Archive for category: UHPA Organizational

Dwight Takeno Named Associate Executive Director of
University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA)

Dwight Takeno, who has nearly 30 years of human resources, public administration and union leadership experience, has been named an Associate Executive Director with the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), the union representing 3,700 faculty across 10 University of Hawaii campuses statewide. His appointment became effective Feb. 10, 2020.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Dwight’s caliber as part of our team,” said Christian Fern, UHPA Executive Director. “His extensive experience in the administration of large, complex programs and in collective bargaining representing both unions and employers will be valuable as UHPA continues to work collaboratively with others in our community.”

Prior to joining UHPA, Takeno had been Administrator of the Employee Claims Division of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Human Resources Development from August 2018 to February 2020. He had been responsible for administering multiple programs, including the statewide self-insured workers’ compensation program for the executive branch, public charter schools, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the legislature, the state’s safety program, and the State’s Return to Work Priority Program.

Takeno also has nearly 10 years of leadership experience within the University of Hawaii’s System. He initially joined the UH as a Senior Human Resources Specialist in 2007 for a year and, after serving as Interim Executive Director and Chief Negotiator for the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), he rejoined the UH in January 2010 as the Assistant to the Senior Executive for the Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy to provide consultation to senior leaders on issues relating to academic human resources management and strategic initiatives.

A year later, he was promoted to Director of Collective Bargaining & Employee Relations to provide consultation to UH chancellors, senior executives and personnel administrators on collective bargaining agreements as well as personnel policies and procedures of the UH Board of Regents and UH. Takeno served in that role for five years before being named Director of Administrative Services in the UH Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation where he served for two years. In that role, he was responsible for directing, planning, and administering the strategic and programmatic administration for the Research and Innovation Office.

Takeno also has private sector experience, having served as Vice President – Operations and General Manager for Progressive Communications, LLC, from March 2003 to March 2007.

In addition to HSTA, Takeno’s union leadership experience includes serving as Interim State Director and Director of Research & Legislation with the United Public Workers, Local 646, AFL-CIO for 12 years, from February 1991 to January 2003.

Takeno, a Kaneohe resident, holds both a bachelor’s degree in education and a professional diploma in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has served on the boards of a number of nonprofit organizations and currently serves as Chair of the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Education.

 

Aloha Kākou!

It is an honor and privilege to be serving as Executive Director of the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly (UHPA). I appreciate the Board of Directors’ vote of confidence by selecting me to succeed Kris Hanselman to build upon the solid foundation she, and her predecessor J.N. Musto, have established. I owe a debt of gratitude to Kris for providing me the opportunity to work with her over the past five years. My appreciation for the role and work of UHPA and my commitment to serving the faculty have grown exponentially over the years. We are fortunate that Kris will continue to be available to provide support to me and UHPA through the end of January 2020 to help ensure a smooth transition.

Looking to the future

Ashley Maynard, President of UHPA’s Board of Directors, told me it was important to have someone who can successfully lead UHPA into the future. I am up to that challenge. The University of Hawai‘i – Mānoa is my alma mater, and I am a proud graduate. Across our state, the University of Hawai‘i System and UHPA have so much to offer the community, and we have only begun to scratch the surface.

Our University of Hawai‘i campuses statewide are places of transformation

I can speak from my own experience. When I was a student, it was my political science professor, Phyllis Turnbull, who set me on an exciting path. When there was an internship opportunity at the legislature, she said, “Why don’t you apply and see if you like it?” She spoke just the right words at the right time. She must have seen something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Her words gave me a newfound confidence. It turned out to be a rewarding, memorable experience. I was hooked on the political process and public policy as a result of that internship.

Faculty cultivates our future workforce

I’ve often wondered how many other students have been touched and transformed by conversations like these with their professors throughout our University system. Business, government and community leaders are where they are today because of these types of interactions and connections with their professors. It is a powerful realization. We need to take care of our faculty, so that they can continue to nurture and cultivate homegrown talent who will become the workforce of the future. UHPA supports faculty so they can in turn continue to inspire the next generation to take their rightful place and help them realize their full potential.

The University of Hawai‘i and its faculty are the cornerstones for economic growth and vitality in our state.

They are intricately connected to our quality of life. As a state, when we do not invest in these assets, we pay the consequences. When we try to cut corners, and hire part-time faculty instead of full-time faculty who are willing to go above and beyond to help their students succeed, we see enrollment drop and students choosing mainland institutions over the vast opportunities we have here at our home institutions.

Our University of Hawai‘i campuses are not viewed as a first choice for colleges among many Hawai‘i residents because many have been conditioned to think these campuses are inferior, which is often reflected in our state’s decisions and actions. We have become our own worst enemy and have created self-fulfilling prophecies. Even I have faced this challenge. My decision to return home from a mainland college to finish at the University of Hawai‘i to save my family money on tuition was met with mixed reactions from my own family. Yet, it was a decision I will never regret.

We will do more as allies

As a state, we have bigger challenges ahead of us and need to start defining and shaping the future we want for Hawai‘i. Instead of expending energy attacking each other and believing the worst about each other, it’s time to work together to find solutions. Instead of being adversaries, we need to see each other as allies. We can accomplish so much more when we collaborate together.

Workforce development for our future here in Hawai‘i is right at our fingertips, through the University of Hawai‘i campuses, by our faculty.

Faculty are already addressing many of the issues raised by legislative and community leaders. Faculty are helping to address the teacher shortage through the College of Education at Mānoa, and all other campuses statewide. Faculty are helping achieve our food sustainability initiatives through our tropical agricultural and culinary programs. Faculty on our campuses are training our future physicians, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, dental hygienists and technicians, and other healthcare professions. Community college faculty are helping our brothers and sisters in the building trades by training and developing a sustainable workforce for the future. All faculty are helping address the 55 by 25 statewide initiative to have 55% of Hawai‘i adults earn a college degree by 2025.

We all have the potential for positive future impact

These are just a few examples. Thanks to our faculty, all areas at the University of Hawai‘i campuses have the potential to prepare the next generation to fill important needs in communities across our state and to address the state’s real concerns. This requires a change in mindset, and it requires support. Faculty cannot fulfill their responsibilities without adequate resources. Just trying to make do and get by with what they have and compromising their standards should no longer be acceptable if we want to raise our community to a new level.

It’s time to forge new connections and get serious about job creation

But we cannot stop there. We can make sure faculty are treated respectfully and students graduate with all of the right skill sets, but to what end if there are no jobs available for them to stay in Hawai‘i? UHPA can play a pivotal role in bringing the community together to start serious conversations about job creation. It will mean forging new connections and sitting down together, face-to-face, with those who we typically have not been in the room with before. Imagine what Hawaii would be like if UHPA leaders and faculty got together with leaders from government, business and the community. We would roll up our sleeves and work elbow-to-elbow to collectively chart our course for Hawai‘i’s future. No more silos, no more fiefdoms, but everyone looking at the greater good of Hawai‘i.

Collective Bargaining and our contract are foundational priorities

You may have noticed that not once have I mentioned collective bargaining rights and contract maintenance and enforcement. This was intentional. Of course, those concerns will always be priorities and UHPA will always stand by faculty. However, as we begin to move forward together with others, my hope is that there will be a healthier respect for faculty and that the thoughts and input from UHPA and our faculty members will always be considered in making major decisions. I believe we will get to that place and would like to invite you to join me in being a catalyst for positive change.

Mahalo for allowing me to serve as your Executive Director. I look forward to working closely with our members and bringing the community closer together.

Me ke aloha,

Christian Fern