Reynaldo MacÃas has seen UCLA through the eyes of a student, an educator and publication editor. Now, MacÃas will see UCLA through the eyes of the dean of social sciences.
MacÃas is replacing Scott Waugh, who was appointed acting executive vice chancellor and provost of UCLA.
MacÃas will only fill in as acting dean for 18 months before Executive Dean Patricia O’Brien decides who will take on the role permanently.
His move up to acting dean comes as no suprise to his colleagues.
“I’m glad to see him as acting dean of social sciences,” said Steven Loza, a professor of ethnomusicology who has known MacÃas since he was chairman of the César E. Chávez Center in Interdisciplinary Chicana/o Studies.
Loza sees the promotion as a major stepping stone for the community and for minorities in general.
“This is one of the things that we’ve been screaming about for decades. It makes you feel like you have a voice. It’s time we had a (Chicano) in an administrative position,” said Loza.
But MacÃas wants to place an emphasis on undergraduate students rather than on his minority status.
“I’ve been the first Chicano to do a lot of things in my lifetime, so in that sense it’s not a big deal, but there have been other people of color at UCLA who have served as deans,” said MacÃas, who was one of the first Chicanos to participate in a UCLA undergraduate program called Project India, the first graduate student to serve as a chair for the student group MEChA, and was also the first person in his family to go to college and earn a doctorate.
MacÃas received two degrees from UCLA, including a master’s in education.
But MacÃas is not only concerned with his responsibility to oversee the UCLA Division of Social Sciences. A student of many languages, including Japanese, French, Latin and Chinese, MacÃas recognizes the importance of addressing the concerns of a diverse undergraduate student body.
“Reynaldo is very keen on … how do we get more students here? How do we diversify? ““ not only the students and the faculty, but the curriculum. He is a very universal person ““ he’s open to everyone’s problems,” said Loza.
MacÃas has served as a professor of Chicana/o studies, education and applied linguistics.
He was also chairman of the César E. Chávez Center in Interdisciplinary Chicana/o Studies and helped turn the formerly interdepartmental program into a center for interdisciplinary instruction, according to a press release.
His work as chairman has earned MacÃas respect among his colleagues.
“He’s a wonderful administrator. He (brings) good leadership, good professional skills and inspires good collegiate relationships,” said Steve Lopez, a professor of clinical psychology who has known MacÃas for over 20 years.
MacÃas is also part of the department that submitted a proposal three years ago to the UCLA College Faculty Executive Committee and Graduate Council to begin a graduate program allowing students to receive a master’s degree and doctorate in Chicana/o studies.
The proposal is now in its final review, and if approved, UCLA will be one of only a handful of universities nationwide offering such a program.
Meanwhile, MacÃas will continue with his research in politics, policies and language and hopes to continue teaching in the coming year.