Meet Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos
Vassilis L. Syrmos, a longtime University of Hawaiʻi leader and nationally respected research administrator, assumed the role of chancellor of UH Mānoa on July 1, 2026. Syrmos has served the university for more than 35 years in a variety of academic and executive leadership positions, most recently as interim provost at UH Mānoa. He previously served for more than a decade as UH vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at UH Mānoa.
Since joining UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering faculty in 1991, Syrmos has played a key role in advancing the university’s research enterprise, academic excellence and strategic priorities. As vice president for research and innovation, he helped lead record growth in extramural funding, strengthened partnerships with federal and state leaders and established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making UH the nation’s only R1 university to create such a unit within its research enterprise.
A professor of electrical engineering, Syrmos earned his PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his diploma in electrical engineering from Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. His leadership is grounded in collaboration, innovation and a deep commitment to student success, research excellence and serving the people of Hawaiʻi through the mission of UH Mānoa.
Recent News
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Q&A: Leadership, innovation grounded in excellence
A conversation with Vassilis L. Syrmos
Video Q&A with Chancellor Syrmos
What should people know about UH Mānoa?
One of your top goals as Chancellor?
One goal for your first 100 days?
What does UH Mānoa need to succeed?
An eye-opening moment in your career?
How do you lead change?
Name one Native Hawaiian value that has an impact on you?
What is the Chancellor's role?
What is the Provost's role?
What might people be surprised to learn about you?
How did you become an engineer?
What inspired your career in engineering?
Best advice you've ever received?
How would your colleagues describe you?
More about Chancellor Syrmos
Vassilis L. Syrmos, a distinguished researcher, educator and higher education leader, assumed the role of chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on July 1, 2026. As chief executive officer of the university’s flagship campus, Syrmos oversees academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations while working closely with the UH president and campus leadership to advance UH Mānoa’s mission as a leading public research university and Native Hawaiian place of learning.
Syrmos was appointed chancellor following a nationwide search after serving as interim provost of UH Mānoa since July 2025. In that role, he advanced efforts to strengthen financial transparency, modernize budgeting practices, improve student success initiatives and secure legislative support to sustain the UH Cancer Center’s research mission and National Cancer Institute designation.
Before becoming interim provost, Syrmos served for more than 12 years as UH vice president for research and innovation, providing leadership for systemwide research strategy, technology transfer and research support operations. Under his leadership, UH achieved record growth in extramural funding, including a historic $734 million in fiscal year 2025 and four consecutive years exceeding $500 million in research awards. He also strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to expand research opportunities and established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making UH the only R1 university in the nation to formally integrate Indigenous knowledge and innovation into its research enterprise.
Syrmos also served eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at UH Mānoa, where he helped develop major research facilities, including the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE Hale), the state’s only laboratory to earn LEED Platinum certification.
A member of the UH Mānoa faculty since 1991, Syrmos is a professor of electrical engineering and previously served as associate dean of the College of Engineering. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 journal and conference papers and the textbook Optimal Control and has held leadership roles with numerous professional organizations and research initiatives. His research interests include linear systems theory, signal and image processing, medical imaging and diagnostic systems.
Throughout his career, Syrmos’ research has been supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Office of Naval Research, U.S. Army and Air Force research laboratories and industry partners. He has also served on the boards of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi, the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority and several other organizations supporting research and innovation in the state.
Syrmos earned a PhD in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a diploma in electrical engineering from Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. His leadership is defined by collaboration, strategic vision and a commitment to advancing UH Mānoa’s excellence in education, research and service to Hawaiʻi and the world.