It is with profound sadness and shock that we have learned today of the death of Chancellor Denice Denton.  Her tragic passing is a tremendous loss for the entire University of California family.

Denice was an accomplished and passionate scholar whose life and work demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and to improving opportunity for the disadvantaged and underrepresented.  She was a person of enthusiasm, of big ideas, of tremendous energy, and of great promise.  In a relatively short time at UC Santa Cruz, she began moving on ambitious plans for the campus and emerged as an important voice in national higher education issues.

Our thoughts and prayers at this hour are with Denice's partner, Gretchen Kalonji, and with the rest of Denice's family and many friends.  They, and we, have lost a wonderful and talented person.

# # #