Rae Matsumoto has been appointed the new dean of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s (DKICP), effective November 16. The UH Board of Regents were notified of her appointment at the October 19 meeting. Matsumoto will replace DKICP’s Interim Dean Miriam Mobley Smith.
Matsumoto is currently a professor of physiology and pharmacology at the University of the Pacific (UOP). She has also held various administrative and faculty positions, including dean and professor of UOP’s pharmacy school from 2020 to 2022, dean and professor of the College of Pharmacy at Touro University California from 2014 to 2020 and associate dean for research and graduate programs and professor at West Virginia University from 2007 to 2014.
“I am excited to have Dr. Matsumoto join the UH Hilo leadership team,” said UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “She brings a wide variety of experience to the position and is prepared to lead the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy forward. I am grateful for all of the good work of Interim Dean Mobley Smith over the last year-and-a-half to prepare the college for the new incoming leadership and a bright future.”
Matsumoto has vast educational program development experience such as faculty mentoring, staff development, student success and career development, budgetary and fiscal management. She has founded numerous graduate and research training programs, and is a strong advocate for community outreach programs.
She is the lead and co-author of more than 100 publications, a member of national and international professional organizations and has patented multiple inventions.
Matsumoto earned her BS magna cum laude from Creighton University and a master’s in science and PhD from Brown University.