Engineering researcher, Professor of Engineering, President of University of Hawaii
Spouse
Amy Saiki
Fujio "Fudge" Matsuda(松田 富士男) (October 18, 1924 – August 23, 2020) was the first Japanese American president of the University of Hawaii. This position also made him the first Asian American to become president of a major university in the United States.[1]
In 1943, Matsuda joined the 442nd Infantry. After World War II ended, Matsuda studied for two years at the University of Hawaii, then transferred and graduated from Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1949. In the same year, he married Amy Saiki. In 1952 he earned a doctorate in structural engineering from MIT.[3][1]
After earning his doctoral degree, Matsuda worked as a researcher at MIT for two years, then at the University of Illinois for one year. He then returned to Hawaii and taught in the University of Hawaii's engineering department from 1955 to 1962. During this time, he also worked at a small engineering firm.[2] In 1962 he was appointed the director of the Hawaii Engineering Experiment Station, but was asked by John A. Burns to lead the Hawaii Department of Transportation, before he could assume that role. Matsuda led the Department of Transportation from 1963 to 1973. In 1973, Matsuda returned to the university as the vice president of business affairs.[4]
On July 14, 1974, Matsuda was appointed the ninth president of the University of Hawaii. During his tenure, several dormitories and eight buildings, including the Richardson School of Law, were built.[5] He also reorganized the community college system so that each one would have a chancellor.[6] He resigned on May 31, 1984, and was succeeded by Albert J. Simone.[7] In 1985, the Fujio Matsuda Education Center at Windward Community College was built and named after him.[3] Matsuda eventually retired in 1996, after serving for ten years as the director of UH's Research Corporation and for two years as the president of the Japan America Institute of Management Science.
^ abChinen, Karleen C. (2012). Hawaii's AJA pioneers : one hundred profiles commemorating the centennial of the Hawaii Hochi. Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Hochi Ltd. pp. 160–161.
^Michael, Holmes, T. (2009). "Wally Fujiyama and the University of Hawai'i: 1974-1982". Hawaiian Journal of History. hdl:10524/12244.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^M., Kamins, Robert (1998). Mālamalama : a history of the University of Hawai'i. Potter, Robert E., University of Hawaii (System). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN0585326444. OCLC45843003.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Yount, David (1996). Who Runs the University?: The Politics of Higher Education in Hawaii, 1985-1992. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN9780824818210.
