Archive for the ‘Behind the Scenes’ Category

December 14, 2012

Letter to UH ohana

greenwood-holiday12-blog

Dear UH ʻOhana,

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to take the time to thank you for your support and patience as we continue to process all the confusion of the past few months.

Despite this difficult period, many positive things have happened. Download the full text of my letter highlighting this year’s accomplishments at http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/op/presidents-letter-2012.pdf.

As we face a new calendar year, let us rededicate ourselves to our strategic and long term goals, let us remember that education is the path to enlightenment and state, national and personal security. Above all let us seize this new year with vigor and enthusiasm.

Mahalo nui loa for your support, understanding and dedication.

M.R.C. Greenwood
President

December 6, 2012

A visit with Kenya’s Ambassador Elkanah Odembo

UH Visit

Pictured with me from left, Joanne Taira and Ambassador Elkanah Odembo.

I had the honor of meeting with the Republic of Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States today, along with Joanne Taira, UH’s Senior Executive for International and Strategic Initiatives.

Ambassador Elkanah Odembo will be a special guest at this Sunday’s Honolulu Marathon where he will support one of the world’s top marathoners and Kenya-native Wilson Kipsang, who is entered in the race. He will be one to watch. Kipsang was recently on the east coast for the New York City Marathon, but it was cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy.

Ambassador Odembo dropped in at my office for a courtesy visit and a nice discussion about education in our respective countries. He has been Kenya’s ambassador to the U.S. since 2010. He is the founding director of Ufadhili Trust, the Centre for Philanthropy and Social Responsibility—a Kenyan institution that seeks to promote the spirit of giving, philanthropy and the use of local resources to improve lives.

November 13, 2012

APLU conference

APLU's 125th Annual Meeting

At the APLU conference, pictured from left is Peter McPherson APLU president; Diana Natalicio, UTEP and Gene Block, UCLA chancellor

I am attending the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU) 125th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. This is the premier gathering of senior leaders from public research universities, land grant institutions and state university systems across the country.

I was honored to be elected chair-elect for APLU.

APLU's 125th Annual Meeting

USDA Under Secretary Cathy Woteki

At the conference I participated in a series of meetings and panel discussions on topics such as international agriculture, food, environment and renewable resources, academic, business and government affairs with Cathy Woteki, under secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education and Economics mission area.

APLU's 125th Annual Meeting

The Honorable Dino Patti Djalal

I also had the honor of introducing Indonesia’s ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Dino Patti Djalal, at the APLU meeting. Djalal discussed expanding academic relationships between his country and ours.

September 10, 2012

International Union for Conservation of Nature conference

Hawaiʻi Community College’s Unukupukupu performs at the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress in Korea.

I am in Jeju, South Korea for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress. I’m here as part of the Hawaiʻi delegation which hopes to bring this huge conference to Hawaiʻi in 2016.

The IUCN addresses 21st century challenges such as biodiversity, climate change, energy and food security, sustainability and public health. Since these issues are also key concerns at the University of Hawaiʻi, we are interested in learning from IUCN and also sharing our own programs.

Bringing the World Conservation Congress to Hawaiʻi in a few years would not only give our tourism industry a big boost, but would offer our faculty and students an invaluable experience and opportunity to contribute to the discussion on a world stage.

<p>At the Hawai'i IUCN booth, from left, Rodrigo Velasquez Gonzales, UH Alumni; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president; Joshua Atwood, Hawai'i Invasive Species Council coordinator and Leah Laramee, Native Ecosystem Protection and Management section liaison</p>

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

At the Hawai'i IUCN booth, from left, Rodrigo Velasquez Gonzales, UH Alumni; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president; Joshua Atwood, Hawai'i Invasive Species Council coordinator and Leah Laramee, Native Ecosystem Protection and Management section liaison

<p>Some of the Hawai'i delegation at IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea.</p>

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

Some of the Hawai'i delegation at IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea.

<p>Members of Hawai'i Community College's Unukupukupu take the stage at a reception for IUCN's World Conservation Congress.</p>

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

Members of Hawai'i Community College's Unukupukupu take the stage at a reception for IUCN's World Conservation Congress.

<p>From left, Christopher Dunn, Lyon Arboretum director, M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president and Suk Chang Lee, Jeju Cultural Heritage Committee president</p>

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

From left, Christopher Dunn, Lyon Arboretum director, M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president and Suk Chang Lee, Jeju Cultural Heritage Committee president

<p>From left, Mark McGuffie, Enterprise Hawai'i managing director; Ashok Khosla, IUCN president; Brian Schatz, Hawai'i lieutenant governor; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president; Chipper Wichman, CEO National Tropical Botanical Gardens and Collette Machado, Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair</p>

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

From left, Mark McGuffie, Enterprise Hawai'i managing director; Ashok Khosla, IUCN president; Brian Schatz, Hawai'i lieutenant governor; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawai'i president; Chipper Wichman, CEO National Tropical Botanical Gardens and Collette Machado, Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair

June 6, 2012

Mountain West Conference meeting

Mountain West

MWC President Tony Frank (Colorado State), me, NCAA President Mark Emmert and MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson

I’m in La Jolla, California, where I attended a Mountain West Conference board meeting Tuesday, June 5th, that included NCAA President Mark Emmert. We discussed many issues of importance to MWC teams. The discussion was focused on preserving the integrity of inter-collegiate athletics, preserving traditional rivalries and ensuring universities put academics before athletics. The discussion was was animated, thoughtful and useful. 

May 25, 2012

Status of Women luncheon

Status of Women luncheon

With our guests at the UH Commission on the Status of Women luncheon, May 21

The UH Commission on the Status of Women held its final meeting of the academic year at College Hill on May 21. About 20 guests joined me as we wrapped up the year. It was the commission’s 25th anniversary as a system commission. In fact, we received certificates from both houses of the state legislature this year.

The commission was formed in 1972 at UH Mānoa and in 1986, it expanded to include representatives from all campuses. The commission has worked to address a variety of issues that are of relevance to the personal and professional well-being of women who are students, faculty or staff here at the UH. Some of the issues that are part of the commission’s history and part of its ongoing agenda include: childcare, gender equality in athletics, campus safety and security, equitable practices in hiring, pay, promotion and tenure.

Status of Women luncheon

Status of Women luncheon

April 27, 2012

Broadband PSA shoot

Broadband PSA Shoot

I shot a public service announcement at the Davies Pacific Center this morning, in support of the Hawaiʻi Broadband Initiative.

HBI is working to achieve affordable gigabit-per-second broadband service by 2018. The initiative is critical to the University of Hawaiʻi, because broadband makes a difference in whether we can do business or not, and it ensures we’re on an upward curve of accessibility to the world.

Although we currently have acceptable broadband speeds for routine business at the university, we need to improve our capability. We need to run just to stay in place and sprint to keep up with the rest of the world. Our research initiatives depend on it and the university intends to drive the effort, not chase it.

February 28, 2012

Early cherry blossoms in Okinawa

Early cherry blossoms in Okinawa

Photo by Kaori Kinjo

Aloha! I wanted to share with you a recent email from Kaori Kinjo from Japan, with great news about the cherry tree we planted at on the campus of University of the Ryukyus.

Kaori is a staff member of the International Division at the University of the Ryukyus and helped coordinate my visit to Okinawa last fall.

She writes:

“I am very pleased to let you know a sakura tree planted by President Greenwood recently bloomed 5-6 small flowers!!!

When it was planted, I was told it would take 3-4 years to grow and bloom flowers.

In Okinawa, we enjoy cherry blossom in January-February and we sometimes observed President Greenwood’s tree just in case. In mid-February, we were very surprised to find just one flower on her sakura tree!!  Then it had 5-6 flowers!!”

Early cherry blossoms in Okinawa

Photo by Kaori Kinjo

View photos from my trip to Okinawa.

December 5, 2011

Research, innovation and the Chamber of Commerce

Jim Tollefson and MRC Greenwood

With Jim Tollefson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

I had the pleasure of serving as a guest speaker recently for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaiʻi’s Public Policy Series, a monthly event that features state leaders from government and business.  I was asked to update their members on our research and innovation efforts.  It was a great opportunity to share our vision for the University of Hawaiʻi to create a 21st-century capability for innovation and technology transfer and how we are enhancing our already robust research efforts to make our research enterprise a key to economic growth for the state of Hawaiʻi.

The University of Hawaiʻi is an important revenue center and economic driver for Hawaiʻi, and our research enterprise has the potential to be a $1 billion industry. It will require innovation, investment and collaboration to achieve this goal. Crucial to this effort are partnerships with our business community, many of whom are members of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  We’re grateful for their support as we all work together to strengthen and diversify our economy.

I was especially gratified to have a couple of business leaders express to me afterward their willingness to support us somehow. “What can we do to help you?” one asked. “If you think we’re doing a good job, tell everyone you know!” I said. “And help us remind the public how important a public higher education institution is to our state’s future.”

See more pictures from the event.

November 18, 2011

Legislative tour of cancer center site

Group of people in orange vests and hard hats in front of multi-story building under construction

Lawmakers visiting the UH Cancer Center project with, from left, Regent Dennis Hirota, Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and UH Cancer Center Director Michele Carbone

A number of lawmakers joined us this week for a tour of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center construction project. The new center will help us improve health care for Hawaiʻi cancer patients, advance understanding of cancers that are prevalent in our island population and explore potential new cures found in our unique environment.

View more photos from the tour.

 

Scientist and experienced administrator M.R.C. (it’s pronounced “Marci”) Greenwood is the 14th president of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi System.

This blog, maintained with staff assistance, shares her activities and insights. Use the contact form to offer feedback or email President Greenwood directly. We welcome comments posted in the tradition of academic freedom and spirit of aloha.