegations of past mistreatment by a minority law professor during Hensel's time at Georgia State surfaced, which she fervently denied in a statement obtained by West Hawaii Today.
In her address, Hensel emphasized her commitment to the University of Hawaii and its community. She said, "I stand here today, ready and willing to do the hard work each and every day to earn your trust—I have a 25-year track record of honoring and elevating diversity in all of its forms." Hensel plans to focus on increasing graduation and retention rates and has suggested integrating analytics and artificial intelligence to achieve this goal, a statement obtained by KITV.
Hensel's appointment includes a three-year contract with a salary of $675,000 per year, a $7,000 monthly housing allowance, and coverage for moving expenses. If she resigns as president, she will have a tenured position at UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law as part of her contract, ensuring job security within the institution.
Julian Vasquez Heilig, the other finalist for president and current provost at Western Michigan University, was recognized for his potential and academic contributions. However, Laurie Tochiki, vice chair of the Board of Regents, chose Hensel, commending her for "demonstrating grace under fire," according to KITV.
