Peñaloza to serve as interim chancellor of UH West Oʻahu, lead collaboration with Leeward CC

Carlos Peñaloza

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel, subject to approval by the Board of Regents, has appointed Carlos Peñaloza, current chancellor of Leeward Community College, to simultaneously serve as interim chancellor of UH West Oʻahu, effective January 1, 2026. This unique dual appointment will launch a groundbreaking strategic exploration of the potential for a unified vision for and integration of the two West Oʻahu campuses.  

Peñaloza will succeed Chancellor Maenette K. P. Ah Nee-Benham, who announced in August that she will step down at the end of the year. During this interim period, Peñaloza will continue to lead Leeward CC, ensuring stability and continuity for both institutions. Discussions with stakeholders at both campuses will be scheduled in the coming months.

“This is a critical moment to rethink how we deliver higher education to the region,” said Hensel. “With engagement from students, faculty and staff and guided by Chancellor Peñaloza, this effort will assess whether joint leadership can create a more seamless, effective and innovative experience for our students and meet the unique needs of this growing population center. Carlos is a proven leader who has earned the trust of the Leeward community.  His vision and innovative thinking make him the ideal person to guide this crucial exploration.”

Prioritizing innovation, student success

Peñaloza's initial charge will be to work closely with the faculty and staff of both UH West Oʻahu and Leeward CC—including Waiʻanae Moku, a full-service education center—to consider the potential for operating as a more integrated regional campus. This exploration will prioritize innovation, efficiency and student success, with key areas including:

• Optimizing curriculum and course pathways to ensure seamless credit transfer for students moving between Leeward CC and UH West Oʻahu.
• Exploring academic innovation and new pathways, such as three-year degree programs, to accelerate graduation and meet critical workforce needs.
• Strengthening the use of unique facilities, such as the Academy for Creative Media, Waiʻanae Moku and the Wahiawā Value Added Product Development Center for greater access for students across both campuses.
• Strengthening community impact through programs and partnerships that directly reflect the needs of West and Central Oʻahu.

“Leeward and West Oʻahu already share many students, valuable faculty collaborations and strong community ties,” said Peñaloza, who has served as Leeward CC chancellor since 2019. “I am honored by this interim appointment and look forward to exploring how one unified vision can reduce barriers, open new opportunities and strengthen our collective impact on the region by advancing access and student achievement.”

Emphasizing student empowerment, achievement

A graduate of Queensborough Community College in New York, who was born in Valencia, Venezuela, Peñaloza subsequently earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in biology from the City University of New York. He previously served as provost and chief academic officer at Saint Luke’s College of Health and Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri, and has more than a decade of biomedical research experience.

During his tenure at Leeward CC, the campus has made investments to reduce deferred maintenance, opened the Wahiawā Value Added Product Development Center and the Hō'ikeākea Gallery, and expanded the Waiʻanae Moku education center. Leeward CC has also become the food and product innovation hub for the community colleges. Peñaloza has served as commissioner for the American Association for Community Colleges and currently serves on the board of directors. 

Peñaloza has long emphasized equity and student empowerment, and his leadership at Leeward CC has focused on reducing achievement gaps for Native Hawaiian students, supporting innovation among faculty and staff and strengthening community partnerships. Leeward CC has been recognized nationally for its Kawaimanomano (The Many Waters) professional development program. In 2024, Leeward CC awarded $1.4 million to 859 Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship recipients, something Peñaloza hopes to continue to leverage to make the pathway to a four-year degree more affordable. 

“This is an opportunity to build on our shared history—UH West Oʻahu was founded on the Leeward CC Pearl City campus nearly 50 years ago—and amplify our strategic strengths,” Peñaloza said. “Both colleges have been trailblazers in online learning and early college programs, and together, we can become a model for 21st-century education.”

The UH administration will report to the UH Board of Regents with findings and recommendations arising out of the strategic collaboration for further consideration.