Leadership

Summary of Service

Academic Senate Service: Undergraduate Council (Chair, 2001-02, Vice Chair/member, 1996-2001); FEC of the College (Secretary of the College, 1999-2000; member 1998-2000; 1993-94, 1988-90); Undergraduate Student Support, Honors, and Prizes (1981-84; Chair, 1982-84); Honors, Awards, and Prizes (Chair, 1996-97); Student Development (Chair, 1998-99); Executive Board (Member At Large, 1988-89); Legislative Assembly Representative (1985-88). System-wide: University Committee on Educational Policy (1998-2000). Administrative Service: Vice Chair for Undergraduate Affairs, Psychology Department (1985-99). Other University Service: Committee on Instructional Improvement Programs (1990-present); CIIP Subcommittee on TA Training (since 1993, Chair since 1996); Chancellor's Enrollment Advisory Committee (2000-2002); General Education Workgroup, Phase II (1995-97), Advisory Committee, Collegium of University Teaching Fellows (1997-2001); Advisory Committee, Professional Schools Seminar Series (1997-2001); GE Advisory Committee (1998-2001); Financial Aid Policy Committee (1984-86), Phi Beta Kappa at UCLA (Councilor, 1988-91; President, 1991-92); Public Affairs Faculty Advisory Committee (1986-88); Alumni Association Advisory and Scholarship Long Range Planning Committee (1987-89)

Statement

Our system of shared governance is a primary contributing factor to the excellence and world-class stature of UCLA. Shared governance also contributes, in my view, to the collegiality we enjoy as members of the UCLA community—a collegiality that sustains and inspires us in our diverse research and scholarly pursuits. With the arrival of a new chancellor, we face a critical period during which we need to establish a positive, effective, and mutually respectful relationship between the Senate and the new administration. My goal, if elected, is to work towards establishing such a relationship, and I believe the leadership roles I have had on this campus have given me the necessary consensus-building skills and the equally necessary understanding of the varied nature and needs of our faculty, students, and programs to succeed. I would work to ensure that all academic and administrative decisions reflect broad faculty input and participation. I would also endeavor to increase faculty involvement in Senate activity—not only to improve its effectiveness, but also because there is no better way for each of us to become aware of, and inspired by, the excellence of our faculty and academic programs across the entire UCLA community.

Links:

• UCLA Today - Titans of Teaching - 03-18-08
• Daily Bruin - Professor takes new Academic Senate chair position -
  10-22-07
• UCLA Today - New Chairs takes reigns - 10-25-07

Summary of Service

Senate Committees: Academic Freedom 1992-1996, Committee on Privilege and Tenure 2003-2006 (Chair, 2004-2006), Committee on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures 2004-2006. Other Committees: Council on Faculty Chairs 1994-1996, SPH Faculty Executive Committee (elected Chair) 1996-1998, Campus/OCGA Research Misconduct Working Group 2005-2006. Administrative responsibilities: Department Chair, Community Health Sciences 1988-1991, Associate Dean, School of Public Health 1998-2001.

Statement:

The organizing principle of life at the University of California is shared governance.

California’s current political and budgetary priorities, combined with shifts in the nature of higher learning itself, now threaten to marginalize the voice of the faculty. The arrival of a new Chancellor urgently underscores the necessity for faculty participation in all aspects of the decision-making that shapes our lives as scholars, artists, and educators.

I’ve served as elected FEC Chair, Department Chair, Associate Dean, and recently, as Chair of Privilege and Tenure.

Conflicts are resolved not by denial and suppression, but by clarifying issues and bringing parties together in the search for mutually affirming solutions. I attribute much of my success at P&T, adjudicating among contentious parties confronting controversial issues, to my training and experience as a certified mediator.

I believe in transparency for the Senate and Administration alike. To assure that Senate committees respond promptly and effectively to faculty issues we must attain the broadest faculty participation by reaching out to colleagues across our campus.

Shared governance must reflect our basic values: academic freedom, respect for diversity, and the worth of intellectual inquiry. Faculty represents the core of any university. UCLA’s continuing progress depends on us.

Summary of Service

Academic Senate Service: Committee on Committees 2003-2005 (Chair - 2004-2005); Faculty Welfare Committee 2002-2004. System wide Service: UC Committee on Committees (2004-2005).

Statement:

UCLA has always engaged me in a very special way, most especially as a community of exceptional scholars. Its spirit of openness to new ideas, an innate collegiality, and a common drive for institutional excellence define UCLA for me. Through my membership on the senate’s Faculty Welfare Committee and the Committee on Committees, I have acquired a deepened appreciation for the individual contributions our faculty makes toward a purposeful culture of discovery, leadership, diversity, community and excellence.

As a “south campus” based faculty member, I relish UCLA’s distinctive integration of the professional disciplines with the liberal arts and humanities faculties and consider it a privilege to be able to participate in and contribute to this rich mosaic. As Senate chair, I will work to sustain this healthy sense of community by engaging all segments of our faculty in shared university governance and participatory decision-making. I will seek to ensure that academic and administrative decisions are informed and enriched by broad faculty input. At all times, I will work collaboratively with administrators, students and staff, to ensure that we respond in concert to an ever-changing environment without compromising our common quest for excellence in teaching, research and learning in service to the public.

Links:

• UCLA Today - New Senate chair bridges south, north campus - 10-10-2006
• Daily Bruin - New chairman emphasizes community - 10-3-2006
• UCLA Today - A New Vice Chair - 6-28-2005