Michael Bitter has been selected as the new permanent dean of the UH Hilo College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). He previously served as interim dean of CAS.

In 1999, Bitter came to UH Hilo as an assistant professor and also taught in the history department for more than 17 years. During that time, he served as department chair for seven years, University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly faculty union representative for social sciences, CAS Faculty Senate Chair and UH Hilo Faculty Congress General Education Committee Chair.

As interim dean, he encouraged a variety of initiatives designed to improve the UH Hilo student experience by supporting student, faculty and staff success. Bitter is actively engaged in promoting the expansion of the programs making up the college and collaborating with the Center for Global Education and Exchange to increase opportunities for UH Hilo students to study at partner universities, both nationally and internationally.