Henry C. Powell, M.D., a professor of pathology and immediate past chair of the Academic Senate at the University of California, San Diego, has been chosen for a leadership role on the University of California’s Academic Council and Academic Senate in Oakland.

Dr. Henry C. “Harry” Powell, professor of pathology at UC San Diego, has been picked to lead the University of California Academic Senate in Oakland for the academic years 2009 and 2010.

His two-year tenure, first as vice chair, and then chair, begins Sept. 1 and lasts through 2010. “I regard the University of California as a faculty-driven enterprise,” Powell said, “and believe in shared governance as the institutional mechanism that gives us a powerful voice while conferring an obligation to serve.”

Powell, an authority in experimental neuropathology and director of neuropathology and clinical electron microscopy at UC San Diego, was nominated by James Posakony, current chair of UC San Diego’s Academic Senate at the UC Academic Council’s January meeting, and was confirmed by the UC Academic Senate in February.

UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox praised the UC Academic Assembly’s selection of Powell. “Harry Powell is an eloquent advocate for, and fierce defender of, shared governance,” she said. “The diverse voices of our faculty systemwide will be ably represented during his tenure.”

Powell credits Fox with encouraging his candidacy. “The idea of running was suggested to me by Marye Anne Fox at a UC leadership meeting two years ago,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to Posakony, his successor as chair at UC San Diego, for his nomination.

As division chief for neuropathology at UC San Diego, Powell has gained international recognition for his work in diagnostic neuropathology and diagnostic electron microscopy.

He has held many positions of service at the university, including vice chair and chair of the Academic Senate, interim chair of the Department of Pathology, director of the Pathology Residency Program, head of the Division of Neuropathology, neuropathologist to the Veterans Affairs of San Diego Healthcare System, membership in the Department of Pathology Management Committee and the Pathology Housestaff Committee, and director of the Neuropathology Residency Program. Powell also served, from 1996-1999, as president of the Society for Experimental Neuropathology.

The UC Academic Senate in Oakland represents the faculty in the system of shared governance practiced at all 10 UC campuses. The Academic Council is the administrative arm of the Assembly of the Academic Senates and acts in lieu of the assembly on non-legislative matters.

“It’s been a while since someone from UC San Diego went up to Oakland in this capacity,” Powell said, “so I am glad to be the one.”