On August 1, I had the honor of stepping into the role of interim chancellor at UCLA, charged with stewarding the university as we prepare for the arrival of our next chancellor, Julio Frenk, at the start of 2025.
I take up this position with great humility, with recognition of the responsibility entrusted to me, and with gratitude for the opportunity to continue giving back to an institution that has largely shaped my own life. I have seen this campus from a number of vantage points — that of a student, alum, faculty member, department chair, dean of social sciences and, most recently, executive vice chancellor and provost. These varied experiences have led me to conclude, without hesitation, that UCLA is one of the most extraordinary educational institutions ever created.
UCLA has built such a remarkable legacy because of the talents and passion of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners; a principled commitment to inclusive excellence; and a singular dedication to the highest standards of research, education and service. Certainly, we are far from perfect. Yet even during challenging times, our community has persevered, always striving to reach higher, to know more, and to do better.
UCLA’s contributions to the world, a commitment to continuous growth and improvement, and the relationships we have built with the public and our partners will drive our continued success despite the obstacles ahead.
In a time when some Americans express significant distrust in colleges and universities, UCLA remains the most applied-to university in the nation, and it showcases the immense social and economic benefits that come from high-quality public higher education.
In a time when we encounter skepticism of science in our country, UCLA is achieving medical and technological breakthroughs that save lives and ease suffering. In a time of broadening economic divisions in society, UCLA widens the doors of opportunity for thousands each year — with nearly one-third of our students from low-income families, one-third from underrepresented backgrounds, and one-third among the first in their families to attend college.
And in a time when a commitment to diversity is attacked, we prove that a community attracting talent from every background and every corner of the globe can achieve great things when we champion equity, inclusion and mutual respect.
I recently shared our Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA with the Bruin community, which reaffirms core institutional values and our commitment to better embodying them. Our to-do list is long: We must ensure that all Bruins can participate fully in our community, regardless of race, class, religion, gender, physical ability or political beliefs. We must fairly and responsibly protect the rights of everyone on our campus. We must push ourselves to respect one another’s humanity and endeavor to understand one another’s perspectives, especially when we have deep divisions in ideology or background.
We have much to do over the next several months to build on our strengths and address our shortcomings. But when I think of the extraordinary talent, skill and devotion of our staff, faculty, students, alumni and donors, I am convinced that we will meet the challenges before us.
When I reflect on UCLA’s first century of accomplishment, I can honestly say that we are entering our second century with aspirations that are even higher. We are guided by our 2023–28 strategic plan, which focuses on deepening our engagement with Los Angeles, expanding our global reach, enhancing our world-class research and teaching, and becoming a more efficient and effective institution. Inclusivity and excellence remain the foundational pillars upon which we build our institutional future.
At its best, UCLA is a place where people make and remake themselves, where we give birth to ideas and nurture dreams, where we create opportunities and expand horizons, and where we work diligently to benefit our region, our nation and the world. That vision will guide my service as UCLA’s interim chancellor, and I am committed to partnering with our community to ensure that UCLA remains one of the greatest institutions of higher education the world has ever known.
Read more from UCLA Magazine’s Fall 2024 issue.