M.R.C. Greenwood, the incoming president of the University of Hawai'i, said her top priority will be navigating the 10-campus system through an estimated $148 million budget shortfall over the next two years.

"I know that this is going to be a painful time for the university and we will work together to try to determine what the deepest priorities of the university are and how we will handle it," Mary Rita Cooke Greenwood said in a teleconference with media yesterday following a 12-0 vote by the UH Board of Regents to appoint her as the university's next president.

"We will also work as hard as we can to raise funds from other sources. ... One thing I can promise you is a very transparent process," said the 66-year-old scientist and long-time administrator in the University of California system.

At a salary of $475,008, Greenwood is expected to step into her role as the university's 14th president — and first woman — no later than Aug. 24, said board Chairman Al Landon. Greenwood's contract would be for three years with two one-year renewal options, he said.

But Greenwood's salary is subject to "any adjustments that need to be made to balance the state's budget," Landon said.

Landon said he agrees that the university's budget crisis is the top concern and said Greenwood is the leader to help UH through tough times.

"We're going to be blessed with record enrollment in times of declining financial resources," he said.

"Our objective here is to continue the great progress that the university has been making for the last few years. ... We think that Dr. Greenwood is ideally prepared to do that."

MCCLAIN SUPPORTIVE

Over the past several weeks, Greenwood faced some criticism during a public vetting process created to contrast the largely secretive selection of ousted UH President Evan Dobelle in 2001.

Critics focused on her resignation from her post as UC-system provost in 2005 after only two years amid allegations of favoritism and an investigation of her hiring practices.

Greenwood said yesterday that she hopes to rise above the criticism.

"I consider myself a person of deep personal integrity and I was shocked myself when I found I had made an error that was interpreted as a conflict of interest. I have apologized for it. I've paid for it," she said.

Following yesterday's unanimous vote, she received the immediate praise of current UH President David McClain, who has remained silent throughout the public search process.

"Dr. Greenwood is a brilliant, internationally recognized scholar and a proven and transformational academic leader," McClain said.

He also sent Greenwood a congratulatory text message.

Meanwhile, Landon faced several questions from the media about why Greenwood is being hired at a higher salary than McClain's current $414,096. McClain's original salary when he was hired as permanent president in 2006 was set at $360,000.

In contrast, former president Dobelle was hired at $442,000 a year — a salary that sparked a public furor at the time.

Landon explained that executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, which was paid $100,000 to contact potential candidates, also conducted a salary study of institutions similar to UH. The study suggested a range of $450,000 to $550,000, Landon said.

"We wanted to pay a salary that would attract top candidates but we're very mindful of the public's money involved here and we wanted to use it judiciously," he said.

He also noted that Greenwood has made it clear that she intends to cut her own salary consistent with other UH administrative officers.

Greenwood also said she has no intentions of bringing in her own executive team.

Similarly, Landon said the regents have expressed their desire to keep the current McClain team intact.

WORK ETHIC PRAISED

Chancellor at UC-Santa Cruz from 1996 to 2004, Greenwood was highly regarded during her time at that campus, increasing the number of academic programs by 52 percent, with a 41 percent increase in graduate programs; hiring 250 new faculty members; and more than doubling extramural research support.

John Moores, former chairman and member of the UC Board of Regents, said he expects Greenwood will "knock people's socks off."

"UC Santa Cruz was marked by so-called political activism, yet Marci enjoyed very good relations with lots of different groups. ... I don't know how anyone can do it. She was there a long time. One of her successors found it very difficult to survive in that environment," Moores said.

As an administrator, Moores said Greenwood has a "ferocious work ethic" and is willing to listen to everyone, regardless of their point of view.

"Just showing up and working hard will win a lot of people over," Moores said.

Over the past several weeks, Greenwood has emerged from a short list of 14 candidates interviewed by a presidential selection committee as the top candidate for the job.

She was among three finalists, one of whom dropped out early prior to his or her name being revealed. Then on June 2, a second finalist, Robert J. Jones, senior academic and chief operating officer for the University of Minnesota, removed his name from consideration.

'MUCH TO LEARN'

Prior to yesterday's vote several UH faculty members urged regents to keep searching.

"We need to have someone who is at the helm who understands every part of the university, every part of the Legislature and every part of our local economy," said Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, a professor at the Center for Hawaiian Studies.

Other Native Hawaiian faculty expressed concern about Greenwood's lack of knowledge of indigenous issues.

"We do not expect that she would come into the process with knowledge of Native Hawaiians, our history and cultural practices, however, the fact that she did not take the time to learn anything prior to her interviews is indicative of a perspective and mindset that we are all too familiar with," wrote Leilani Basham, assistant professor of Hawaiian Studies and Language at UH-West O'ahu.

Greenwood did acknowledge that she will experience a steep learning curve when it comes to the university's mission to serve Native Hawaiians.

"I know that I have much to learn about Hawai'i and its rich cultural and linguistic heritage. I believe that to succeed in the future one must appreciate the lessons and values of the past," she said.