University of Hawaii Center director selected

The University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii has a new director.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents Thursday night hired Kenneth “Marty” Fletcher to helm the community college, which will become the University of Hawaii at Palamanui. Fletcher is currently the senior lecturer for online education and program director for Open Universities Australia at Griffith Business School, Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

According to biographical information provided by Hawaii Community College, his responsibilities there include “developing and delivering global online degrees, with approximately 10,000 course enrollments per year, while also leading a small campus-based bachelor’s degree program of approximately 80 students.”

Fletcher has family roots on Oahu, college officials said, but has spent most of his professional career in Australia. He earned a doctoral degree in education, specializing in learning management and educational technology from Walden University in Minneapolis.

After an athletic career in Australia, he worked as a manager, teacher, academic staff developer and scholar, school officials said.

“His research publications report on his practical experiences working with educators to apply combined management and technology theories with educational and human behavioral sciences,” his biography said.

Hawaii Community College Chancellor Noreen Yamane was unavailable for comment Friday.

The college first advertised the director opening in April, and narrowed the initial search to three candidates. One candidate was offered the position, but was unable to accept because of what Yamane characterized as salary issues.

The college continued the search last fall, in November bringing Fletcher and another finalist to Hawaii Island to meet with campus officials and staff, as well as community members.