Brother Bernie Ploeger, executive vice president and provost at Chaminade University of Honolulu, has been named acting president following president Sue Wesselkamper's cancer surgery this month.

Wesselkamper, who took over as Chaminade's president in 1995, has been recovering from surgery at Kaiser Permanente since Dec. 14. She is scheduled to be released from the hospital today and will return home for recuperation, Ploeger said yesterday.

In a memo Tuesday, Gary Liebl, chairman of the university's board of regents, said Ploeger is being asked to lead the university at least through January as Wesselkamper continues to recover.

"While all signs are encouraging, it is also clear that even under the best of circumstances President Sue will not be able to resume the day-to-day activities of her office in the immediate future," wrote Liebl.

Ploeger, as executive vice president and provost of the university, normally takes on the duties of the president in Wesselkamper's absence. He said the regents' decision to name him acting president was merely a formalization of that understanding.

"This was very major surgery. It is not realistic to think she will be back in office Jan. 3 (when the spring semester begins)," said Ploeger.

Liebl said that in naming Ploeger as acting president, the regents' motivation was primarily to "confirm with President Sue that at this time her first priority needs to be her recovery." He said Wesselkamper had approved of the board's action.

Liebl said that Ploeger and the board of regents will continue to consult with Wesselkamper on "all matters of significance."

Ploeger's appointment will be subject to weekly reviews of the president's health, said Liebl.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.