I am very pleased to inform you of the appointment of Steve Juarez as the University of California Office of the President's new associate vice president and director for state government relations. Steve replaces former Assistant Vice President Steve Arditti, who retired last year.
The several-month recruitment for this position yielded many top-notch candidates. In the end, we believe Steve's mix of talents and experience makes him an outstanding choice for this very important position. As I think we all recognize, UC's relationship with the state is a critically important one, with wide-reaching import to all we do, and I and the rest of UCOP leadership including President-designate Yudof are confident that Steve will be an extremely effective advocate and leader for UC. We are very excited to have him joining us in this capacity.
Steve knows the political landscape and governmental community in California well, and he has extensive experience representing large institutions, including prior experience with UC, and working in and with the California Legislature. He comes to us most recently as executive director for J.P. Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, and as a director for the J. Paul Getty Trust before that. From 1996-1998, Steve served as UCLA's assistant vice chancellor for government and community relations. Prior to that, he worked for Los Angeles County, first as government relations manager (Transportation Commission) and then later as chief legislative representative. He also has held several consultant and analyst positions in the California Legislature. Steve is also a proud graduate of UCLA.
Reporting to the newly created vice president of strategic communications and government relations and working in close coordination with university leadership, the campuses, and others, Steve's key responsibilities will include:
-- establishing the university's position on all legislative matters, and seeking to influence legislative outcomes that are favorable to UC;
-- ensuring the Legislature and governor's office are kept informed of the positions of the university;
-- ensuring that the president and his staff, Regents, campuses, Academic Senate, and the rest of the UC community are kept fully informed of, and engaged in as necessary, all state legislative and ballot issues and other state government developments of importance;
-- working with campus government relations professionals, faculty and staff to identify issues that may require legislative solutions;
-- collaborating with the UC budget office and campus government relations colleagues to achieve the university's educational, budget and legislative objectives.
Steve will take office in mid-July, and I'm sure many of you will come to know him quickly. Until then, please join me in extending him a warm welcome to UC.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen French, who has been serving as interim assistant vice president and director for state government relations, as well as her staff, for the stalwart dedication and service to the university that the entire Sacramento office has exemplified during this transition.
Sincerely,
Rory
Wyatt R. Hume
Provost and Executive Vice President
Academic and Health Affairs