UH System president Greenwood will step down

by David Corrigan

University of Hawai‘i System President M.R.C. Greenwood will retire in September.

Greenwood made the announcement on Monday, saying her reasons for making the decision are personal, health-related, and family oriented.

M.R.C. Greenwood

“This university has accomplished an amazing amount in a rather short and extremely challenging time. As the economy shows signs of improvement, I am proud of how well we’ve coped with the greatest recession in modern memory and serious state spending restrictions. Through the support and hard work of our faculty, staff and friends we’ve been able to accommodate the largest student enrollment in history, streamlined course availability and transfers, incurred no lost days of instruction, and maintained a very robust research portfolio.”

The Board of Regent Chair Eric Martinson praised Greenwood’s legacy in a media release; a legacy that includes a number of high profile projects on Hawaii Island.

Greenwood saw the UH Hilo Hawaiian Language building to its groundbreaking. Her leadership in the substantial progress of the Thirty Meter Telescope planned for the summit of Mauna Kea was noted, as was her action on the West Hawai‘i Palamanui campus of Hawaii Community College, set to break ground in late May.

Eric Martinson

“MRC Greenwood’s accomplishments have been outstanding. The university’s reputation has advanced nationally and internationally, the strategic goals set by the Board of Regents have advanced, and she helped navigate the university through one of our nation’s and state’s most severe recessions. She’s been instrumental in putting the university on the path to increased cooperation with the business community and has helped build recognition of the importance of the university for the economic engine it represents for Hawai‘i.”

Greenwood came to Hawaii in August 2009 as the university’s first female president. To that point she was an internationally known researcher and scientist, and a consultant to the White House Office of Science and Technology under President Bill Clinton.

However, her tenure hit a sour note last year when the now infamous botched Stevie Wonder concert cost the school more than $200,000, victim of an alleged scam. The Senate inquiry that followed became an inquisition into university operations. Greenwood seemed on the verge of resignation, and a letter from Greenwood’s attorney to the Board of Regents asked for a $2 million settlement for her to resign. The letter was withdrawn.

The situation shed light on what appeared to be a fallout between Greenwood and Governor Neil Abercrombie. But on Monday, Abercrombie issued a supportive statement:

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

“From the moment I met President Greenwood, I was impressed with her commitment and her desire to give her very best effort on behalf of the University of Hawaii. She brought a wealth of experience and determination to put that to work for the university. I personally wish her every good fortune in the years to come. As for the university and the presidency, I will be contacting the Board of Regents and the wider university community as we chart our next steps.”