Challenge Profile
Search for the Dean of the School of Social Work
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) invites nominations and applications for the
role of Dean for the School of Social Work. The Dean will join and inspire a community
comprising exceptional students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, community
leaders, and legislators to reach new levels of excellence and guarantee the School’s
long-term success in carrying out its vital mission.
Founded in 1936, the School of Social Work is the oldest, largest, and most influential
provider of social work programs and degrees in the State of Hawai’i. The School
encompasses a vibrant, dynamic intellectual community of individuals working together
to find solutions to Hawai’i’s most pressing problems. Through policy, practice, and
research, the School’s over 300 students and nearly 20 full-time and 100+ adjunct faculty
members are actively involved in projects intended to benefit not only the people of
Hawai’i, but the citizens of the world.
The School operates as a vital part of the University of Hawai’i (UH), a system of public
postsecondary education institutions located across the islands of Hawai’i. As the
premier institution of higher learning in the Pacific Basin and one of the nation’s few
land-, sea-, and space-grant institutions, the University plays a unique role in bridging
Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific cultures.
Hawai’i is widely renowned as an island paradise, a safe environment with a tropical
climate and breathtaking scenery. Yet it is also one of the most vibrant, culturally diverse
states in America, representing a highly integrated mix of people in both urban and rural
settings. The island community provides an ideal micro-environment for a school
dedicated to solving the most complex societal issues not only at the state level but in the
greater Pacific Rim basin overall. In the South Pacific, the need for social workers has
never been greater nor the opportunities for cross-disciplinary programs and research.
The UH School of Social Work already serves a vast array of cities, towns, and villages
and has a solid foundation to grow to meet this rising demand.
A Dean is sought who can unify the School of Social Work’s diverse constituents by
orienting them toward a bold, innovative vision to both improve the condition of the
people of Hawai’i and contribute to the field of social work around the world. Working
collaboratively with the social work community, the Dean will steward the School’s
resources, shape its academic programs, and fervently promote its interests externally
while working to reach new levels of distinction and effectiveness in instruction and
research.
This document, a description of the key challenges facing the next Dean, has been
produced by Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, as an addendum to the
official position description, which is attached at the conclusion this document. An online
version of the official description and nomination requirements are also available at
www.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/socialwork. All confidential applications, inquiries, and
nominations can be directed to the parties listed at the conclusion of this document.
About the University of Hawai’i System
The University of Hawai’i was founded in 1907 as a single-campus, land-grant college of
agriculture and mechanic arts. Today, as an integrated public higher education system,
UH provides a full array of academic offerings through three university campuses, seven
community college campuses, and an employment training center located on all of the
Hawaiian islands. UH enrolls more than 50,000 credit and 29,000 non-credit students
who gain certificates and bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in over a hundred
fields of study.
The University of Hawai’i system aims to help ensure the survival and prosperity of
Hawai’i’s people and its islands for generations to come. The University’s motto,
“Maluna a'e o na lahui a pau ke ola ke kanaka” ("Above all nations is humanity"), is
reflected in the ethnic composition of its students. The student population is 20%
Japanese, 20% Caucasian, 15% Filipino, 13% Hawaiian, and 32% from other ethnic
backgrounds. Drawing on the values of its rich multicultural community, the university
system is aimed at improving the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the
people of Hawai’i through instruction, research, and service.
The Mānoa Campus
The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa serves as the flagship campus for the UH system and
is classified as a doctoral/research university - extensive. It is the only campus in the
system to offer doctoral degrees and is also the primary provider of master’s degrees in
the state. Many of the University’s fields of study are directly related to the distinctive
geographical and cultural characteristics of Hawai’i. Students can take advantage of
programming in a range of disciplines from oceanography, volcanology and astronomy,
to linguistics, genetics, and public health. Given its’ diverse student body, UH Mānoa
offers instruction in more languages than any U.S. institution (outside the Department of
State) and enrolls students from more than 80 nations.
The UH Mānoa Campus is located on 300 acres of land in Mānoa Valley, a residential
area close to the heart of metropolitan Honolulu. Almost 20,000 credit students are
enrolled on the Mānoa campus, and of those 20,000, two-thirds are enrolled as
undergraduates, 56% are women, and 71% attend the school full-time. The mean age of
UHM students is 26 years. Current enrollment projections call for the University to
continue to grow beyond the year 2008.
www.uhm.hawaii.edu.
For more information, please see
The School of Social Work
Since its inception in 1936, the School of Social Work has worked to generate, transmit,
and apply knowledge to benefit the state of Hawai’i and to contribute to the social work
profession as a whole, particularly in the areas of social justice, youth and families and
the elderly. The School seeks to increase comprehension of how social policy, social
work practice, and research can be developed and applied in a multicultural setting, and
particularly in Hawai’i and the Pacific-Asian region.
The School currently enrolls approximately 100 bachelor degree students, 200 masters
students, and 15 doctoral students, who work closely with approximately 20 full-time
professors and a large cadre of adjunct faculty. Graduates of the School of Social Work
are employed in various settings, ranging from hospitals, clinics, and schools, to family
and child welfare agencies, prisons, immigrant/refugee centers, and geriatric programs. In
addition, graduates may also pursue other professions and have ventured into such areas
as law, counseling, and urban planning. For more information about the School of Social
Work, please see www.hawaii.edu/sswork.
Key Challenges for the Dean of the School of Social Work
The Dean reports to the Chancellor of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and provides
academic, administrative, and professional leadership for the School of Social Work. The
Dean also serves as the School’s principal public representative and promotes its interests
locally, nationally and internationally. For more information about the specific duties of
the Dean, please see the official position description, attached at the end of this
document.
In carrying out the duties detailed in the position description, the Dean of the School of
Social Work will face the following key challenges:
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Join the Community of the School of Social Work
Unite the School and Focus its Energies
Raise the Public Profile and Visibility of the School of Social Work
Forge Connections Between the School and the State and Region
Develop the Resources Needed to Fulfill the School’s Mission and Potential
Strengthen the Research and Teaching Capacity of the School
Increase the Quality and Quantity of Students and Faculty
Develop Strong Relationships Across the Manoa Campus
These challenges are explained in detail below.
Join the Community of the School of Social Work
At the University of Hawai’i, the Deans, like students, faculty, staff, and administrators,
are members of a diverse, thriving community unified by a clearly defined sense of
purpose focused on the betterment of life for the people of Hawai’i and the Pacific Rim.
The Dean’s role will be to join and inspire a community to reach new levels of excellence
and guarantee the School’s long-term success in carrying out its vital mission.
Prior to tackling the other issues facing the School, the Dean will be challenged to make
an emotional, moral, and intellectual commitment to this intimate community and its
traditions. The Dean will join the School as a role model for respectful leadership and
tireless devotion to the field of social work. Additionally, the Dean will need to reach out
to a close-knit, highly diverse community, both on- and off-campus, that thrives on
honesty, warmth, and strong interpersonal relationships.
Unite the School and Focus its Energies
Upon developing relationships throughout this close-knit community and listening to the
interests of its various constituents, the Dean will lead a School-wide effort to unite the
School around a clear, compelling vision for the future. The vision should define the
overall direction of the School and unite its activities into a coherent framework. Part of
this challenge rests in finding common ground among the School’s full range of
programs and projects and encouraging collaboration and interdisciplinary initiatives at
all possible junctures.
The School should strive for excellence in scholarship, in all of its many definitions. As a
leader, the Dean must empower members from across the community, including faculty,
staff, and students, to establish their roles as contributors to this common vision. The
Dean should lead through example by encouraging a spirit of ongoing conversation
across the School and Mānoa campus. While the School has vast potential for crossdisciplinary programs and research, this potential will only be realized within a culture in
which great ideas can rise to the surface.
The School requires a mature, seasoned leader with a top-level perspective on
organizational transformation to manage and negotiate this vast range of sometimes
conflicting interests. The mission of the School of Social Work extends far beyond the
Mānoa campus. By successfully aligning the School’s myriad interests toward a common
spirit and sense of purpose, the Dean has a remarkable opportunity to channel the
School’s passion, resources, and expertise toward long-range research aimed at solving
the most complex problems facing Hawai’i and the Pacific Rim in the 21st century.
Raise the Public Profile and Visibility of the School of Social Work
The Dean serves as the lead ambassador for the School of Social Work and must be able
to advocate on its behalf in a variety of public forums. As chief spokesperson, the Dean
should promote the School’s strengths and accomplishments by working closely with the
media, the state legislature, and top academicians around the world while also
participating in local, regional, and national discussions about the field of social work as
a whole.
While the School takes seriously its responsibility to serve the State of Hawai’i, the
School should also reach out to institutions on the “other island,” the North American
continent, and in the greater Asia-Pacific region, to establish relationships with
organizations, businesses, and academic institutions that can help to tie the School’s work
into the greater needs of the nation. To maximally extend the School’s reach, the Dean
will market and promote the School’s unique strengths to a broad array of audiences and
ultimately help the entire UH system to achieve its goal of establishing an international
reputation for excellence.
Forge Connections Between the University and the State and Region
The Dean will play a leadership role in developing relationships not only within the
University of Hawai’i but also externally, with local, state, and international
organizations. The Dean should forge partnerships with government, non-profit, and
corporate entities throughout the region to ensure that the School’s valuable research and
learning finds its practical application in society.
As a publicly funded institution, the School’s mission is tied directly to the needs of the
local community. The Dean must ensure that the school is flexible and responsive to the
ever-changing needs of the state’s various social agencies. Enhanced programs are
needed to serve the indigenous Hawaiian community and the diverse ethnic populations
of the islands and to address issues pertaining to children, families, and the elderly
throughout the islands through on-site clinical work, training, and research. The School
of Social Work also has a unique opportunity to build programs that forge ties to nations
such as Japan, New Zealand, Korea, and China.
Through the research and practical instruction of its students and faculty, the School has
an invaluable opportunity and responsibility to improve the lives of the citizens across
Hawai’i and the Pacific Rim, and to bring expertise into the state’s hospitals, agencies,
clinics, prisons, counseling offices, and other vital agencies. The Dean should aim to
collaborate with other universities and research centers in the State and Asia Pacific;
work together with nascent social work programs at HPU (Hawai’i Pacific University)
and Brigham Young; and maintain ongoing relationships with such professional
organizations as the NASW and CSWE while spreading its roots throughout the state.
As a foundation to this challenge, School of Social Work already runs a number of
programs that bridge the School’s work with the lives of Hawai’i’s citizens. Practicumbased research is an integral part of the school’s total educational program. Joint
academic programs and programs such as the East-West Center encourage interdisciplinary and cross-cultural learning. The School recently initiated a certificate
program with the UH Department of Public Administration to prepare students for
administrative roles in human service organizations. And the School’s Social Welfare
Evaluation, Research and Training Unit (SWERTU) provides evaluation, research and
training to a wide array of agencies and develops research intended to solve human
welfare problems of relevance to Hawai‘i and the Pacific/Asian region.
Develop the Resources Needed to Fulfill the School’s Mission and Potential
The School of Social Work’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programs were recently accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education for eight
years – the maximum allowable period. The Accreditation Site Team praised the
School’s strong commitment to diversity, multiculturalism, and community involvement;
hailed its clearly articulated objectives, goals, and mission; and spoke highly of its strong
student-faculty relations. The team’s primary concern centered on the lack of resources
available to support the School’s growing programs and curricular offerings.
As with most public institutions, the School is heavily dependent on support from a vast
array of funding sources. The School is constantly subject to budget shortfalls caused by
fluctuating state and federal income, yet faces ongoing operational demands: upgrades to
facilities, new classroom space, more scholarships, and ever-growing research needs.
The Dean must lead the School’s efforts to garner financial support from all possible
sources, including state and federal funding programs, corporate grants, and donations
from individuals. In this role, the Dean will work in cooperation with the Chancellor and
the University of Hawai’i Foundation, a system-wide fundraising arm. The Dean should
attempt to secure funding through federal programs such as Title IV-E and help faculty to
acquire new research funds by pursuing work in service to the school’s greater goals.
Access to public higher education is critical to the future economic health of Hawai’i, and
public financial support is essential to keeping access affordable. The School’s programs
have direct applications in Hawai’i and often can lead to substantial long-term cost
savings for the State. The Dean must convey to legislators and their constituents the
importance of funding the School’s mission by emphasizing these vital ties.
The University’s fundraising capacity has grown in recent years. Contracts and grants
awarded to the university during fiscal 2003 reached $324 million, an increase of 53%
over fiscal year 2001. In fiscal year 2002-2003, the restructured UH Foundation and
Office of Alumni Affairs produced an increase in giving to the Foundation of 22.6% from
the previous year. The University is currently undertaking a development campaign to
generate a viable resource base for the School and to acquire resources at a level that
supports endowed faculty positions, student scholarships, and new facilities.
To Strengthen the Research and Teaching Capacity of the School
The School of Social Work has a moral and practical commitment to train more students
in the field of social work to meet current and future workforce demands. The School
must also continue to improve the quality of its academic programs and the volume of
research it conducts. As the School refines and expands its programs, the Dean must
evaluate the programmatic potential and financial realities of new opportunities, present
the best ideas to the academic community, and implement them when appropriate. The
Dean should approach the School’s growth strategy with the creativity of an entrepreneur
and the sensibility of an experienced academic leader, working to build new programs
and initiatives while protecting the long-term financial viability of the School.
Promoting excellence in research represents a key challenge for the next Dean. As a vital
link among the islands’ diverse communities, the School has the potential to generate
groundbreaking research that benefits not only the unique populations of Hawai’i and the
Pacific Rim, but also the broader field of social work. The Dean has the responsibility of
leading the School’s research efforts through ongoing fundraising and advocacy and will
lead efforts to build the infrastructure required to support faculty research, including
model classrooms, clinics, and labs.
Still, the School of Social Work is primarily a teaching institution. While pursuing
excellence in research, the Dean must also promote excellence in instruction for both
undergraduate and graduate students. This task calls for creating an exciting environment
for teaching and learning that encourages critical thinking and active participation. As
leader of the School’s academic programs, the Dean ensures that the School’s educational
programs achieve the highest attainable levels of quality, integrity, and applicability.
Increase the Quality and Quantity of Students and Faculty
The School of Social Work’s community aspires to grow not only in size, but also in
quality. A key challenge for the Dean lies in raising the levels of excellence for faculty
and staff through improved professional development and recruitment and in building a
top-caliber student body by reaching out to future leaders in communities across the state
and beyond. The new Dean should set high standards for excellence for faculty,
administrators, staff, and students by cultivating a learning environment that imbues
members at all levels with a shared sense of pride and enthusiasm.
The School’s faculty members are already widely renowned as leaders in the field of
social work. An effective Dean will empower these dedicated practitioners to continue to
serve as leaders within their fields while pursuing research that helps them to reach their
full potential. As the faculty grows, the Dean should also aim to recruit new, high-caliber
faculty members by reaching out around the world to leaders in the field of social work.
The Dean leads the School in achieving its fundamental mission by providing students
with the best possible instruction and facilities, encourages and rewards high-level
performance, and promotes student involvement in the leadership of the School.
Managing a diverse faculty with a wide variety of ideas and perspectives can pose thorny
challenges. As the primary leader for academics at the University, the Dean must work
collaboratively with student, faculty, and staff leaders from across the institution to
develop ideas for the School’s academic future growth. As the School of Social Work’s
faculty are unionized, the Dean will ideally possess experience with labor negotiations to
maximize the benefit for both the school and its instructor-members.
As part of its service to the local community, the School should draw its students from
the broadest possible range of social and economic circumstances and all the myriad
cultures found on the Hawaiian islands. The Dean should help the School to reach out to
underserved communities through enhanced recruitment methods and must generate a
wide range of financial aid opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
Additionally, the Dean should work to enable the participation of students located offsite, across the neighbor islands and beyond. In collaboration with the Chancellor, a
committee of faculty has developed a proposal for a distance learning MSW program
that, if accepted, will be offered to every major island in Hawai’i. This plan is currently
being presented to the legislature for special funding. If this plan is accepted, the Dean
will play a key role in its execution and future expansion.
Develop Strong Relationships Across the Mānoa Campus
The School of Social Work operates within a thriving campus community comprised of
talented students, administrators, and faculty from around the world. The Dean’s final
challenge lies in working productively with other campus leaders to cultivate crosscampus relationships and tie the School’s work into the goals of the University as a
whole.
The Dean will have a seat at the table on all major issues facing the Mānoa campus and
must be able to exercise a strong and persuasive voice among her/his peers. While
working to achieve the goals established by the University’s administrators, the Dean
should advocate for the School of Social Work’s ongoing needs and interests and ensure
that the School is seen as a substantive player within the Manoa campus community.
As one of its stated goals, the University is interested in nurturing possible synergies
within the campus organization, potentially establishing joint appointments, degree and
teaching programs, and research centers that bind disciplines and collectively strengthen
the University’s distinguished parts. The Dean should be proactive in reaching out to
Deans and faculty members at other schools to realize potential UH-wide programs.
Qualifications
For information about the qualifications and experience desired for the next Dean, please
refer to the official position description, which is attached at the end of this document.
Contact Information
Nominations and applications are being accepted for the position. Review of candidates
will continue until the position is filled. Candidates must submit a cover letter
summarizing the candidate’s interests and qualifications for the position, a current
resume, and the names of five (5) professional references including postal and e-mail
addresses and telephone numbers.
Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to Isaacson, Miller:
Isaacson, Miller
Re: Search 2775
533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: 650.685.2475 / Fax: 650.685.2476
E-mail: 2775.uh@imsearch.com
or the University of Hawai’i:
Office of the Chancellor
Re: Dean, School of Social Work
2500 Campus Road, Hawai‘i Hall
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: 808.956.6133 / Fax: 808.956.4948
E-mail: uhmexec@hawaii.edu
E-Mail correspondence is strongly encouraged.
The University of Hawai‘i is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and
encourages applications from and nominations of women and minority candidates.