The UCLA Undergraduate Admissions office will soon come under new leadership, officials announced Monday.
Gary A. Clark Jr. currently a senior associate director of admission at the University of Southern California, was appointed as UCLA’s director of admission. Clark’s term will officially begin on Nov. 5, after current Director of Admission Vu Tran retires.
The director of admission is responsible for ensuring the university meets its annual enrollment targets, said Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.
Clark comes to UCLA after seven years at USC. Before his time at USC, Clark worked in the admissions department of Pitzer College in Southern California. He has also worked at the College of William & Mary and Christopher Newport University, both located in Virginia, according to a university statement. After a summer-long search, a committee comprised of faculty, staff and student representatives recommended Clark as the top candidate, Copeland-Morgan said.
“This is an extremely important job on campus and this person becomes one of the key faces to the public,” Copeland-Morgan said. “I’m really excited about Gary’s appointment.”
Though he is accustomed to Trojan traditions, Clark said he welcomes the new change.
“I’ve been on the Trojan side of things for seven years, but I am really excited to see the other side of (the rivalry) and become a Bruin,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have this rivalry ““ there aren’t many schools that have a rivalry as storied as ours. I look forward to being a Bruin.”
Compiled by Jillian Beck and Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff.