A week before Gene Block was set to take over as the next chancellor of UCLA, there was a literal passing of the baton ceremony at the annual staff picnic.
Block is set to take over officially as the next UCLA chancellor Wednesday, Aug. 1, and during last Wednesday’s picnic, Chancellor Norman Abrams handed Block the gold baton in a symbolic transfer of power.
Since becoming acting chancellor, Abrams has been using the passing of the baton as a metaphor for his marathon tenure, saying that he would move UCLA forward until it was time for the next person to take over.
And to a rousing round of applause from the staff present at the picnic, Abrams literally passed the baton to Block at a brisk pace without breaking stride.
Abrams commented on Block’s qualifications and personality, and thanked the staff for their contribution, adding “(I) have learned through the course of this year how much you do.”
Block thanked the staff in advance for their efforts, and said UCLA is a “wonderful place” and that he looks forward to being here.
Thus far, Block has not publicly discussed any specific plans he has for the university, saying only that he wants to continue his efforts from the University of Virginia ““ including fostering more interdisciplinary learning and increasing both student and faculty diversity.
Block was an accomplished faculty member at the University of Virginia, having pioneered research into the innate sleep and awake regulator in organisms. He later became vice president and provost of the university.
Block will begin his post as chancellor tomorrow, only a few months after the conclusion of UCLA’s $3 billion fund-raising campaign. He has said he would like to continue to make fund-raising a priority for the university as it continues to receive less funding from the state.
Abrams has said that the next fund-raising campaign is in the works, which is preliminarily set for completion at the mark of UCLA’s 100th anniversary in 2019.
Abrams had a busy year as UCLA’s acting chancellor, dealing with issues such as the incident where a UCPD officer used a Taser on a student in Powell Library and two attempted fire bombings against UCLA faculty by animal rights activists.
Block’s annual salary is $416,000, the second highest for an administrator in the UC system.
With reports from Edward Truong, Bruin senior staff.