Brandon Marc Higa has worked with faculty, staff, campus leaders, and system partners to develop and steward a vibrant portfolio of research, education, workforce development, international, and other sponsored programs over the course of his 17 years at Kapi‘olani Community College (Kapiʻolani CC). As project director for the Title III Creating an Ecology for Innovation cooperative arrangement from 2021 to 2026, Brandon worked with colleagues at Kapiʻolani and Leeward Community Colleges to co-develop shared-services centers that provide comprehensive pre- and post-award support. This effort was built upon UH Maui College’s Title III Lawelawe Poʻokela initiative, which led to establishment of Kapiʻolani CC’s Shared Services Center and its later transition to the Kapiʻolani CC Grants Office. Higa led the office and worked closely with ORS and project teams across UH to develop proposals seeking more than $200 million in external funding.

A licensed Hawaiʻi attorney and published author, Higa holds JD and SJD degrees from the William S. Richardson School of Law and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international relations from the University of Southern California. He has served as a lecturer in law at UH, teaching legal writing and advocacy, and has lectured at law schools in Japan on comparative legal issues.