The nominations for the three Honolulu seats include attorney Jeffrey Portnoy, who assumed the regent position on an interim basis last year; former UH administrator Lee Putnam; and former Navy Commander and UH student Stanford Yuen. 

He’s also nominating UH master’s degree candidate Michelle Tagorda for the board’s sole student seat.

The nominations are subject to confirmations from the state Senate and are effective this July. Portnoy’s interim position expires on June 30. 

Abercrombie selected his nominations from a list of candidates provided by the university’s Candidate Advisory Council.

“They are all very knowledgeable of the UH System and understand that its success is important for the entire state,” he said in a statement.

Here are the nominees’ bios, taken from a press release:

Jeffrey Portnoy:
A member of State Bar of Hawaii since 1972, Portnoy is currently a partner at Cades Schutte LLP and head of its litigation department. A speaker, teacher and author, his practice specialties include media, insurance, employment, product liability law, personal injury defense, attorney and physician malpractice, and securities litigation and arbitration.

Portnoy’s prior involvement with UH includes serving as community representative on the UH Athletic Advisory Board for two three-year terms (1996 to 2002) and as a UH adjunct professor in media law from 1985 to 1992.

Previously, Portnoy was president of the Hawaii State Bar Association, a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board, chairman of the U.S. District Court Advisory Committee, state chairman of the Defense Research Institute and president of the Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association.

Portnoy earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in journalism from Syracuse University, and a Juris Doctorate from Duke University School of Law.

Dr. Lee Putnam:
After a long career at UH, serving in a variety of administrative and leadership positions, Dr. Putnam retired in 2010 as a specialist emeritus in student affairs. She previously served as associate university librarian, assistant vice president for academic affairs and a Student Equality, Excellence and Diversity specialist.

Dr. Putnam currently serves on the Hawaii Veterans Memorial Fund and previously chaired a blue-ribbon panel for the Board of Education.

Dr. Putnam received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in library science from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in library and information science from the University of Maryland.

Michelle Tagorda:
Currently serving as undergraduate advisor for the UH Office of Public Health Studies, Targorda is pursuing a master’s degree in public health. She also assists the Manoa Peer Advisors.

Tagorda is also part of the Health Behavior Change Research Workgroup, working on the Waipahu Health Action Research Training project. She works with high school seniors to facilitate classroom activities on physical activity and healthy nutrition as preventative measures for obesity.

Tagorda has bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from UH Manoa. As an undergraduate, she was a New Student Orientation Leader, a mentor for Access to College Excellence and a member of the Campus Center Board, Pre-Medical Association, Psi Chi Honor Society, Mortar Board Honor Society and the Office of Multicultural Student Services: BIN-I Program.

Stanford Yuen:
A former Commander Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH) special assistant, Yuen is currently president of SLC Consulting, specializing in strategic engagement in engineering management and intergovernmental affairs. Over the past 40+ years, he has worked in engineering, management and business, and held intergovernmental roles in the private and military sector.

As special assistant for intergovernmental affairs at CNRH, Yuen’s worked with the congressional delegation, state and municipal government leaders, other military services, special interest groups and the business community on major projects affecting the Navy and the state of Hawaii, including the development of Ford Island, Kahoolawe cleanup, Battleship Missouri Memorial and Naval Air Station Barbers Point closure and conveyance.

Yuen earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UH, a master of business administration degree from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Southern California.

— Alia Wong