Hawai‘i Sea Grant Director Darren Lerner nominated as Governor’s Manager of the Year
Darren Lerner
Darren Lerner, University of Hawai‘i (UH) Sea Grant College Program director, was selected as UH’s nominee for the Governor’s Manager of the Year Award. The Governor’s Awards for Distinguished State Service honor the state’s executive branch employees and managers who exemplify the highest caliber of public service and dedication to serving the people of Hawaiʻi. UH President Wendy Hensel made the announcement during the UH Board of Regents (BOR) meeting on July 16 at UH Mānoa.
“We never give enough appreciation for the hardworking faculty and staff around the university, and so it really is a pleasure for me to identify a few employees and a few groups whose dedication and achievements have earned well deserved recognition,” Hensel said at the BOR meeting.
Darren Lerner, director of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, consortium executive director of the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center and interim associate dean for research in UH Mānoa‘s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, was selected as the university’s nominee for this year’s Manager of the Year. He was recognized for transformational leadership that has strengthened Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and expanded its impact across the university and the state.
“I am deeply honored by the nomination,” Lerner shared. “I see it as recognition of what our entire Hawaiʻi Sea Grant team has accomplished together. Any success I have had as director has only been possible because of the extraordinary faculty, staff, students, and partners who bring creativity, expertise, and dedication to our mission every day. I am especially proud of how the program has grown over the past decade—not simply in size, but in its ability to serve Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Pacific through stronger partnerships, expanded opportunities for students, increased community engagement, and meaningful impacts that connect research, education, and extension. To be recognized by the University of Hawaiʻi System is both humbling and a reminder of the importance of public service and the role our university plays in improving the lives of the communities we serve.”
Lerner has overseen more than $100 million in extramurally funded projects focused on improving the resilience of Hawaiʻi‘s and the Pacific’s coastal ecosystems and communities. His leadership through periods of uncertainty has allowed the program to continue growing while supporting research, education and community partnerships that address critical environmental challenges.
“Our accomplishments are built on long-term relationships with communities, state and federal agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, industry partners, and colleagues across the University of Hawaiʻi System,” Lerner said. “The most rewarding part of this position has been helping create an environment where outstanding people can work together toward a common goal—supporting healthy coastal ecosystems, resilient communities, and a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. While this nomination bears my name, it truly reflects the collective efforts of an exceptional team and the many partners who make our work possible.”
Read more on UH News.