Former schools director hired

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Hamilton McCubbin, the former chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools who resigned abruptly in May 2003 has been hired to do demographic research at the University of Hawai'i's Center on the Family.

McCubbin started July 1 and his initial appointment is for a year with an option for a second year, said Andrew Hashimoto, dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, under which the center operates.

McCubbin could not be reached for comment. Hashimoto said he understands center director Sylvia Yuen conducted a national search to fill the slot. Hashimoto gave $200,000 in seed money for the program over two years. That will pay for salary, equipment and facilities.

"She needed some help because they're doing quite a bit of demographic work," Hashimoto said, "so she asked for assistance. We gave her startup funding for two years. After that they're going to have to raise their own money."

Yuen could not be reached for comment. McCubbin's contract position did not need approval of the Board of Regents. It's financed with state money, but not general funds, Hashimoto said.

Last year McCubbin was on the short list of finalists for vice chancellor for academic affairs at the UH-Manoa campus. The position was eventually filled by Neal J. Smatresk, former dean of the College of Science at the University of Texas-Arlington.

McCubbin is a widely respected academic and national authority in child and family studies, and his work has appeared in more than 100 articles in professional journals and books. He received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate's degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and did postdoctoral work at Stanford University where he was a Mellon Fellow. He also did postdoctoral work at Yale University and the University of Minnesota.

Before serving as CEO of Kamehameha Schools, he spent 14 years at the University of Wisconsin as dean and professor in the School of Human Ecology. Before that he was department head of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.