Garret Yoshimi Appointed UH System VPIT/CIO

The University of Hawai’i System has appointed Garret Yoshimi as the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of the University of Hawai’i System.

Approval of Yoshimi’s appointment was approved by the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents Thursday.

With his new position, Yoshimi will be responsible for UH’s system-wide information technology systems and services. He will also provide executive leadership in collaboratively setting forth the overall vision, goals, strategies, and plans for the effective and appropriate use of information technologies to advance the UH system.

“Garret is an outstanding IT leader and I am very pleased that he has agreed to join our team. His broad IT experience, understanding of higher education issues, and vision for the future will be instrumental in moving the university and state forward,” said UH President David Lassner.

Most recently, Yoshimi served as the Vice Presidents and Chief Operating Officer for eWorld Enterprise Solutions. He brings more than 35 years of experience in information technology in both the public and private sector in Hawai’i to the University System. Yoshimi severed as the first CIO for the Hawai’i Judiciary, senior technology executive for the East-West Center, and CIO for DTRIC Insurance.

In addition to his many previous roles, Yoshimi previously served as Telecommunication Manager before being promoted to Director of Technology Infrastructure for the University of Hawai’i.

Yoshimi represented the University of Hawai’i in state and national venues as a member of EDUCAUSE, Internet2, and the Association for College & University Technology Advancement, which awarded him the Bill D. Morris award for individual leadership.

Yoshimi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at Purdue University. He then earned a graduate certificate in telecommunications and information resource management from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

“The chance to return to the University of Hawai’i and follow in David’s footsteps in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. Having worked in the UH system, I can appreciate this chance to create change by leveraging technologies to benefit multiple communities, including students, faculty, and staff. Together, we can promote innovative uses of technologies in teaching and learning as well as research, while supporting broader community efforts to benefit the entire State of Hawai’i,” Yoshimi said.

After a comprehensive nationwide search, Yoshimi was recommended for the appointment to the VPIT/CIO position. He will succeed Steve Smith, who has been serving as Interim VPIT/CIO since September 2013 and will return to his permanent positon as Associate Vice President for Information Technology.

Yoshi’s appointment is effective Jan. 5 and is subject to renewal based on satisfactory annual evaluations.