Dear Colleagues:
As I mentioned in my last update to the campus community, I have identified a strong, widely respected member of the UC Merced faculty to serve as interim provost upon the retirement June 30 of Keith Alley, who has served as executive vice chancellor and provost since 2006. Now that the UC Office of the President has approved my choice, I am very pleased to tell you who he is.
I hope you'll join me in congratulating and thanking Sam Traina for accepting this important responsibility. A founding faculty member and a fixture on this campus since long before it officially opened, Sam currently serves as vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate division. As interim provost and executive vice chancellor, Sam will continue to lead the research division but will appoint an acting graduate dean to support UC Merced's growing focus on graduate programs.
Sam's appointment, effective July 1, will run through early December, when Keith's permanent successor (whom we still can't name pending approval by the UC Board of Regents later this summer) is expected to be in place.
During my first year at UC Merced, I've found Sam's knowledge, judgment and depth of experience to be extremely valuable, not just to me but to countless others — faculty, students and administrators alike — who look to him for counsel. As UC Merced's chief academic officer, Sam will oversee all academic programs, including instruction and research, and assume executive responsibility for a wide range of administrative operations.
We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Sam's caliber to step into this interim position for the coming months. I am confident he’ll be able to move us smartly forward with a minimum of transitional difficulty.
I would like to use this opportunity to express again the sincere appreciation of a grateful campus to our departing EVC and provost. Keith's contributions to the development and steady growth of this campus are far too plentiful to enumerate here, other than to note that we simply couldn’t have gotten here without them. It is with deep respect and admiration that I wish Keith a most pleasant and relaxing retirement, on behalf of the entire UC Merced community.
I look forward to providing another update on our provost-designate later this summer. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Sam to his new position and in thanking Keith for all he has done for our campus.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
