M.R.C. Greenwood, a former provost of the University of California system whose administrative career ended amid an ethics investigation, will probably become the University of Hawai'i's next president.

Greenwood was one of two finalists until yesterday when the other, Robert Jones, withdrew his name. Jones, a senior vice president at the University of Minnesota, said he concluded the UH job was "not a good time or fit" for him.

The UH Board of Regents plans to meet tomorrow to decide what to do, but it's unlikely they will choose to start the search over, said chairman Al Landon.

"We have one highly qualified candidate remaining," Landon said.

Donna Tanoue, chairwoman of the UH Advisory Presidential Selection Committee, said the committee continues to recommend that Greenwood be given full consideration.

"She has a truly exceptional record as an academic leader," Tanoue said.

She said Greenwood is a member of the Institute of Medicine, whose members are elected for their professional achievement. Greenwood has served for six years on the National Science Board — the governing body of the U.S. National Science Foundation — whose members are appointed by the president on the basis of their pre-eminence in research education and science.

FAVORITISM ALLEGED

Greenwood resigned from her post as UC system provost after only two years amid allegations of favoritism and an investigation of her involvement in the promotion of a friend and business partner, UC-Santa Cruz Vice Provost Lynda Goff.

In a 23-page report to the UH Board of Regents on Friday, the selection committee outlined the due diligence that was conducted that led up to the selection of Greenwood as a final candidate.

The report outlines interviews conducted with two former chairmen and members of the UC Board of Regents, two former presidents of the UC system, the former UC general counsel, and other officials who had knowledge of Greenwood's resignation as provost.

"Based on our due diligence and our interviews of knowledgeable people in California and other states, and of Dr. Greenwood herself, we are confident in our selection of Dr. Greenwood as a finalist candidate," the report reads.

One such interview was conducted with Robert Dynes, the president of the UC system and Greenwood's supervisor at the time of her resignation.

"Dynes made it clear that he did not fire Dr. Greenwood, nor did he ask for her resignation or pressure her to resign. ... At the time and still today, Dr. Dynes thought Dr. Greenwood made a mistake with respect to the Goff matter, but did not think the mistake was a 'big deal,' " the report reads.

Greenwood, an expert on obesity and diabetes, is currently director of the Foods for Health Initiative at the University of California-Davis. She was chancellor at UC-Santa Cruz from 1996 to 2004 then appointed provost, the second-highest position in the university's administration.

Her administrative career unraveled in 2005 when UC launched an investigation of her hiring practices and involvement in the promotion of Goff. The investigation was prompted by reports that Greenwood and Goff were business partners who owned rental property together.

The investigation led to Greenwood's resignation. UC's general counsel later found Greenwood violated the university's conflict-of-interest policy by participating in the hiring and promotion of her business partner, regardless of her qualifications for the jobs. The investigation also said she should have recused herself from the hiring of her friend.

NO LOCAL FINALISTS

For the past several weeks, the UH presidential selection committee faced criticism by the UH faculty union and lawmakers about the search process and Greenwood's candidacy.

Last month, six state senators criticized the UH Board of Regents for the lack of final candidates with local ties. In a letter to the regents, the senators urged the regents to delay a decision until a local candidate is included.

The search committee's final report said the top 14 candidates included three who were Hawai'i residents and a fourth with "strong family ties to Hawai'i."

Before the top 14 were selected, executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates contacted more than 500 candidates for the top UH job. The committee also considered 90 nominees and 78 applicants.

A PUBLIC PROCESS

Sen. Norman Sakamoto, who was not among the senators who signed the letter, said he believes the open nature of the UH presidential search may have limited good candidates from seeking the job.

"The regents should re-analyze the transparency of the whole process," Sakamoto said.

Jones, the candidate from the University of Minnesota, was the second finalist in less than a month to remove his name from consideration. On May 6, a third finalist whose name was never released withdrew, in part because of concerns about participating in a public search process.

Landon, chairman of the regents, said he began discussions about possible terms of employment with both Jones and Greenwood over the weekend. By Monday, Jones had communicated with Landon that he may no longer seek the job. In an e-mail yesterday morning, Jones confirmed that he indeed would be withdrawing his name from consideration.

"He said it doesn't seem like this is the right time and fit for him," Landon said.