Russell Rumberger

Russell Rumberger, currently professor of education at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been appointed vice provost-education partnerships, effective immediately. The Board of Regents confirmed his appointment today (Sept. 16) after a national search, acting on the recommendation of President Mark Yudof.

Key responsibilities for this position include implementing policies, programs and initiatives that produce high quality teachers for California and that enhance the K-12 and community college-transfer pipelines to bachelor's degrees and the workforce.

Provost Lawrence H. Pitts, in announcing the appointment, said that Rumberger will be a member of the Office of the President senior leadership team and will work closely with the other segments of higher education, the California Department of Education and other organizations to improve educational quality and college access for all students.

"Russ brings to this position the right combination of dedication, leadership ability and academic rigor," said Pitts. "The vice provost-education partnerships is a critical role for the university — indeed for California's future. The university is committed to working with K-12, the other segments of higher education, the California Department of Education and other organizations to improve educational opportunities and college access for all students. I believe Russ will bring an important research element into UC's academic preparation programs."

Currently a professor of education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Rumberger has devoted his professional life to identifying and redressing inequities in educational quality and access. Over a distinguished career, Rumberger has published on a wide range of issues in education, including early childhood education, school segregation, the achievement gap, school dropouts and the educational challenges of English language learners. In addition, Rumberger directed the UC Linguistic Minority Research Institute (UC LMRI) for 10 years, from 1998-2008, and built the multi-campus research unit into an internationally recognized research institute that funded important research on one of California's and the nation's fastest growing populations, English language learners.

"I am excited by the challenge of working with the University of California to improve California's public education system and enhance educational opportunity for all of California's students," said Rumberger of his appointment.

Currently Rumberger is directing the California Dropout Research Project (CDRP). With funding from major foundations, the CDRP conducts research and has developed a policy agenda to address the problem of school dropouts in California. Since its inception in 2006, two pieces of legislation addressing the dropout crisis have been signed into law based on CRDP recommendations.

Rumberger recently has served on two National Research Council (NRC) committees, the national advisory committee for the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) project, Gubernatorial Action for Dropout Prevention and Recovery, and served as a consultant to the National Conference of State Legislatures' Task Force on Dropouts.

He has just completed a book on high school dropouts that will be published by Harvard University Press in 2011.

He received a Ph.D. in education and a M.A. in economics from Stanford University and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University.