In what was an apparent suicide jump, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor
Denice Denton fell to her death from the 43rd floor of a San
Francisco apartment building Saturday morning, authorities
said.
Denton, 46, who was the first openly gay University of
California chancellor, was known for being an advocate for women in
science and engineering. But in her year as a chancellor, she was
also under much criticism for seeking expensive compensation
packages, some of which were not disclosed. This included creating
a job in the university system for her partner Gretchen
Kalonji.
Though the cause of her death is still under investigation,
police said they believe she jumped from her partner’s
apartment building around 8 a.m. while Kalonji was away on a
business trip.
University spokesman Jim Burns said Denton requested a medical
leave for unnamed reasons since June 15 and was expected back at
work today.
Students said she was recognizably absent from campus activities
within the past month from campus events, such as the graduation
commencement exercises and practices.
During her career, Denton worked to advance the position of
women in traditionally male-dominated fields.
But as chancellor, her prominence in the fields seemed to be
overshadowed by scrutiny surrounding her compensation package and
the hiring of her partner, Kalonji, into the university system,
instigating protests and concerns from students and labor
unions.
As the news of the chancellor’s reached the campus and the
UC, administrators and students were stunned to hear of her death.
University officials learned of her death shortly after it
occurred, but since school was not in session, information was not
immediately widely distributed.
When he learned of the chancellor’s death, UCSC third-year
biology student Christopher Jordan was shocked.
“Wow,” he said, before pausing for a moment to
digest the information.
In a statement released Saturday, UCSC Campus Provost and
Executive Vice Chancellor David Klinger noted a show of sympathy
from the local and national community.
“There has been an outpouring of concern by those who knew
and worked with her here at UCSC and nationally, and words do not
adequately convey our feelings of sorrow, loss, and
compassion,” Klinger said.
Klinger said he has seen the impact of the chancellor’s
actions, as she opened doors for young people, women, and
minorities.
At her swearing-in ceremony as UCSC’s ninth chancellor
early last year, Denton emphasized her commitment to diversity
within the academic and college community.
“For me, excellence is achieving the best possible results
by engaging the strengths and talents of people from varied
backgrounds and personal experiences,” Denton said.
Some of her priorities for the campus included expanding
education opportunities, increasing national and international
recognition of the innovations and contributions of the UCSC
community, and renewing the university’s commitment to the
community by increasing affordable housing and promoting on-campus
cultural activities.
“Our campus was born of a pioneering vision, which yet
endures, replete with stellar achievements. UC Santa Cruz is but a
brilliant intimation of even more greatness to come,” Denton
said.
After earning engineering degrees at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, she became the first tenured woman in engineering at
the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
At the University of Washington, Denton was the first woman in
the nation to lead an engineering college at a major
university.
Students said Denton seemed to be under scrutiny about
compensation and other financial matters.
“She always seemed like she was under a lot of pressure.
She was consistently under slack from students,” Jordan
said.
Denton had been under much scrutiny since she was appointed to
lead UCSC, receiving a salary of $275,000, which is about one
hundred thousand dollars more than the previous chancellor, M.R.C.
Greenwood, who had been promoted to UC Provost.
Other benefits included providing her partner a newly created
position in the UC system for an annual salary of $192,000 and
adding a $30,000 dog run as part of $600,000 in renovations to the
chancellor’s UCSC home. Along with other administrators, in
the UC executive compensation issue, her financial packages were
under investigation, as she received benefits that were not
publicly transparent when originally hired.
UC and UCSC have not yet released information regarding
Denton’s successor or an interim chancellor.
But despite the scandal and controversy that plagued Denton in
her last months, in her past year as the chancellor, UC President
Robert Dynes said she had been ambitious in plans she had for the
campus and emerged as an important voice in national higher
education issues.
“We have lost a wonderful and talented person,”
Dynes said.
With reports from Bruin wire services.