A provost and vice president at Western Michigan University and an executive vice chancellor and provost at the City University of New York are the two finalists to lead the University of Hawaii.

Whoever is selected by the UH Board of Regents next month will succeed David Lassner, who is stepping down after more than 10 years in the position.

Julian Vasquez Heilig has served as university provost and vice president at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo since 2023. He is a tenured professor in educational leadership, research and technology.

Heilig also has a Ph.D. in educational administration and policy analysis from Stanford University in California.

Wendy Hensel has served as executive vice chancellor and university provost at CUNY since 2022. She is a graduate of Michigan State University in East Lansing, were she earned a B.A. in American public affairs.

Hensel is also a graduate of Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachussets. She also had the title of professor from 2011 until 2022.

Public forums featuring the two candidates begin Sept. 23 in each of the four counties. The regents will also interview the candidates.

The 10-campus UH system is the state’s only public provider of post-secondary education. Its flagship research university is UH Manoa.