Scott L. Waugh, who for 21 months has served as UCLA’s acting executive vice chancellor and provost, was officially appointed to the position Monday, with the change effective Dec. 1.
In a statement released to the UCLA community, Chancellor Gene Block announced his selection after a “rigorous and comprehensive national search” filled with several highly qualified candidates.
“I have worked closely with Scott since before my arrival at UCLA, and I have observed firsthand his competence, thoughtfulness and true devotion to this university,” Block said in the statement.
In April, Block appointed a search advisory committee to assist him in the process of selecting a new executive vice chancellor.
The committee, which included former acting Chancellor Norman Abrams and physics and astronomy Professor Andrea Ghez, included Waugh in a short list of candidates presented to the chancellor.
After weighing input from the committee, administrators and faculty, Block made the official decision Monday.
“The committee highly endorses Scott Waugh; I’m really thrilled that this is the outcome,” Ghez said. “You don’t just hire him because he is here. Scott has shown immense adeptness at doing this job, and I think the committee felt that.”
The executive vice chancellor is the second-highest administrative position at UCLA and serves as the chief operating and academic officer for the campus. The position includes working closely with the Academic Senate to promote academic initiatives.
“Terrific, great, wonderful appointment,” said Michael Goldstein, who chairs the Academic Senate. “Scott has been very supportive of the faculty, of shared governance, of the senate. The senate is thrilled.”
Waugh succeeds Daniel Neuman, who left UCLA to lead the New Center for Arts and Culture in Boston.
Waugh, a 1970 UCLA graduate, had been dean of the UCLA Division of Social Sciences for 14 years when he was selected as the acting executive vice chancellor in January 2007.
He has demonstrated an “ability to provide strategic academic leadership across the university,” Block said. He has shown dedication to the mission and ideals of UCLA and commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, diversity and community engagement.”