Evan Dobelle | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Evan Dobelle | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Tuesday, January 1, 2002

12 to watch in 2002
Evan Dobelle

Advertiser Staff

Is this guy for real? Evan Dobelle came in like a lion last year, promising the moon — and more — for the troubled University of Hawai'i system. Now the president of the 10-campus system will use his charismatic leadership style to try to shove UH and the state's economy into the 21st century. This year should test whether Dobelle's vision for creating a world-class university system is a solid one, or if his agenda and goals are so wide-ranging and costly that they never get off the ground.

His biggest hurdle in 2002 will be hanging onto the UH budget in the face of a statewide economic slump. Legislators could balk at Dobelle's to-do list, but he's likely to counter with his own high-powered fund-raising campaign. Don't be fooled by the aloha shirts. A former Carter administration appointee, Dobelle is a member of the East Coast establishment with political connections in all the right places. He has a reputation as a rainmaker, and could bring out-of-state money, big corporate donations and foundation grants to the university if he doesn't step on too many toes in his new home. Watch for Dobelle to continue to roll with his lead, follow, or get-out-of-my-way style.

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