Fujio Matsuda

Fujio "Fudge" Matsuda (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.

Early life and education Matsuda was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 18, 1924 to Yoshio and Shimo Matsuda, immigrants from Yamaguchi, Japan. Matsuda grew up in Kaka'ako, and graduated from McKinley High School in 1942.

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.

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. He also reorganized the community college system so that each one would have a chancellor. He resigned on May 31, 1984, and was succeeded by Albert J. Simone. In 1985, the Fujio Matsuda Education Center at Windward Community College was built and named after him. In 2004, Matsuda was honored as a Living Treasure of Hawaii.

Matsuda died at his home in 2020, at the age of 95.