The University of Hawaii at Hilo announced Friday that Witt/Kieffer, a national executive search firm, was hired to assist in the search for the university’s next chancellor.
According to UH-Hilo, the search is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the new chancellor in place by spring 2019.
The university will continue to accept applications through the summer, and finalists will conduct campus visits this fall.
UH President David Lassner will receive input from the search committee and stakeholders before presenting a recommendation to the Board of Regents, states a press release from the university.
The 16-member search committee includes faculty, staff, students and community members. It is co-chaired by UH-Hilo Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Farrah-Marie Gomes and UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis Syrmos.
It was announced in April that the search for a new chancellor was delayed, the Tribune-Herald previously reported.
At that time, a school spokesman said the delay stemmed from “a hiccup” in finalizing an initial agreement with a professional search firm to conduct the search process.
The new chancellor will replace Donald Straney, who was chancellor until last summer when he was reassigned to another position within UH system leadership, and will assume the post during a time when UH-Hilo is working to reverse multiple years of declining enrollment.
Marcia Sakai was appointed interim chancellor last summer and will continue in that role until the new chancellor begins.
UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl declined Friday to disclose the number of applicants the school has received at this time, but said “we can confirm that we have received a number of interested applicants.”
Witt/Kieffer will assist the co-chairs and search committee in areas such as candidate recruitment, evaluation and identification, and assist the campus with interviewing as well as campus visit protocols and logistics, Meisenzahl said.