STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3225

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 377

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 377, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

G.M. No. 377

MATTHEW R. WILLIAMS, for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds that Matthew R. Williams has the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the University of Hawaii System Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health, and six individuals.  Testimony in opposition to the nomination was submitted by the Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.  Comments were submitted by the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Williams is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration at the University of Hawaii and is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider at The Queen's Medical Center.  He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University.

     Mr. Williams is presently a Charge Nurse at Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health.  His previous professional experience includes being an Emergency Medical Technician with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Medical Services, and an Emergency Department Technician and Intensive Care Technician with the Virginia Beach General Hospital Emergency Department.

     Mr. Williams is a member of the Department of Health's Hawaii Medical Reserve Corps and the Hawaii Civil Defense Community Emergency Response Team and a Disaster Volunteer with the American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter.  In addition to using his medical skills and experience to serve the local community, he also dedicates his time and effort to serving the University of Hawaii community.  For the past two years, he has represented the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene on the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and has represented the GSO on the Executive Council of the University of Hawaii Student Caucus, serving as its Treasurer, previously, and Vice Chairperson, presently.  Mr. Williams is also the GSO Judicial Affairs Representative for the Academic Grievance Committee of the GSO and has previously served as a volunteer on the University of Hawaii Buildings and Grounds Award Committee and Willard Wilson Award Committee.  His service and experience with these various organizations provide him with valuable insights into the needs of students at the University of Hawaii and priority areas of improvement for the University.

     Mr. Williams has visited all ten University of Hawaii System campuses and has interacted with students, staff, and faculty from the various campuses to obtain their input on their concerns and ideas relating to the University.  He believes that improving partnerships with K-12 education providers will better prepare students for study within the University of Hawaii System.  He also prioritizes the expansion of workforce development initiatives to individuals who could potentially fill critical shortage areas in the State and on meeting capital improvement needs of the University.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Williams' business knowledge will be helpful as he explores private partnerships to help the University generate revenue and his service on various committees and organizations of the University have provided him with a well-informed sense of the University's operations, plans and goals, and challenges.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Williams possesses strong initiative and a sincere desire to positively impact the community by enhancing educational opportunities in the State, and that he would be an outstanding advocate for students on the Board of Regents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair