BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARIES

FINAL CANDIDATES FOR CHANCELLOR, LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Position Number 89110

(in alphabetical order by last name)

MANUEL J. CABRAL

Academic History:

• Master of Arts (Mathematics), Indiana University, IN, 1975
• Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics; French), Lewis and Clark College, OR, 1972

Employment History:

• Interim Chancellor, University of Hawaii-Leeward Community College, March 2007 - Present

• Division Chair (Mathematics & Sciences), University of Hawaii-Leeward Community College, August 1988 - March 2007

Special Qualifications:

• University of Hawaii Board of Regents' Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006
• Outstanding Leadership Award (National), National Community College Division Chair Academy, 1996

Training History:

• Vitousek Real Estate (Real Estate Agent), 1979

From Letter of Application:

Mr. Cabral has served twenty-eight (28) years as a full-time Leeward Community College faculty member since January 1980, and fifteen (15) years as a Professor, CC, since 1993.  He has spent nineteen (19) years as the Division Chair of the Mathematics and Sciences Division of the College during which time he was responsible for the successful management of administrative, budgetary, programming, and personnel issues of the approximately fifty (50) faculty/lecturers and five support staff.

As of March 2007, Mr. Cabral has served as the Interim Chancellor of the College.  As noted in his letter of application, one of his particular strengths is the ability to relate well to the diverse segments of the community, and to represent the College positively and successfully in the political, academic, public, and social sectors.  The longevity that he has had in the elected/appointed position of Division Chair, his election as chair of the Campus Council for five (5) years, his election as Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate for two (2) years, and his selection as Interim Chancellor of the College, demonstrate the confidence and trust in his leadership skills as extended to him by the campus constituency and the University System. 

HELEN A. COX

      Academic History:

• Doctor of Philosophy (English-American Studies), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1987
• Master of Arts (English-American Literature), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1978
• Bachelor of Arts (English Literature), Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1974

      Employment History:

• Associate Vice President of Instruction, Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT, 2003 - Present
  • Interim Vice President of Instruction (Chief Academic Officer), Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT, July 2007 -August 2007
• Senior Specialist Fulbright Award, Council for International Exchange of Scholars, Orenburg, Russia, 2003

Special Qualifications:

• Council for International Exchange Scholars Senior Specialist Award, 2003
• National Endowment for the Humanities (seven grant awards for Human Pursuits, 1987-2002
• Salt Lake Community College, Outstanding Staff Award, 2000
• Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters Distinguished Service Award, 2002
• Emma Lou Thayne Community Center Humanitarian Award, 1998

      Training History:  Not applicable.

From Letter of Application:

      Dr. Cox has served in higher education, primarily at the Salt Lake Community College, for over twenty-five (25) years, first as a faculty member and then as an administrator, moving from Division Chair, to Executive Assistant to the President, and to her current position of Associate Vice President .  During her present tenure, she had the opportunity to serve briefly as Interim Vice President of Instruction.

      Dr.  Cox summarizes her career as one that demonstrates creative vision and engaged follow-through.  In each position held, she has demonstrated integrity, respect for others, and the ability to be an effective change agent all of which reflect her leadership philosophy.  While her sound academic background, coupled with her experience at a community college make her a strong candidate for the position, Dr. Cox believes that it is her dedication and commitment to the philosophy and mission of a comprehensive community college and to the creation of bridges between disciplines, peoples, and cultures that makes her an even stronger candidate.

DOUGLAS DYKSTRA

      Academic History:

• Master of Education (Secondary Education - Community College Curriculum & Instruction), University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, 1975
• Master of Arts (History - United States Diplomatic History), Kent State University, OH, 1972
• Bachelor of Arts (History), Thiel College, PA, 1970

      Employment History:

• Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Hawaii-Hawaii Community Colleges, HI, October 2004 - Present
• Acting Dean of Instruction/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Hawaii-Leeward Community College, September 2000 - June 2004

      Special Qualifications:

• Grant Writer/Principle Investigator, Hawaii Community Foundation: Hawaii Island Meth Initiative, 2007 - 2008
• Grant Writer/Principle Investigator, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program, 2001 - 2003
• Campus Coordinator/Primary Writer, U.S. Department of Education, Title III, Native Hawaiian Service Institution Program, 1999 - 2004
• Chief Writer, Campus Compact: Making a Civic Investment Proposal, 2000-2002
• Council for International Exchange of Scholars: Fullbright Scholar-in-Residence Proposal, 1998 - 1999

      Training History:  Not applicable.

From Letter of Application:

      Mr. Dykstra is currently in his fourth year as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Hawaii Community College and has served for the preceding four years in a similar capacity at Leeward Community College.  He sees his leadership function as helping students, faculty, staff, and community members to fulfill their reasonable expectations of the College as a service institution.  This is an extension of the "To help people learn" motto generalized to serve all constituents of the College.  Listening carefully and operating on the assumption that we have hired good people who exercise sound judgment are the keys to my approach.

Mr. Dykstra feels ready to lead after his experiences at Hawaii Community College.  He has shifted from grant writing to accreditation report writing as the chief writer of two major Progress Reports in his first year of service at the College.  Simultaneously, the many hundred s of hours devoted to the Accreditation Self Study with its thematic emphasis, the development de novo of a program review, budgeting and planning process, as well as the challenges of bolstering the belief that the best days are ahead, all help to build his faith that he can inspire change, growth, and institutional self-confidence.