UH Manoa community welcomes new chancellor

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii at Manoa officially has a new chancellor.

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Community members gathered to welcome Chancellor Vassilis Syrmos with a traditional oli called “Welina Manoa.”

“It is an extreme honor for being the head of the chancellor of Manoa at this time, something that I would never had even imagined when I first came as a young assistant professor in 1991,” Syrmos said.

Syrmos, who has spent more than 35 years with the university, plans to concentrate on student success.

As chancellor, he says his focus will also be on supporting faculty, staff, and students as well as working to strength research and innovation.

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“A lot of staff, faculty, and students that live and work here every day, and I want to understand their views,” Syrmos said. “I want to understand their aspirations. And I want to understand how I can be part of fulfilling their dreams going forward.”

Syrmos says he plans to spend his first 100 days going across campus to visit with every college, school, and unit.

He has strong ties to both the university and the state of Hawaii.

“It is the pinnacle of the journey both professionally and personally,” Syrmos said. “My family, my kids grew up here. The state has been my home for 35 years.”

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