Chancellor Donald Straney could be leaving his post at the University of Hawaii at Hilo within the next year, sources familiar with the university confirmed Tuesday on condition of anonymity. ADVERTISING Chancellor Donald Straney could be leaving his post at
Chancellor Donald Straney could be leaving his post at the University of Hawaii at Hilo within the next year, sources familiar with the university confirmed Tuesday on condition of anonymity.
Straney has had the position since July 2010. Sources told the Tribune-Herald that UH President David Lassner was at the Hilo campus Tuesday conducting meetings with stakeholders.
Bruce Mathews, dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management, would serve as interim chancellor while a search for a permanent successor is underway, sources said.
Efforts to reach Mathews on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl declined Tuesday to comment about whether Straney could be leaving his post but said Straney currently “remains chancellor.” Meisenzahl also confirmed Lassner was on campus Tuesday having meetings.
Meisenzahl said the university plans to provide more information to the public “within a couple weeks if not sooner.”
“(Straney) has the full and utmost confidence of UH leadership including President Lassner,” he said. “There’s nothing the chancellor has done wrong to put his job at risk.”
“We promise that we’re going to inform the community,” he added. “I think people understand there’s a process to things and we want to make sure things are done properly.”
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
