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VOL. 26. NO.16 JUNE 27, 2006

NEWS IN BRIEF

NSF-bound

Dean of Physical Sciences Tony Chan will be leaving UCLA temporarily to accept a three-year appointment as the assistant director for mathematics and physical sciences at the National Science Foundation, beginning Oct. 1. “While we all regret that Tony will be leaving UCLA temporarily, at the NSF he will be serving our country and the long-range goals of science research in a vital role,” said Executive Dean of the College of Letters and Science Patricia O’Brien. As head of the largest directorate at the NSF, Chan will guide and manage research funding with an annual budget of almost $1 billion per year for astronomy, physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science and multidisciplinary programs. When he returns, Chan will resume his role as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics. A search committee will be formed to choose his successor. As dean for five years, Chan has had a major impact on fund-raising, program improvement, and faculty recruitment and retention, O’Brien said.

External Affairs

Following the upcoming departure of Vice Chancellor Michael Eicher of External Affairs for Johns Hopkins University, Rhea Turteltaub, associate vice chancellor for development, will serve as interim vice chancellor of External Affairs, subject to approval by UC President Robert C. Dynes and the regents. “Rhea is an experienced and highly valued member of the External Affairs management team,” said Chancellor Albert Carnesale in a letter to the campus community. Turteltaub began working for UCLA Development in 1994. Over the past nine years, she has served as assistant and associate vice chancellor and played a key role in the success of Campaign UCLA. In her new role, she will oversee Development, Alumni Relations, University Communications, Government and Community Relations, Advancement Services, Finance and Information Management and The UCLA Foundation. “The work of External Affairs is critical to UCLA’s long-term competitiveness, and we are fortunate to have a world-class team engaged in these activities on our behalf,” Carnesale said.

Election results

Members of the Academic Senate have elected Elizabeth Bjork, professor of cognitive psychology, as the new vice chair and chair-elect. Bjork, who ran unopposed, will serve as vice chair when Vivek Shetty, professor of dentistry, becomes chair for 2006-07. Bjork will assume the chairship in 2007-08. Her goal, she stated, will be to forge a positive, effective and mutually respectful relationship between the Senate and the new administration, with the arrival of a new chancellor. Bjork has held many leadership roles in the College of Letters and Science and the Senate, including chair of the Undergraduate Council.