The advisory committee for the UC San Diego chancellor search was scheduled to hear from an array of constituent groups in its first meeting today (Oct. 28) on the UC San Diego campus.

The day's first speaker, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, was asked to share her perspectives on what qualities her successor will need to continue UC San Diego's tradition of excellence as well as contribute to the larger San Diego community.

Fox, a renowned educator and 2010 National Medal of Science recipient, plans to step down as chancellor in June to return to teaching and research as a distinguished professor of chemistry at the university. She became the campus' seventh chancellor in 2004, the first woman appointed to the position. During her tenure, the university and its faculty garnered top national and international recognition for research, teaching, medicine and artistic achievement.

Following Fox's presentation, representatives from the campus's executive team who report directly to the chancellor were scheduled to speak, followed by academic deans and senior academic leaders. Others scheduled to meet with the committee in closed meetings included staff representatives, members of the San Diego community — among them residents, donors and friends of the university — undergraduate and graduate students, key campus administrators and Academic Senate members.

University of California President Mark G. Yudof named search advisory committee members representing a cross-section of university faculty, staff, students, alumni and the campus foundation earlier this month. UC Board of Regents Chair Sherry Lansing appointed five regents to serve on the 17-member committee. Both the UC president and board chair are ex-officio committee members.

The members of the search advisory committee include:

• UC Regents Dr. William De La Peña, Eddie Island, George Kieffer, Bonnie Reiss and Charlene Zettel.
• Faculty representatives Robert Anderson, chair of the UC Academic Council and UC Berkeley professor of economics and math; Elizabeth Bjork, professor, UCLA Department of Cognitive Psychology; James Carmody, professor, UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance; Sandra Daley, professor, UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics; and Katja Lindenberg, professor, UC San Diego Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Staff representative Dave Wargo, chair, UC San Diego Staff Association and facilities manager for computer science and engineering.
• Student representatives Alyssa Wing, president, Associated Students, UC San Diego; and R. John Alaniz, UC San Diego graduate student in history and former chair of the Graduate Student Association.
• Alumni representative Peter Preuss of the Preuss Family Foundation.
• UC San Diego Foundation representative Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs.
• Ex-officio committee members President Yudof, convener of the committee; and Sherry Lansing, chair of the Board of Regents.

The advisory committee will be involved in recruiting, screening and conducting interviews with candidates for the position. The committee's work will be scheduled so that candidates can be presented to President Yudof, who will recommend his choice to the Board of Regents, tentatively by May 2012.

In addition to presentations by the constituency representatives on Friday, public comments are encouraged throughout the search process. Comments may be submitted via email: sandiegochancellorsearch@ucop.edu.

The search will be assisted by Isaacson, Miller (www.imsearch.com/), a firm previously retained by the University of California to assist with campus and medical center searches.

More information about the search from the UC San Diego campus: http://chancellorsearch.ucsd.edu

Copies of the regents' policy on the appointment of chancellors: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/policies/7102.html

For more news and information about the University of California: www.universityofcalifornia.edu

UC San Diego contact: Associate Chancellor and Chief of Staff Clare Kristofco, ckristofco@ucsd.edu.