Finalists invited to campus for Dean's position at UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

Finalists for the position of Dean of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa‘s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) have been identified. Interviews and campus visits have been scheduled beginning next week on the Manoa campus.

UH Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert expressed his gratitude to the dean search advisory committee. "SOEST is a major component of the research enterprise at UH Manoa, and it is critical that we enlist top caliber leadership to capitalize on our world-renowned excellence in ocean and earth sciences," Englert said. "The committee has recommended three well-qualified candidates, and we look forward to the opportunity to introduce them to the campus community."

Chair of the search advisory committee, Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, said, "The committee was pleased to have a pool of applicants and nominees that are well aware of the quality of our faculty researchers at SOEST. We believe these finalists can provide the necessary leadership to continue and enhance our research programs in these areas.

The finalists are:

Eddie Nolan Bernard, Director of the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA, in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Bernard directs an interdisciplinary oceanographic and atmospheric research program that supports NOAA‘s mission in climate forecasts, predicting environmental change, building sustainable fisheries, and related endeavors. He directs a research, professional and administrative staff of 175 at facilities in Seattle and in Newport, Oregon. Dr. Bernard received his BS in physics at Lamar University and his MS and PhD degrees in Physical Oceanography at Texas A&M University.

Mahlon C. Kennicutt II, Director of Sustainable Development and Professor of Oceanography at Texas A&M University. Dr. Kennicutt serves as leader of a major new interdisciplinary research program — the Sustainable Coastal Margins Program - created in 2001. It involves a coalition of numerous on- and off-campus entities that now directs the work of more than 50 faculty in sustainability science. He received his BS in Chemistry at Union College and a PhD in Oceanography at Texas A&M University.

Thomas M. Powell, Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Chair, Energy resources Group, University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Powell‘s research has been directed toward studying how physical processes affect planktonic ecosystems, working in the full spectrum of fresh and ocean water environments. He has taught a wide variety of courses in oceanography, ecology and other related areas to both undergraduates and advanced graduate students. He received his BA and PhD degrees in Physics at UC Berkeley.

Additional biographical information about the candidates and about the search process will be posted at www.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/soest . Each of the candidates will be on the Manoa campus for meetings beginning next week, and each has been scheduled for a public presentation beginning at 9:15 am, in POST 723, on the following days:

Mahlon C. Kennicutt — Wednesday, November 17

Eddie Bernard — November 19

Thomas M. Powell — November 23

Interested members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.

Members of the search advisory committee are:

· Chair, Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, Director, Institute for Astronomy and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education· Vice Chair, David Karl, Professor, Oceanography· Janet Becker, Associate Professor, Geology and Geophysics· Kathy Cutshaw, Director, SOEST Administration· Melody Eckmier, Senior, Geology and Geophysics, and ASUH representative· Sarah Fagents, Assistant Professor, Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology· Gary Jensen, Director, Office of Naval Research· Suzi Johnston, Program Assistant, East-West Center Seminar Program· Stephen Masutani, Associate Researcher, Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute· Eric Mittelstaedt, Doctoral candidate (Geophysics) and GSO representative· Paul Nachtigall, Director, Marine Mammal Research, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology· Jeff Polovina, Director, Pacific Islands Fisheries Center· Lorna Ramiscal, Educational Specialist and Staff Representative, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu· Jane Schoonmaker, Associate Geophysicist, Oceanography· Clyde Tamaru, Extension Specialist, Sea Grant· Nainoa Thompson, President, Polynesian Voyaging Society and Trustee, Kamehameha Schools· Bin Wang, Professor, Meteorology, International Institute of Geophysics

For more information, visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/soest