Posts Tagged ‘UH System’

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

August 2, 2012

Hawaii Conservation Conference

20th Annual Hawaii Conservation Conference

Pictured with me, from left, is Markus Staib, president of Milici Valenti Ng Pack; Sharon Ziegler-Chong, UH Hilo Office of Research; Michael Chang, deputy program manager of Hawai’i Energy and James Hardway, executive director of the Workforce Development Council, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

I was invited to speak at the 20th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Tuesday, July 31. The focus of the conference was growing green jobs in Hawaiʻi.

The Hawaiʻi Green Jobs initiative and the Hawaiʻi Clean Energy Initiative attract investments from companies around the world, which benefit local workers, companies and entrepreneurs across the state. Of course, this also provides a critical boost to Hawaiʻi’s economy.

In 2011, clean energy investments doubled to about $1.2 billion, and right now it looks like 2012 will be another year of growth. Currently, Hawaiʻi ranks third in the nation in clean energy job growth.

My speech focused on institutional preparation for a future economy consisting of green jobs and how we are preparing future generations to compete in a green job market.

Academic programs currently in place at UH include the agriculture programs at UH Mānoa, Hilo and the community colleges that are examining biofuels and food sustainability and Mānoa’s architecture program with its emphasis in green design.

We had an excellent discussion. The opportunity is here and we are educating and researching around this vision.

July 17, 2012

4-H livestock show

4h

I attended the 50th Hawaiʻi State Farm Fair’s 4-H Livestock Show at Kualoa Ranch on Saturday, July 7 with Maria Gallo, dean of UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, which includes the 4-H program.

There were more than 60 competitors from Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi.  This year, there were also 10 young participants from New Zealand who were judged alongside Hawaiʻi’s 4-H members.

The competition animals included beef steers, lambs, market pigs, fancy poultry, dairy goats, rabbits and pygmy goats. I even made a purchase and donated the proceedings to the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center.

June 25, 2012

Celebrating 150th anniversary of public land grant universities

Lincoln Memorial

With UCLA’s Gene Block and Iowa State’s Sally Mason

I attended a ceremony today at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862 which democratized education and made higher education possible for working class citizens.

I joined about 60 other presidents from public land grant universities across the country for this ceremony. Here I am with UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and Iowa State President Sally Mason.

Many of us are also here for the start of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. Eighty University of Hawaiʻi students, faculty, staff and community members are here, preparing for the opening day on Wednesday, June 27.

I will be there for the opening ceremonies and other events surrounding this festival, which features the University of Hawaiʻi and 19 other public land grant universities.

We are honored to be here to showcase our many projects and people, including our taro farmers, aquaponics and non-instrumental navigation experts and much, much more. You can see some of our stories at our UH news site.

Look for more from UH as we share our campus and community with more than a million visitors from around the world!

<p>University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25. Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25. Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood, right, and UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, left, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25. Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood, right, and UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, left, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25. Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

<p>Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.</p>

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Approximately 75 presidents of public land-grant colleges and universities gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 to honor Abraham Lincoln and his role in the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.

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. 

June 5, 2012

West Coast visit

West Coast visit

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium

I attended the Monterey Bay Aquarium board meeting on Friday, June 1, where we had a very interesting gathering. The aquarium is one of the country’s best and it is an honor to be a board member. It was foggy and cold. Miss the warmth and sun of Hawaiʻi.

I am now in warmer San Diego for a Mountain West Conference meeting. I also have a series of meetings about the University of Hawaiʻi’s Innovation Initiative, to lead the development of a $1 billion research industry for our state. The Innovation Initiative will act as an economic fuel cell, with increased research funding leading to more jobs and the development of new businesses.

West Coast visit

Here’s a beautiful view of the Monterey, California coast, where the water was very cold!

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

UH Board of Regents meeting

UH Board of Regents Meeting

Testimony given about the new associate in arts degree in Hawaiian studies

UH Board of Regents Meeting

Meeting with the Board of Regents

Not many people know that we marked an historic milestone on May 17, when the Board of Regents unanimously approved an associate in arts degree in Hawaiian studies. The university’s seven community colleges will be offering the AAHS degree to give students the option of transferring to UH Mānoa or any four-year institution to pursue a BA in Hawaiian studies or the field of their choice. Several students and faculty members gave passionate testimony before the vote, saying the AAHS program would preserve the Hawaiian culture, values and language. They were ecstatic about the unanimous approval of the new degree program.

This is a huge step forward in our effort to become the “model indigenous serving institution” in the nation.

Also, the Board of Regents honored outgoing UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and Honolulu Community College Chancellor Michael Rota for their years of excellent service. We thank them for their dedication and good work and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.

The board approved Erika Lacro to replace Rota as Honolulu CC’s next chancellor. She attended the meeting where she received a warm welcome and congratulations.

The board and I also recognized outgoing board members Ramón de la Peña, Dennis Hirota, Teena Rasmussen and Matthew Williams, whose terms expire on June 30. It was their last board meeting and our chance to thank them for their years of service on the Board of Regents.

We were also fortunate to have poet and student speaker Jenna Robinson at the regent’s meeting.  She was one of our undergraduate commencement speakers on May 12, and we invited her to repeat her speech presentation to the board. She was remarkable once again.

UH Board of Regents Meeting

Board of Regents Chair Eric Martinson, UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and Honolulu Community College Chancellor Michael Rota

UH Board of Regents Meeting

With Erika Lacro

UH Board of Regents Meeting

Eric Martinson recognizing Ramon de la Pena

UH Board of Regents Meeting

Ramon de la Pena, Teena Rasmussen and Dennis Hirota

May 22, 2012

UH Manoa’s spring commencement

Commencement

With Senator Dan Akaka at the UH Manoa’s pre-commencement reception

It was with great pride that I saw more than 2,000 UH Mānoa students receive their hard earned diplomas in both the undergraduate and advanced degree commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 12.

Senator Daniel Akaka attended our pre-commencement reception before the advanced degree ceremonies in the afternoon, where he received an honorary degree for his lifelong dedication and contributions in public service.

Internationally renowned author Haruki Murakami also received an honorary degree.

We were also fortunate to have Anton Krucky as our featured speaker at the advanced degree ceremony.  He is co-founder and CEO of Tissue Genesis and also very active in philanthropic and community affairs.

About 800 graduate students heard him speak before receiving their advanced degrees.

Earlier, 1,400 undergraduate students received their bachelor’s degrees. During the pre-commencement reception, I had the honor of meeting with educators and philanthropists Bernard and Barbro Osher, who received the Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters.

Dr. Claire Asam and Dr. J. Kuhio Asam—both UH Mānoa graduates—were featured speakers during the undergraduate degree ceremony.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming student speaker Jenna Robinson, who captivated her fellow graduates and the thousands who attended the undergraduate ceremony. Jenna received her BA in history and ethnic studies and is an intern and researcher for the African American Diversity Cultural Center of Hawaii, where she is working on empowering African–American youth in Hawaiʻi through artistic expression. She has an amazing story. She is one of seven children and the only college graduate.

Congratulations to all graduates.

Commencement

With Anton Krucky at UH Manoa’s advanced degree ceremony

Commencement

At UH Manoa’s pre-commencement reception with, from left, Bernard and Barbro Osher and UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw

Commencement

At UH Manoa’s undergraduate ceremony with, from left, Claire Asam, Kuhio Asam, Chancellor Hinshaw and Board of Regents Chair Eric Martinson

May 7, 2012

Visit with hula halau at Hawaii CC

Hawaii CC visit

Kumu hula and UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC faculty member Taupori Tangaro and his 25 member hula halau, taking a break from rehearsal.

I had the pleasure of visiting with Taupori Tangaro and his hula hālau while at Hawaiʻi Community College for my campus visit. Hālau members were packing up and rehearsing for this summer’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where they will be among 90 delegates representing the University of Hawaiʻi on the National Mall.

UH will be one of only 20 public land grant universities featured during this year’s festival. It celebrates the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, which established our great public land grant university system, making college educations possible for working class Americans.

We are extremely proud to be part of this prestigious national event, where Tangaro’s hālau will perform twice daily and share their knowledge of Hawaiian culture with visitors from around the world. The hālau consists of UH staff, faculty members and students. They will join other UH representatives who will offer exhibits, demonstrations and discussions on everything from Hawaiian health and healing, agriculture, organic eating, non-instrument navigation, language preservation and much more. We are working very hard to represent the university well.

Our appearance at this summer’s Folklife Festival will further our effort to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture, language and practices and make UH the “model indigenous-serving university” in the country. The festival runs from June 27 through July 8. If you’re in the Washington D.C. area or on the east coast, please stop by and say hello.

 

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.