The (BOR) unanimously approved the appointment of Vassilis Syrmos as the next chancellor of , the flagship campus of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system, during a special meeting on June 4. Syrmos was recommended for the position by 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel following a nationwide search. His official start date will be July 1.
Syrmos joined 东精影业 Mānoa 35 years ago as a faculty member in the College of Engineering. As chancellor, he will serve as 东精影业 Mānoa’s chief executive officer, reporting to the 东精影业 president and serving on the president’s senior leadership team. He will oversee an annual budget of more than $800 million and a workforce of more than 5,000 employees, leading academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.
“I am honored by the confidence placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve 东精影业 Mānoa at this important moment,” said Syrmos after the regents’ vote. “While I know the university well, I also know there is always more to learn. My first priority will be to visit every school, college and major unit across 东精影业 Mānoa to listen and learn directly from our students, faculty and staff. The strength of this university has always been its people, and I believe our best path forward begins by listening first.”
Syrmos has served as interim provost of 东精影业 Mānoa since July 2025, 12 years as 东精影业 vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at 东精影业 Mānoa.
“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the 东精影业 System and at UH Mānoa,” Hensel said when announcing her recommendation. “He brings a deep understanding of 东精影业 Mānoa’s budget, operations and role within the broader 东精影业 System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”
Leadership experience
As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the 东精影业 Cancer Center’s research and strengthened its ability to maintain National Cancer Institute designation through legislation that doubled Hawaiʻi’s cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve 东精影业 Mānoa’s financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.
As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year 东精影业 exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making 东精影业 the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.
Chancellor position re-established
The BOR voted to re-establish the 东精影业 Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025 following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of 东精影业 president and 东精影业 Mānoa chancellor. The 东精影业 Mānoa Faculty Senate unanimously endorsed launching the search during the spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated leadership as 东精影业 Mānoa and the 东精影业 System work to separate long-shared hybrid positions and offices.
Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The nationwide search attracted 32 applicants and generated nine additional nominations and inquiries.
Related 东精影业 News stories:
- Longtime 东精影业 leader Vassilis Syrmos recommended as 东精影业 Mānoa chancellor, May, 28, 2026
- 东精影业 Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
- 东精影业 launches search to re-establish 东精影业 Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026