The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday approved UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney’s reassignment to a new position within UH leadership.
The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday approved UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney’s reassignment to a new position within UH leadership.
The board’s approval comes about a week after UH officials first announced Straney’s new post and about a month after a source first reported the news to the Tribune-Herald on condition of anonymity.
Straney has been UH-Hilo’s chancellor since 2010. He will become UH’s vice president for academic planning and policy, effective Aug. 1. He is replacing Risa Dickson. He will be one of seven vice presidents who serve under President David Lassner.
“After seven years at UH-Hilo, please know that this was an extremely difficult decision,” Straney said July 12 in a post on his blog.
“ … Though I will be working for the UH system, please know that my commitment to and appreciation of UH-Hilo and Hawaii Island remain strong.”
Straney is slated to earn $250,008 annually in his new position, a decrease from the $319,248 per year he was most recently earning as chancellor.
A search for Straney’s permanent replacement began immediately.
The board also approved appointing Marcia Sakai, UH-Hilo’s vice chancellor for administration, to serve as interim chancellor during the transition. Sakai joined UH-Hilo faculty in 1991. She was the founding dean of the campus’ College of Business and Economics.
Sakai also will earn $250,008 per year as interim chancellor.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.