The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will host a special public lecture by renowned minister and scholar Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.: “Moral Courage and Nonviolent Transformation.”

, sponsored by Sokka Gakai International–USA and the Tony Group Foundation, is free and open to the community. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, in the Architecture Auditorium on the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa campus. .

Interfaith dialogue, nonviolent conflict resolution

Carter, who served as the dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and a professor of religion at Morehouse College, will retire on June 30. His work has spanned decades, focusing on the intersection of religion, ethics and nonviolence.

At Morehouse, Carter founded the Gandhi King Ikeda Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation, which facilitates interfaith dialogue; nonviolent conflict resolution based on the philosophies of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Buddhist peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda; and the International Hall of Honor, a gallery featuring more than 300 portraits of global leaders dedicated to civil and human rights. He is also an acclaimed author, with works including A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher and Global Ethical Options: In the Tradition of Gandhi, King, and Ikeda.

“It is an honor for us to welcome Dr. Carter to the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa campus at the conclusion of his storied 40-plus year career in teaching, mentoring and global engagement,” said incoming ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa Chancellor and interim Provost Vassilis. L. Syrmos. “His lifelong commitment to foster global peace education and human rights is truly remarkable.”

Conversation: nonviolent transformation, moral courage of leadership

Following Carter’s presentation, the event will transition to a panel discussion moderated by Maya Soetoro of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace. The panelists joining them are Brien Hallett of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, Ann Hartman of East-West Center and Adin Strauss of Soka Gakkai International–USA. The conversation will touch upon the practical applications of nonviolent transformation in contemporary society and the role of moral courage in leadership.

After the discussion, Carter will be able to sign copies of A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher, which will be available for purchase at the event. Furthermore, those in attendance will have the chance to secure one of five complimentary copies through a special drawing provided by the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Bookstore.

The lecture is presented by the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa Office of the Chancellor in coordination with the Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, with support from the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, East-West Center, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa College of Education, United Nations Association–Honolulu Chapter and Peacebuilding LLC.

The (BOR) unanimously approved the appointment of Vassilis Syrmos as the next chancellor of , the flagship campus of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system, during a special meeting on June 4. Syrmos was recommended for the position by ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ President Wendy Hensel following a nationwide search. His official start date will be July 1.

Syrmos joined ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa 35 years ago as a faculty member in the College of Engineering. As chancellor, he will serve as ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa’s chief executive officer, reporting to the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ president and serving on the president’s senior leadership team. He will oversee an annual budget of more than $800 million and a workforce of more than 5,000 employees, leading academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.

“I am honored by the confidence placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa at this important moment,” said Syrmos after the regents’ vote. “While I know the university well, I also know there is always more to learn. My first priority will be to visit every school, college and major unit across ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa to listen and learn directly from our students, faculty and staff. The strength of this university has always been its people, and I believe our best path forward begins by listening first.”

Syrmos has served as interim provost of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa since July 2025, 12 years as ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa.

“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ System and at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa,” Hensel said when announcing her recommendation. “He brings a deep understanding of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa’s budget, operations and role within the broader ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”

Leadership experience

As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Cancer Center’s research and strengthened its ability to maintain National Cancer Institute designation through legislation that doubled Hawaiʻi’s cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa’s financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.

As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.

Chancellor position re-established

The BOR voted to re-establish the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025 following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ president and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor. The ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa Faculty Senate unanimously endorsed launching the search during the spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated leadership as ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa and the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ System work to separate long-shared hybrid positions and offices.

Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The nationwide search attracted 32 applicants and generated nine additional nominations and inquiries.

Related ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ News stories:

• Longtime ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ leader Vassilis Syrmos recommended as ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor, May, 28, 2026
• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ launches search to re-establish ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026

Vassilis Syrmos has been recommended by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel to serve as the next chancellor of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa, the flagship campus of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system. His appointment will go before the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Board of Regents (BOR) for final approval on Thursday, June 4. If approved, he will begin serving on July 1, 2026. (Editor’s note: Syrmos’ appointment was approved by the BOR on June 4.)

A faculty member in the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa College of Engineering for 35 years, Syrmos brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience. He has served as interim provost of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa since July 2025. Before that, he served for 12 years as ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa.

“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ System and at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa,” said Hensel. “He brings a deep understanding of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s budget, operations and role within the broader ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”

As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Cancer Center’s research and strengthen its National Cancer Institute designation through the doubling of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.

As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.

“I am deeply honored to be recommended as the next chancellor of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa”, said Syrmos. “Having served the university for more than three decades, I consider Hawaiʻi and this campus my home. I look forward to working with President Hensel in strengthening student success, advancing research and innovation and working closely with our faculty, students, staff and community partners as we continue to move ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa forward as ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s flagship university.”

Nationwide search

Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that also included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The search attracted 32 applicants and nine nominations or inquiries.

The BOR voted to re-establish the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025, following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ president and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor. The faculty senate unanimously endorsed an immediate launch to the search in spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated Manoa leadership in discussions regarding the separation of hybrid positions and offices shared between Manoa and the system.

The search included a representative advisory committee, open nominations and applications, campus visits by finalists, public forums and stakeholder meetings. All three finalists participated in two-day campus visits that included more than 20 meetings with stakeholder groups and a public presentation and Q&A session, each of which was viewed by more than 500 people. Community feedback generated more than 650 comments across all finalists, in addition to input from shared governance groups.

Chancellor responsibilities

As chancellor, Syrmos will serve as the chief executive officer of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa, reporting to the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ president and serving on the president’s senior leadership team. He will oversee a budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees, providing leadership across academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.

Syrmos is expected to advance ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s mission as ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s flagship research university while strengthening connections across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia and upholding the university’s responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community, language and culture.

Related ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ News stories:

• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
• ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ launches search to re-establish ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026