UH Maui College Chancellor Sakamoto to Retire

UHMC Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto. File photo courtesy UHMC.

By Maui Now Staff

University of Hawai’i Maui College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto announced today he will retire at the end of October, 2014.

Sakamoto has been at the helm of the Maui campus, serving as chief executive officer since 1991, and has been with the UH System for 41 years, the announcement said.

Sakamoto also previously served as dean of instruction at the Maui campus and was executive director of projects that established baccalaureate development at the UH community colleges, the university said.

UH Maui listed some of his accomplishments, which include:

• Overseeing a $10 million federal Rural Development Grant;
• Helped to secure more than $13 million in rural development funds since 1997;
• Helped secure a $3 million grant for the Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program;
• Obtained and administered grants related to telecommunication infrastructure, gender equity, Hawaiian education and sustainable technologies;
• Helped secure more than $147 million in extramural funds for UH Maui College since 1997.

According to the announcement, fall enrollment at UHMC increased from 2,346 in 1990 to 4,076 in 2013, a 74% increase under his leadership.

UH Interim President David Lassner issued the following statement in a university press release:

“Clyde has been the singular face of higher education on Maui for decades. He has always been an innovator and visionary, with one example being his pioneering leadership in developing distance learning for the tri-isle Maui County that became a model for UH’s work throughout the State. Clyde’s legacy includes the beautiful UH Maui College campus, a robust suite of educational programs that support economic development, and a county-wide understanding of the importance of higher education to the community. After 41 years of working tirelessly for the people of Maui County, we wish Clyde and his wife Gerianne all the best for an amazing retirement together.”

Vice President of Community Colleges John Morton also issued a statement saying:

“I greatly appreciate the many years of leadership and contributions that Chancellor Sakamoto has provided to UH Maui College and the community college system. Our task now is to begin the process of finding someone who can continue Chancellor Sakamoto’s legacy of service and dedication to the residents of Maui County as the next Chancellor.”

In making the announcement, Chancellor Sakamoto said, “I am continually and deeply grateful to have been given an opportunity to contribute to higher education in Maui County and Hawai’i. On behalf of our students and community, our college’s progress reflects a commitment from our campus staff and faculty, community and political leadership in Maui County.”

Sakamoto thanked those who contributed to improving higher learning in the county saying, “Through your support and assistance, we built a firm foundation for continual and future leadership to prepare learners for the global and local opportunities presented by needs and problems.”

Sakamoto also thanked his faculty, staff and administrative colleagues saying they, “inspire learners by addressing unmet needs, persevering through complicated and transparent processes without complaint, and adding value to our students’ access to careers that will sustain themselves and their families.”