University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel has been appointed as a Commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), representing the state of Hawaiʻi. WICHE is an interstate compact that addresses higher education and workforce needs across 15 Western states, U.S. Pacific Territories, and Freely Associated States.
“Dr. Hensel brings a forward-thinking vision to aligning academic programs and modern technology with evolving workforce needs,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “Her deep experience leading complex higher education systems will add to our work in building effective pathways between education and employment across the West, and I look forward to having her strategic and collaborative approach as the newest member of the WICHE Commission.”
The WICHE Commission consists of 48 members who are appointed by governors or leaders of associated states. The Commission oversees the implementation of the Western Regional Educational Compact, which has served the region since 1953.
Hensel joins UH President Emeritus David Lassner and Terrence George, CEO and president of the Hawai’i Community Foundation, as representatives for Hawaiʻi on the commission.
“I am honored to represent Hawaiʻi on the WICHE Commission and contribute to the vital work of connecting education with workforce needs across the West and the Pacific,” said Hensel. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to ensure our higher education systems collaborate where possible and effectively serve our students and communities.”
The University of Hawaiʻi is recognized as Hawaii’s only public system for higher education, comprising 10 campuses along with multiple educational, training, and research centers statewide. Hensel began her tenure as president on January 1.
Before joining UH, Hensel was executive vice chancellor and university provost at The City University of New York (CUNY), where she led efforts focused on student success, expanding online degree offerings, and strengthening links between academic programs and job market demands. She also spent over twenty years at Georgia State University (GSU) in various leadership roles. During her time at both GSU and CUNY, she played a significant part in helping institutions navigate challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hensel is known for her expertise in disability law, policy, and ethics. She serves on Integrate’s board of directors—a group that supports employment opportunities for professionals with autism—and previously practiced law at Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta. She also clerked for Judge Orinda Evans in Georgia’s Northern District federal court.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University as a Harry S. Truman Scholar before interning at the U.S. Supreme Court; she later graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School.
The University of Hawai‘i System enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaii, other U.S. states, and internationally.