Bachman 106: Hi! I'm Gabe Lee and
Bachman 106: we
Bachman 106: This is a continuation of the meeting on October 16, th 2,024, and the board will resume discussions in in executive session, as noted on the agenda.
Bachman 106: Oh, my goodness!
Bachman 106: Okay.
Bachman 106: okay, I'll call the meeting to order. And and this is the continuation of the meeting on October 16, th 2,024,
Bachman 106: and the Board will resume discussions after going into executive session.
Bachman 106: So we began this process in October of last year.
Bachman 106: after President Lasner announced on September 19, th his plan to retire at the end of 2024.
Bachman 106: The University
Bachman 106: has not had to conduct a search or a new leader for more than 10 years, and this board understood that conducting a search would be difficult, and there would be naturally a lot of opinions and concerns about who the regents would choose
Bachman 106: to lead our 10 campus system.
Bachman 106: After forming a permitted action group.
Bachman 106: consisting of Regents Akitaki, Higaki, Lou Paloma, and myself. In December of last year, the Board accepted and implemented nearly all the recommend recommendations of
Bachman 106: the psag.
Bachman 106: This included
Bachman 106: respecting the principles of shared governance by appointing an advisory group of representatives from the 4 recognized Governance groups.
Bachman 106: and those are the all Campus Council of Faculty, Senate, Chairs, University of Hawaii, Staff Council, University of Hawaii, Student Caucus, and the Coa Council
Bachman 106: and additional members of the broader community were also added to the Presidential Search Advisory Group.
Bachman 106: administering an online survey launched in
Bachman 106: December 2023 and asking for input
Bachman 106: on the qualities of the next. President.
Bachman 106: we received 2,093 responses which were provided to the psag as well as the regents.
Bachman 106: In spring we advertised and hosted a series of 6 public forums, statewide, held in person, and virtually with about 565 people attending
Bachman 106: all of this input and feedback gathered through the survey, and the forums were used to create
Bachman 106: the position, description and the Presidential leadership profile adopted by the Board.
Bachman 106: With the assistance of Whit Kiefer, a national
Bachman 106: search firm specializing in higher education. A nationwide search was conducted, and the Board received 93 applicants.
Bachman 106: From there
Bachman 106: the psag began its work.
Bachman 106: One of the 1st tasks of the psag was to also review the information from all of the forums and the surveys, and assist the
Bachman 106: the board in the drafting of the public profile and job description, which was approved by the Board of Regents.
Bachman 106: After combing through all 93 applicants. The Psag recommended interviewing a total of 12 semifinalists. The Board accepted their recommendation, and added one more for a total of 13 applicants to be interviewed.
Bachman 106: Over the course of 2 full days 12 candidates were interviewed, one candidate withdrew.
Bachman 106: and the Psac interviewed all remaining candidates, and provided the board with suggested finalists.
Bachman 106: The Board also sought candidates with local ties, as it was a priority for some stakeholders, and it was taken into serious consideration. Some of the semifinalists had strong local ties, but after following the process 3 finalists emerged.
Bachman 106: The board selected
Bachman 106: 3. The 3 finalists, on recommendation from the psag
Bachman 106: but one withdrew from consideration.
Bachman 106: The Board then named the 2 remaining finalists publicly, and invited both finalists to come to Hawaii, meet and be interviewed by the community, and our university stakeholders.
Bachman 106: The finalists were introduced to the community and general public through a series of open houses.
Bachman 106: meet and greet opportunities and public forums, question and answer sessions.
Bachman 106: These were scheduled for the weeks of September 23rd and September 30.th
Bachman 106: In each of the 4 counties Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, and Honolulu.
Bachman 106: They answered a wide range of questions, including their interest in and commitment to Hawaii
Bachman 106: and the University of Hawaii and its 2,003 to 2,009 strategic plan.
Bachman 106: More than 1,400 people attended the forums in person and online, and we know that even more watched the forums
Bachman 106: in recordings thereafter.
Bachman 106: The the candidates also met with campus leadership teams and governance groups.
Bachman 106: Everyone was asked to provide their input on both finalists through confidential surveys and written public testimony to the Board for our consideration, and the Board has reviewed all of that input
Bachman 106: from key stakeholders and members of the public.
Bachman 106: Yesterday in executive session, we interviewed each candidate.
Bachman 106: After the interviews we reviewed, the feedback we have received, including
Bachman 106: confidential feedback
Bachman 106: and references and due diligence
Bachman 106: that was entrusted to us with that confidentiality.
Bachman 106: As Chair Lee
Bachman 106: noted in the beginning of our comments, choosing our next President is one of the most important, if not the most important, responsibility. The regions have
Bachman 106: as set forth in the Hawaii Constitution, article 10, section 6.
Bachman 106: In order to attract and retain the leader, we needed to work with integrity and fairness.
Bachman 106: The Board has carefully required best practice in the selection process every step of the way. We have also been careful to treat all of the candidates fairly and to uphold confidentiality, so that people would trust the process when they put themselves forward for consideration.
Bachman 106: We need to treat each candidate with the dignity and respect they deserve
Bachman 106: that trust is difficult when there is so much at stake, and many players with strong opinions about individual applicants and candidates, we know that no candidate will please everyone, and in that most open, transparent, and responsible manner possible, we believe that we are bringing forward the best person to lead the system at this moment in time
Bachman 106: with full input from the public and key internal and external stakeholders. Yesterday the Board has had its own opportunity to interview each finalist yesterday, and it has been a lengthy and at times arduous process on behalf of the Board of Regents. I extend our deep appreciation
Bachman 106: to both Dr. Helick and Ms. Hansel for their time and interest in our university.
Bachman 106: Thank you. Vice chair Tuchiki, at this time. May I have a motion to select the next president of the University of Hawaii.
Bachman 106: I will move.
Bachman 106: I move, to select Wendy Hansel
Bachman 106: to be the next president of the University of Hawaii, with a proposed salary of $675,000 a year for a term of 3 years, with an option to extend for 2 years, along with a housing allowance of $7,000 a month, and moving expenses up to $60,000 and a tenure fallback position at the William S. Richardson School of Law
Bachman 106: Regents
Bachman 106: regions.
Bachman 106: Now I open the floor up for discussion.
Bachman 106: Money
Bachman 106: chair. Yes.
Bachman 106: I Regent Mayor, I'd like to say thank you for everyone who's submitted feedback.
Bachman 106: either public or confidential. There.
Bachman 106: I think everyone should rest assured that they were all read.
Bachman 106: and I think it was invaluable in terms of assistance to us, as we considered.
Bachman 106: or both candidates.
Bachman 106: Personally, I think we should be looking for someone who has experience with managing and leading a multi-campus system.
Bachman 106: Someone who is a collaborative leader.
Bachman 106: someone who seeks input from others and help
Bachman 106: that would that input provide as complete an assessment as possible of the challenge or problem
Bachman 106: as well as the options that might be considered.
Bachman 106: I think we should also look for someone who has ability to manage
Bachman 106: diverse priorities
Bachman 106: which probably keeps shifting throughout their day.
Bachman 106: and someone who's a strong believer in teamwork
Bachman 106: and can lead and inspire various constituent groups
Bachman 106: that make up our university community and our broader community beyond our campuses.
Bachman 106: Someone's got ability who has to proactively work with our legislative, our governmental.
Bachman 106: and community leaders throughout our State.
Bachman 106: And someone who has an open mind as they face, they will face a steep learning curve.
Bachman 106: With respect to our host culture, the various cultures and ethnic groups that live side by side here in our State and our own brand of politics and governance.
Bachman 106: I'd like to be able to entertain the candidacy of someone from Hawaii who has the credentials and experiences that qualify them
Bachman 106: to be the top tier of candidates under consideration.
Bachman 106: Would you follow me now?
Bachman 106: Okay, so 1st off, I just want to say thank you to the Pzog. I don't think I've had my turn at the mic thanking them in particular student members, Lindsay and Dominic.
Bachman 106: I also want to give a special thanks to all the students who submitted testimony, both written and come in person to speak, and I really want to shake, shake, thank the students who have come to me personally to express their opinions and their feelings.
Bachman 106: about half of you who have spoken via, or have come to give testimony aren't going to be happy with my choice today, but I want to stress that I genuinely, genuinely care about what you have to share with me, and I hope you continue to do so, going forward.
Bachman 106: So about our finalists, both of them, in their public forums and interviews, shared their commitment to excellence at and in their careers. Provost Haileg Vasquez. He, as we all saw, is a really charismatic man, with a robust scholarship in education. He shared with us his exciting vision for the future of education and the world as a whole and executive vice. Chancellor Hensel is a clearly intelligent woman with an obvious talent for leadership.
Bachman 106: and what spoke to me the most about her other than those is that her sincerity and her love for higher education
Bachman 106: as well as her long career championing diversity.
Bachman 106: And to contextualize my perspective for all of you. My hope for our university is that it becomes an institution people aspire to
Bachman 106: and are proud to attend. I won't name any other universities, but I hate to see Hawaii's youth embarrassed to attend and heading to schools on the mainland that are equivalent or worse schools.
Bachman 106: I want them to be proud of us.
Bachman 106: I want our State to be really proud of us. So the candidate I'm supporting today is the one I feel can get us there
Bachman 106: now to address the elephant in the room.
Bachman 106: None of us live in a vacuum without Internet access.
Bachman 106: It's important for us to conduct our due diligence, and that includes a qualitative assessment of the information we receive.
Bachman 106: I can say with certainty, we have done exactly that for both of our candidates, probably many times over.
Bachman 106: With all that said today, I'm going to be supporting the appointment of Wendy Hensel for President.
Bachman 106: I want to be clear as well that I'm saying this with my chest. I don't have any reservations.
Bachman 106: She's expressed a clear, exciting, and most importantly to me, inclusive vision for our University that I'm eager to see come to fruition. Her vision includes a continued commitment to the University's shared governance with students, faculty staff, and our native Hawaiian groups.
Bachman 106: and should Ms. Nensel ultimately come to lead our university, I hope that we can all move forward together to a better future at that we all deserve.
Bachman 106: Thank you.
Bachman 106: Thank you. I'm very, very thankful to the psag for their work.
Bachman 106: and especially in recognition of Aaronson Tail and Jared Leung, who represented their governing bodies so well, with so much impressive knowledge and diplomacy.
Bachman 106: Their days of work enabled us to effectively vet the candidates for the next President.
Bachman 106: While I am very disappointed that there was no local candidate, I was even more disheartened that there was no Kanaka Oiwi candidate.
Bachman 106: But to me that just means that it's now more critical to ensure pathways to enable Kanaka to thrive in these Western spaces, while fully embracing the astute ancestral knowledge of our kupuna.
Bachman 106: like the faculty and staff regents, must focus on what's in the best interest of the university as a whole.
Bachman 106: and for the students who are our prioritized beneficiary. In a sense.
Bachman 106: the academic achievement of a degree or certificate indicates an enlightened individual. Kalama Kukui.
Bachman 106: that we hope, then extrapolates into the overall elevation of our community.
Bachman 106: In light of some of the events that took place during this process, I just affirm my belief that higher education is now more critical than ever.
Bachman 106: Wendy Hansel has my vote. Her astute and clear vision and execution of strategy is what is needed to build upon the foundation that President Lasner has created and stabilized for these years.
Bachman 106: I'm certain that she will take the necessary steps to build Pilina and become our fiercest advocate, Mahalo
Bachman 106: region. Blue.
Bachman 106: Thank you. I, too, want to express my
Bachman 106: deepest appreciation for the psag.
Bachman 106: and also all the others from our community who came forward during this very
Bachman 106: arduous process.
Bachman 106: Board had so much material available to it, and
Bachman 106: I know that my fellow regents read all of these comments and information provided to us voraciously.
Bachman 106: and
Bachman 106: I also want to thank our 2 finalists, Provost Healy and Vice Chancellor Hensel, for their time.
Bachman 106: and going through this this very difficult process.
Bachman 106: I appreciated yesterday our executive session
Bachman 106: discussions with the candidates, and our ability to
Bachman 106: ask the hard questions and receive confidential information.
Bachman 106: I think it's
Bachman 106: interesting that both candidates
Bachman 106: affirmed that
Bachman 106: they were able to be most open and more open during that process
Bachman 106: because of the promise of confidentiality.
Bachman 106: because of the recent events that surrounded one of the candidates this week.
Bachman 106: I
Bachman 106: thought that
Bachman 106: Candidate Hensel handled it with grace
Bachman 106: pressure.
Bachman 106: I think that shows to me that she can
Bachman 106: work
Bachman 106: well under fire and under pressure.
Bachman 106: So that is why, even though I think both candidates are highly qualified, and both of them could do a good job.
Bachman 106: I'm going to be supporting
Bachman 106: Vice Chancellor.
Bachman 106: You can hear your gaki.
Bachman 106: Thank you. Chair.
Bachman 106: I, too, would like to extend deepest appreciation to our community more broadly
Bachman 106: for the input for their concern.
Bachman 106: want to again acknowledge the fantastic work by the psag
Bachman 106: and also want to recognize my fellow regents. It's been a tough few weeks.
Bachman 106: tough few months.
Bachman 106: a tough couple of days.
Bachman 106: but I've appreciated the
Bachman 106: the ability yesterday to
Bachman 106: to drill down into some of the information and and critical information that that was confidential in nature.
Bachman 106: but allowed us to get a balanced view of of both candidates.
Bachman 106: Ultimately, I'd like to thank Dr. Helick and
Bachman 106: and Ms. Hensel
Bachman 106: for for their interest in
Bachman 106: helping us move forward
Bachman 106: in a time that's so critical for our university.
Bachman 106: With that I'd like to extend my support
Bachman 106: or from Ms. Hensel.
Bachman 106: Thank you.
Bachman 106: Region Okataki.
Bachman 106: Thank you.
Bachman 106: So just briefly.
Bachman 106: the University of Hawaii is the cornerstone of our community.
Bachman 106: I mean as a sole provider of public higher education has an enormous responsibility, not just as an educator
Bachman 106: and an employer, but as a driving force
Bachman 106: in shaping the future of the state of Hawaii.
Bachman 106: Here in Hawaii, presidential searches don't happen that often.
Bachman 106: so it is understandable the intense interest given the importance of this search.
Bachman 106: we have 2 exceptional accomplished leaders as our candidates.
Bachman 106: which made it very difficult in deciding
Bachman 106: this was the result of a year-long, exhaustive, nationwide extensive process. With the help of an excellent search firm.
Bachman 106: the applicants were fully vetted by the 12 person Presidential Search Advisory Group, which did an excellent job. So thank you. To the psag
Bachman 106: they represented the main US. State stakeholder groups.
Bachman 106: and I also want to thank my fellow regents.
Bachman 106: We formed a committee of the whole to make this decision.
Bachman 106: That meant that we all
Bachman 106: committed to embracing our obligation. As Chair Lee said, this is arguably and and vice chair, Tucci said. This is arguably our most important duty as regents, and we all embrace that.
Bachman 106: That's why we formed form the committee of the whole. So thank you to you all
Bachman 106: for working together
Bachman 106: on this.
Bachman 106: We also reviewed and asked for survey responses, and did forums, and we reviewed those thousands of responses.
Bachman 106: So I'd like to thank everyone deeply who supported this process
Bachman 106: and helped us through this long process. It wasn't always easy. But we have done our very best to ensure
Bachman 106: that the process is sound. It was executed with integrity.
Bachman 106: and that we were informed by community and university input and feedback
Bachman 106: every step of the way.
Bachman 106: Like, I said, we have 2 exceptional accomplished leaders, both of whom would serve our university well.
Bachman 106: and ultimately I fully support
Bachman 106: Wendy Hensel.
Bachman 106: She's a complex problem, solver, with a clear vision for the university
Bachman 106: and a love for students.
Bachman 106: and with her background and experience in disability, discrimination, employment, discrimination, special education.
Bachman 106: and university administration. I believe those experiences will serve her well
Bachman 106: as President of the University of Hawaii.
Bachman 106: Thank you.
Bachman 106: Regent Abercrombie.
Bachman 106: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bachman 106: Mr. Chairman, this is a
Bachman 106: this is a big day for for everybody, most certainly, for who we're we're choosing. But
Bachman 106: for the record
Bachman 106: was 65 years ago.
Bachman 106: 65 years ago
Bachman 106: last month.
Bachman 106: that I was given the privilege
Bachman 106: of becoming a graduate teaching assistant
Bachman 106: the University of Hawaii in the sociology department.
Bachman 106: I certainly couldn't claim to be a
Bachman 106: a top scholar.
Bachman 106: but
Bachman 106: Professor Glick, in the sociology
Bachman 106: faculty.
Bachman 106: apparently saw something of promise
Bachman 106: in me
Bachman 106: that I couldn't discern for myself
Bachman 106: at the time.
Bachman 106: They gave me the opportunity, and this university
Bachman 106: gave me the opportunity
Bachman 106: to explore that.
Bachman 106: to build on
Bachman 106: whatever capacity
Bachman 106: they thought I had.
Bachman 106: and what I hope to be able to develop.
Bachman 106: That's what this university has done
Bachman 106: for tens of thousands.
Bachman 106: People of Hawaii
Bachman 106: 65 years ago.
Bachman 106: with statehood
Bachman 106: determined
Bachman 106: that they wanted.
Bachman 106: They're a little university nestled in Manoa Valley
Bachman 106: to become
Bachman 106: a top institution.
Bachman 106: a centerpiece
Bachman 106: in the Pacific
Bachman 106: a beacon
Bachman 106: of educational opportunity and hope
Bachman 106: for those
Bachman 106: who aspired.
Bachman 106: Take
Bachman 106: whatever they had.
Bachman 106: utilize them to their fullest.
Bachman 106: That's what this University
Bachman 106: and the people of Hawaii have always been dedicated to.
Bachman 106: This is full circle for me.
Bachman 106: I met the end
Bachman 106: nearly the end
Bachman 106: of whatever
Bachman 106: capacity I have to give back
Bachman 106: to Hawaii.
Bachman 106: That is everything to me.
Bachman 106: This university is in my heart
Bachman 106: and in my thoughts
Bachman 106: as to what I might be able to do to contribute at this point in my life
Bachman 106: to its fulfillment
Bachman 106: and to its capacity to continue that legacy.
Bachman 106: I started here with
Bachman 106: President Snyder.
Bachman 106: It's not a hole.
Bachman 106: President Snyder
Bachman 106: at 1 point
Bachman 106: contacted the
Bachman 106: sociology department had said.
Bachman 106: Want to see the graduate teaching assistants
Bachman 106: went over to
Bachman 106: to see Dr. Snyder.
Bachman 106: and as President and
Bachman 106: walked into the room.
Bachman 106: He got up.
Bachman 106: came across the room.
Bachman 106: shook my hand, and said.
Bachman 106: Welcome to the Academy!
Bachman 106: This was the human dimension of what the university is about
Bachman 106: we use.
Bachman 106: We, as regents had
Bachman 106: as citizens in whatever capacity we've had.
Bachman 106: it's it's easy not so much to take it for granted, but to forget that this is this is an institution of human beings.
Bachman 106: with all of our our faults and our defaults, and
Bachman 106: and
Bachman 106: all our hopes and dreams.
Bachman 106: and so I
Bachman 106: you may not know it, but part of the reason I feel so strongly about
Bachman 106: the privilege of serving with these 10 fine people, these wonderful people who welcomed me
Bachman 106: here on the regents
Bachman 106: to be with them to work with them.
Bachman 106: I got my Phd. I got my master's, and I got my Phd.
Bachman 106: I got my.
Bachman 106: I got my Phd. In September. I got nominated to the Legislature
Bachman 106: in October. I got elected in November.
Bachman 106: 1974.
Bachman 106: In that capacity I had the chance to be the higher Ed. Chair in the House of Representatives.
Bachman 106: the higher Ed chair in the in the State Senate.
Bachman 106: and of course go on to try and support the the research opportunities, and so on, had the chance to work with. With. Then, Professor Lasner.
Bachman 106: and when I was in Congress, and then
Bachman 106: heather.
Bachman 106: I'm going to say the pleasure and the and not just the out of the privilege, pleasure and the privilege.
Bachman 106: Working with David. We're on a 1st name basis
Bachman 106: all the way through as governor.
Bachman 106: and now as the Regent, forgive me for going on so long. But this is
Bachman 106: this is 65 years coming to fruition for me today.
Bachman 106: We've gone from Farj Matsurah
Bachman 106: to David Lessner
Bachman 106: to our to who we're going to select today
Bachman 106: as as his as his successor.
Bachman 106: I want to thank
Bachman 106: the Peace Egg
Bachman 106: as everyone else has done.
Bachman 106: It's no secret. I had my anxieties when we began. Won't everybody bring their own agendas? We've got a community group, an objective group, but everybody's going to have their own agendas. Is it really going to work?
Bachman 106: And what about the the research Executive Research company, I mean, won't they be just going through the motions? There's all these problems. They did a terrific job.
Bachman 106: They did a terrific job.
Bachman 106: as as all of you are well aware, and most particularly President Lasner, it isn't the 1st time I've had to eat my words hopefully. It's 1 of the last
Bachman 106: but the psag, the folks chosen by the various groups and individuals, and that they did a terrific job.
Bachman 106: the woodkeeper, the the professional research committee. They did a terrific job. You know what happened.
Bachman 106: I guess I really didn't expect, and that's 1 of the. When you know when you have to eat crow, it's best to swallow that bird as quickly as you can.
Bachman 106: The Peace Egg acted like a jury
Bachman 106: they set aside.
Bachman 106: They set aside whatever personal views they might have had and and respected. No, we're going to. We're going to look at this objectively. We're going to do that. And every member of this board.
Bachman 106: every member of this board has done the same thing.
Bachman 106: I swear, for public consumption. Let me tell you this has been the most open. This has been the most transparent. This has been the most delightful experience of people focusing on what their duty is what their obligation is. And setting aside whatever, and not so much setting aside, but putting together whatever talent and experience they've had to try and bring us to this objective decision. So
Bachman 106: we
Bachman 106: found ourselves then dealing. Finally, as a result, I fully support the Chairman Lee's statement and vice chair statement. I want to incorporate that as my own. For purposes of this decision.
Bachman 106: these 2 fine people
Bachman 106: that we now have before us. My choice is a provost
Bachman 106: Hensel.
Bachman 106: not because of
Bachman 106: I did not. I did not compare one against the other.
Bachman 106: and I think that's probably a fair statement for others. What I thought was my duty was to take as the standard for President of the University, and the experience and the capacity that each individual brought, and then make a judgment of who I thought would be best. I think it was as a result, because of many of the things that have been said by others here.
Bachman 106: that it is Provost Hensel. I think without question, that Dr. Helig Vasquez's day is coming.
Bachman 106: and will and will be coming soon.
Bachman 106: and in circumstances appropriate to his incredible talents and ambition and vision.
Bachman 106: So
Bachman 106: I know I've gone on at such great length.
Bachman 106: because I don't know how much longer I have to be able to to exercise such whatever passions and capacity I have.
Bachman 106: But I want to say it's been a privilege
Bachman 106: for me, and it is an ongoing privilege to be working with with the 10 other regions.
Bachman 106: It it is an opportunity for me to say public to David Lasner how much I respect him.
Bachman 106: how much. I appreciate his decades of service to the University, and I pledge to work as
Bachman 106: as hard as I can to help make if she accepts Provost Hensel's
Bachman 106: a tenure as President of the University of Hawaii, one that takes us into the kind of future that I know. Every single member of this board is dedicated to.
Bachman 106: and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your courtesy and your patience with me.
Bachman 106: Regent Haney.
Bachman 106: Thank you, Chair Lee.
Bachman 106: I would earnestly hope to be able to exceed.
Bachman 106: Governor Abercrombie is
Bachman 106: tenure on this planet.
Bachman 106: but I certainly can't exceed his eloquence, and he's absolutely stated for
Bachman 106: me what I hope most folks here will have heard
Bachman 106: In my experience of roles within the University of Hawaii. I've been a student, and I've been an employee. I've been a clinician, I've been a teacher.
Bachman 106: It was a wonderful and completely remarkable thing that I was appointed to this
Bachman 106: Board of regents.
Bachman 106: and thus allow me to be able to participate in. As already said.
Bachman 106: choosing of somebody who's going to guide us into the next couple of decades of help.
Bachman 106: that's 54 years. It doesn't. It's 10 years short of what Neagle has. But that's 54 years that I've been on this 100 years between us
Bachman 106: and not always to go buy pizza. So there's 1 other comment I want to make today, you will understand that this isn't gratuitous. It's just a question of this being. The one time I will get to say this.
Bachman 106: My thanks are owed to David Lassner as being actually, and this will undoubtedly knowing him a bit, embarrass him a bit, but
Bachman 106: as the finest president that I have known in those 54 years on the campus.
Bachman 106: his willingness, his capacity to tolerate
Bachman 106: sometimes some real indignation and inappropriateness on the part of the very people he serves has been a
Bachman 106: has been a model for me, I think in, in human civility.
Bachman 106: and, of course, how he's managed to run the university. So unfortunately, the candidates that we're given have a really high bar to reach, for
Bachman 106: happily, I think either or both, could
Bachman 106: I have made my own preference?
Bachman 106: come to a preference over the course of the past
Bachman 106: few months, and I'll I'll give that to you in just a moment. We please. Remember we've had 92 candidates that were seriously considered. It ultimately came down to 2 finalists.
Bachman 106: I have heard heard the Board of Regents
Bachman 106: far exceed the customary practice of solicitation and evaluation and confirmation that goes on in these, and I've been through a few of these, although not for so high
Bachman 106: position is this the opportunities for advancement of the aims of the University and its development into a source of succor and of nurturing, for the entire Indo-pacific basin
Bachman 106: is as yet unexplored.
Bachman 106: partially explored by the existing President, and I'm sure will be built on by the subsequent President.
Bachman 106: where David has taken us is, I think, exactly the right place in terms of our responsibility to more than just Hawaii.
Bachman 106: I've been very happy to hear the need for emphasis on
Bachman 106: development of the of the academic basis
Bachman 106: for being a Hawaiian.
Bachman 106: but that doesn't diminish what I feel is our responsibility to all of the people across an area that is 12,000 miles in in span.
Bachman 106: We have so very much to offer, and
Bachman 106: no real need to be
Bachman 106: no real need to be shy about that.
Bachman 106: It would be disingenuous if I was not to acknowledge that a certain amount of my preference for selection
Bachman 106: of
Bachman 106: rests on the gender of the individual in question, and that's in a positive sense.
Bachman 106: meaning that I am very glad to see how many
Bachman 106: candidates. In fact.
Bachman 106: we're female as well as male in my time. 54 years ago that would have been a very rare thing.
Bachman 106: I'm glad to see it shaping up.
Bachman 106: I'm
Bachman 106: for those of you who are holding your breath. I'm
Bachman 106: you.
Bachman 106: I am
Bachman 106: actually quite done, except to actually more formally acknowledge
Bachman 106: my preference for Wendy Hetzel as the
Bachman 106: as the next president of the University of Hawaii system
Bachman 106: Regent tashiki.
Bachman 106: I feel compelled to follow because I only have 47 years of connection with the University of Hawaii.
Bachman 106: But I do want to speak a little bit about, you know, throughout this process
Bachman 106: I think.
Bachman 106: One thing. We tried to set the course for what we we heard and know, and and believed to be most important for the University, and at this point we were looking for
Bachman 106: what we heard from our constituents. The Proven leadership.
Bachman 106: proven record of support and understanding, of scholarship, proven record of understanding, shared governance.
Bachman 106: And I think
Bachman 106: also.
Bachman 106: we're looking for courage to navigate through what are sometimes very churning waters, and I know that
Bachman 106: courage doesn't mean without fear. Right. In fact, courage is in the face of fear, and I know in my own journey. In this process I have been
Bachman 106: concern, and and heard very loudly the fears that our community have expressed about how important this decision is, and if we take it lightly, the fear that we may have mistakes right and and so, and that comes partly from trauma of having.
Bachman 106: And again, that 47 years includes being a student, a graduate of the William S. Richardson school of law, and much later a Phd. In education policy. Being a parent, my son graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Bachman 106: but also as an administrator, as a professor here at the university and as a staff member. And so I know how important that Proven leadership
Bachman 106: and courage in the face of difficulties is, and that's what we were looking for. And I think one of the things I want to share about Dr. Heligan just really promise, you know, promise to
Bachman 106: acknowledge how, how.
Bachman 106: how how much we appreciate
Bachman 106: his
Bachman 106: his journey and and the leadership that he is already starting to show. And I agree he's an up and comer in so many ways.
Bachman 106: But I also want to really acknowledge and
Bachman 106: appreciate Wendy Hensel's not only speaking about courage, but demonstrating courage, demonstrating grace under fire.
Bachman 106: and speaking about how she stands upon the integrity of her.
Bachman 106: of her her knowledge of herself and her values. And and so
Bachman 106: I just want to appreciate both of them, and
Bachman 106: and
Bachman 106: also commit
Bachman 106: to working with our new President in every way to make this successful, make it successful, not only for the candidate, but for our university.
Bachman 106: Thank you.
Bachman 106: Region Wilson.
Bachman 106: as the senior member of the Board of Regents, and
Bachman 106: with less than
Bachman 106: half a year left on my
Bachman 106: term before my 10 years on the Board of Regents ends.
Bachman 106: you know I've seen many things happen.
Bachman 106: and one of the things that I thought was very, very important when President Lasner made the announcement last year, the end of last year that he was going to retire
Bachman 106: was that we really needed to assure.
Bachman 106: and not many regions have had a place in their lap.
Bachman 106: The opportunity to find the next leader
Bachman 106: to lead the Institution University of Hawaii system
Bachman 106: to carry out its mission.
Bachman 106: So one of the things that I always thought about was, what is the vision that we need to have, and it was something that, after discussion with several people.
Bachman 106: my thoughts focus on as a vision, for our institution
Bachman 106: is that
Bachman 106: the University of Hawaii system
Bachman 106: would become known as the Premier
Bachman 106: Institution
Bachman 106: within, for for the purpose of discovery and creation
Bachman 106: of knowledge
Bachman 106: which speaks to our research effort.
Bachman 106: and then the distribution and transfer
Bachman 106: of this knowledge to the people, not only of Hawaii.
Bachman 106: not only of the entire Pacific region.
Bachman 106: but of the globe.
Bachman 106: and that this knowledge would be utilized
Bachman 106: to better the lives of
Bachman 106: people
Bachman 106: throughout the entire world.
Bachman 106: Because I've always felt.
Bachman 106: and over the 10 years that I'm almost 10 years that I've been on the board
Bachman 106: is that within the institution
Bachman 106: we have the people
Bachman 106: and the wherewithal
Bachman 106: that requires leadership.
Bachman 106: and President Laszner has provided much of that leadership. But then moving forward, we needed to assure that we would find the person that could carry on the work that President Lasner, over his
Bachman 106: almost 40 years at the institution, starting, as I guess, really a graduate student when David 1st came here
Bachman 106: and ending up with being the President for
Bachman 106: the entire time. I've been on the board.
Bachman 106: so the challenge to me was to assure that we would find this person.
Bachman 106: and in the process we came up with
Bachman 106: to assist us in making the decision that we have come to
Bachman 106: over the last 2 days
Bachman 106: to end up with a person that would be able to carry on and move us forward
Bachman 106: to help mitigate
Bachman 106: with this discovery and transfer of the knowledge
Bachman 106: to not only the students who come through the doors of this great institution.
Bachman 106: but also beyond that to the people of Hawaii, to the people of the entire Pacific region, and ultimately throughout the world.
Bachman 106: to mitigate the problems that we as mankind face.
Bachman 106: and that's a tremendous challenge I think, that we started out with
Bachman 106: in in my instance, I looked at that being
Bachman 106: the most important decision
Bachman 106: that in almost 10 years, having served on the board that we had to do, and I think, starting out.
Bachman 106: said that this process to arrive
Bachman 106: at finding the leader that would lead us
Bachman 106: lead the institution forward
Bachman 106: would require to be a process that was going to be inclusive.
Bachman 106: and not only inclusive
Bachman 106: but transparent.
Bachman 106: and my hat's off
Bachman 106: to the rest of the Board of Regents
Bachman 106: for the work that they've done.
Bachman 106: and particularly in the support
Bachman 106: that the Psag Presidential Search Advisory group
Bachman 106: under the leadership of
Bachman 106: Erin
Bachman 106: Vincenteo.
Bachman 106: and who represented the faculty ranks.
Bachman 106: and Jared Leone
Bachman 106: represented the staff
Bachman 106: of the University and the 2 students that sat on the psag.
Bachman 106: and
Bachman 106: having been, I guess, given the assignment when we started this process of being the liaison
Bachman 106: along with Gabe Lee, and then, when he became the chair with vice chair to Chiki
Bachman 106: to help and guide, provide whatever guidance that the Psac needed to be assured that they maintain that
Bachman 106: openness that that it was inclusive.
Bachman 106: and that it was a well thought out
Bachman 106: work that they did, and
Bachman 106: I can't say enough good about the psag and the work that they've done, which has really made it.
Bachman 106: facilitated us.
Bachman 106: making the decision that we have made.
Bachman 106: and then to the rest of the other 10 regents who sit on the board
Bachman 106: that gave us the opportunity to really, I think, arrive
Bachman 106: at the best selection.
Bachman 106: based on the information that the psag provided to the board
Bachman 106: with the
Bachman 106: 2 finalists that we did.
Bachman 106: and after much discussion and review.
Bachman 106: we finally selected
Bachman 106: and made the recommendation that
Bachman 106: Wendy Hensel would be that person.
Bachman 106: And this goes back to something that Senator Danny Nouye had shared with.
Bachman 106: Another good friend of mine.
Bachman 106: and we discussed that. And it's Kamaki Konaheli
Bachman 106: that Senator Inoye said to him.
Bachman 106: and before Dan died he said, just prior to dying, he said, Kamalki, it is time that we and the rest of the world.
Bachman 106: particularly those in the United States.
Bachman 106: but also throughout the Pacific, is that we look west instead of East.
Bachman 106: and that our focus needed to be on looking
Bachman 106: and paying attention to what was going on in the Far East.
Bachman 106: So again, my hat's off to the other regions.
Bachman 106: as well as to the members of the psag for the work that they've done.
Bachman 106: and
Bachman 106: I'm proud to say that
Bachman 106: they have made.
Bachman 106: They, meaning the rest of the regents and myself
Bachman 106: had made the decision in the selection
Bachman 106: of Wendy Hansel to be the next president
Bachman 106: of the
Bachman 106: University of Hawaii system
Bachman 106: model.
Bachman 106: I'd like to thank the community psag, fellow regents and Whit Kiefer. I'm also disappointed that we did not have a local finalist
Bachman 106: for Dr. Hillig. I loved his energy, and he is definitely a strong educator.
Bachman 106: But I didn't feel that he had much system experience. Also, I didn't feel his leadership. Skill
Bachman 106: was as broad as we need for our 10 campus system
Bachman 106: in executive session, we were able to fully vet the candidates and speak candidly about confidential information, including questions about any controversies.
Bachman 106: I think I feel Wendy provides leadership, vision, and strategy across the system, and she will be able to establish and develop productive internal and external relationships.
Bachman 106: I have a
Bachman 106: because of my job. I have a lot of experience in forming compensation packages, especially for publicly traded companies.
Bachman 106: Although the compensation package is meaning meaningfully higher than President Lasner, I want to thank Wood Kiefer on providing us the surveys and the information, and coming up with a compensation package, a competitive compensation package for a State university of our size, although it might be in the lower part of the range.
Bachman 106: Wendy will need to be able. Wendy will not be able
Bachman 106: to do the President job alone, and I ask every member of the Ohana and our community to do what they need to do to support Wendy.
Bachman 106: So any more discussion.
Bachman 106: if not, are we ready for the vote?
Bachman 106: All right, chair, Lee. Aye.
Bachman 106: vice chair tociki. Aye, vice chair liu aye
Bachman 106: Regent Abercrombie, aye, regent akitake, aye, regent Falmowina, aye.
Bachman 106: Regent haining aye regent higaki aye.
Bachman 106: Regent miyahira aye regent paloma aye
Bachman 106: regent wilson aye
Bachman 106: chair the motion is passed unanimously congratulations we have a new president.
Bachman 106: all right onto announcements. The next regular meeting of the Board will be on Tuesday, October 29, th at Manoa
Bachman 106: Regents. Please note that the meeting will be on a Tuesday and not our normal Thursday meeting time.
Bachman 106: Is there any
Bachman 106: further business.
Bachman 106: since there's no further business. The meeting is adjourned.