Kei-Lin K.H. Cerf was appointed director of the University of Hawaii at Hilo North Hawaii Education and Research Center in Honokaa, effective March 12.
Cerf, a longtime resident of South Kohala and current Honokaa resident, has a broad background in private industry, nonprofits and education on Hawaii Island. Since January 2015, she has served as director of Strategic Community Development for West Hawaii in the office of the UH-Hilo chancellor, and director of Hokupa‘a, a multi-institution partnership of leading educational and state government groups responsible for improving outcomes for keiki and youth in North and West Hawaii.
In her dual capacity, she has built and maintained education partnerships, organized education research, launched student social-emotional wellness and career readiness/early college pathway initiatives, and was responsible for external grant funding of $50,000-$100,000 per year.
“Kei-Lin has a wealth of knowledge on educational pathways and creating partnerships between communities and the educational institutions that serve them,” said Ken Hon, interim vice chancellor, academic affairs. “I have no doubt she will be successful in developing these pathways for people in the community so higher education opportunities and training are more accessible.”
Cerf earned her doctorate of business administration in leadership from Walden University in Minneapolis, MBA in nonprofit management from Marylhurst (Ore.) University and a BS in marketing management from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City.