Wendy Hensel says she will elevate diversity, indigenous values as new University of Hawaiʻi president

When introduced Thursday as the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regentsʻ unanimous choice to lead the 10-campus system, Wendy Hensel tried to quell any concerns about not being from Hawaiʻi or not continuing to uplift the indigenous values of the university.

She highlighted her 25-year track record of honoring and elevating diversity in all forms, including at The City University of New York, where she currently serves executive vice chancellor and university provost for the 25-campus system with an enrollment of 235,000 students.

Standing in front of a mural of indigenous people at Bachman Hall at the UH Mānoa campus, she said: “And I will continue to do so joyfully here.”

She said she is committed to uplifting and honoring Native Hawaiian values and eliminating all equity gaps for not only Native Hawaiians but also for “every group in every setting in which we find them.”

“It is not simply the work that I do,” Hensel said. “It is a fundamental part of who I am as a person and as an administrator. I look forward to learning from all of you on this path, and I promise I will be your partner in working tirelessly to advance and elevate the universityʻs unique role as an indigenous-inspired institution.”

After a long, extensive search, Hensel beat out 92 other candidates, including the other finalist, Julian Vasquez Heilig, the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Michigan University.

“It was a very complete process, and we’ve had excellent candidates, local candidates, but we had the finalists emerge, and we are very pleased on Wendy joining us,” said Gabe Lee, Chair of the 11-member Board of Regents.

The board is awaiting a formal acceptance. UH said it already has agreed to terms set by Hensel, which include a $675,000 annual salary, $7,000 a month housing allowance, up to $60,000 for moving expenses, a tenure fallback position in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law, and a 3-year term with up to a 2-year extension subject to Board of Regents approval.

If she accepts, she would become the university’s 16th president, replacing 69-year-old David Lassner, who will retire at the end of 2024 after 11 years in that position. Hensel’s tenure would begin in January.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to be named as the next president of the University of Hawaiʻi system,” Hensel said. “My husband and I are looking forward to becoming a part of this community in every way and serving to champion the 10 campuses and all of the communities they represent.”

Hensel thanked the 12-person Presidential Search Advisory Group, the Board of Regents and the hundreds she met during the recent public forums held at all 10 campuses throughout the state.

She said her first order of business is to do another round at all the campuses, but this time in more engaged settings.

“I think the important thing is to come ready with ears open, heart open wide, and begin to set a vision together with the community,” Hensel said.

“The town halls were a great beginning, but didnʻt give an opportunity to meet with different groups of stakeholders like faculty, staff and students on each campus, as well as folks in the workforce and government that represent those different campuses.”

As part of her student-oriented agenda, Hensel stated that another one of her early goals will be to look at the graduation and retention rates, and see if there are ideas she can use from her past institutions. She also plans to work with analytics and artificial intelligence to increase those numbers. 

After spending several months learning about the institution, speaking with people, reading, learning and listening, Hensel said her message to Hawaiʻi is that she plans to be a partner as well as leader.

“I think the magic can happen when you bring in new ideas and new voices along with the deep institutional rooting that comes in a place of this significance and all of the different people who make it up,”  Hensel said. “I had a chance to speak with so many people who care so deeply about this institution. I would not be here standing with you if I did not honor that legacy and look to elevate it in the future and serve it well as its next leader.”

Hensel also addressed the needs of Hawaiʻiʻs workforce and the idea of creating programs and changing curriculums within the University of Hawaiʻi system, so that they align with Hawaiʻiʻs needs and the emerging areas of industry. 

“It’s critical that we work with our government partners, that we work with industry to put those things together. I’ve done a great deal of work in that space,” Hensel said. “Rather than having workforce on one side and the academy on the other, combining those two things into specific, understandable degree paths for students, so that at each step of the way, they understand how their career objectives align with the curriculum that theyʻre taking.”

She praised student athletesʻ graduation rates and the sense of community that is created throughout all of the University of Hawaiʻi campuses.

The last question she was asked was about what students will ultimately receive if they decide to invest in an education through the University of Hawaiʻi system.

“I have been tremendously impressed with the research that Iʻve done about what has already happened here, and from what I see, the future is nothing but bright from here,” Hensel said. “So, I hope and reassure parents that not only are they getting an excellent education, but importantly, theyʻre getting it at a value that allows students to walk away with minimal or no debt.”