Just three weeks after the death of UC Santa Cruz Chancellor
Denise Denton, UC President Robert Dynes appointed an acting
chancellor he hopes will help galvanize the university and provide
students, faculty and staff with a vision for the future.
Last Friday Dynes, in accordance with the UC Board of Regents,
chose George Blumenthal to serve as acting chancellor until a
permanent chancellor is found.
Blumenthal is the chair of the astronomy and astrophysics
department at UCSC and has been a member of the UCSC faculty for
nearly 25 years. He has also chaired the Santa Cruz division of the
UC system-wide Academic Senate.
“I am looking to George Blumenthal to provide for UC Santa
Cruz the thoughtful, collegial and constructive leadership that I
have witnessed in his leadership of the system-wide Academic
Senate,” Dynes wrote in a letter to the UCSC community.
In addition to helping unite UCSC, Blumenthal’s
appointment signifies the school’s desire to celebrate
Denton’s life while also looking forward to the future.
“UCSC is trying to move away from the tragic nature of
Denise Denton’s death and focus on her legacy,” said
Elizabeth Irwin, associate vice chancellor of UCSC.
Police and UC officials said Denton died June 24 in an apparent
suicide jump from the 43rd floor of a San Francisco apartment
building.
Denton acted as UCSC chancellor for one year and was known for
being an advocate for women in science and engineering, but faced
criticism regarding her expensive compensation packages.
Blumenthal is expected to serve as acting chancellor for much or
all of the 2006-2007 academic year, Dynes said in a press
release.
During that time, the UC will conduct a national search for a
permanent chancellor.
“Whether or not Blumenthal himself is a candidate for
permanent chancellor has not been discussed,” Irwin said.
“His focus is not on the future, it is on getting in and
doing a good job.”
Blumenthal vows to continue to work toward UCSC’s current
goals, such as expanding diversity, promoting tolerance,
maintaining the university’s commitment to undergraduate
education, and increasing enrollment in graduate and professional
programs.
“Over the past decade, UC Santa Cruz has been on a
positive trajectory, moving upward among the top tiers of our
nation’s universities. I am determined to continue that
momentum,” Blumenthal said in a press release from the UC
Office of the President.
Blumenthal has not discussed whether he will continue teaching
in any capacity, though “it is not unusual for an acting
chancellor to continue with some level of research,” Irwin
said.