Appointment of Darnell M. Hunt as Dean of the Division of Social Sciences

UCLA Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

To: Administrative Officers, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Faculty and Staff in the Division of Social Sciences, Vice Chancellors and Vice Provosts

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Darnell M. Hunt as Dean of the Division of Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2017.

A member of the UCLA faculty since 2001, Dr. Hunt is professor of sociology and African American Studies, and has served as director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies since 2001 and as chair of the Department of Sociology since 2015. Prior to his appointment at UCLA, he was chair of the sociology faculty at the University of Southern California.

Professor Hunt’s research interests include race, media and cultural studies, and he currently manages a number of research projects on the experiences of African Americans. He has written and edited several publications, including Screening the Los Angeles ‘Riots’: Race, Seeing, and Resistance and Black Los Angeles: American Dreams and Racial Realities. In February 2017, Professor Hunt, along with Ana-Christina Ramon, Michael Tran, Amberia Sargent and Vanessa Diaz, released the fourth annual Hollywood Diversity Report, a major project focusing on diversity in the entertainment industry.

Professor Hunt received an A.B. in journalism from the University of Southern California, an M.B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in sociology from UCLA. He is a member of the American Sociological Association, the Association of Black Sociologists, and has served as a member of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations Academic Advisory Board and as UCLA’s representative to the Association of American Colleges and Universities. At UCLA, Professor Hunt has served on a number of campus committees including the Task Force on Civic Engagement (chair, 2017), the Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity (2014–15), the Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools (2008–11, chair 2009–11) and the African American Enrollment Task Force (2007–08). He was the recipient of the UCLA Academic Senate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award in 2011.

I want to thank the search/advisory committee for assembling an outstanding pool of candidates and for its role in recruiting Darnell. The committee was chaired by David O. Sears, distinguished professor of psychology and political science. Other members were: Eric Avila, chair and professor, Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies and professor of history and urban planning; Keith L. Camacho, associate professor of Asian-American studies; Dora L. Costa, professor of economics and associate director of the California Center for Population Research; Ellen C. DuBois, professor of history and gender studies; Lorrie Frasure-Yokley, associate professor of political science; Tim J. Groeling, professor of communication studies; Akhil Gupta, professor of anthropology and director of the UCLA Center for India and South Asia; Helga Leitner, professor of geography; Vilma Ortiz, professor of sociology; Shannon Speed, associate professor of gender studies and anthropology and director of the UCLA American Indian Studies Center; and Howard S. Welinsky, member of the Political Science Board of Visitors.

I also want to recognize and thank interim dean Laura E. Gómez for her distinguished leadership of the division since July 2016.

Chancellor Block and I are confident that the Division of Social Sciences will continue to thrive under Darnell’s capable leadership. Please join me in congratulating him and welcoming him to this new role.

Sincerely,

Scott L. Waugh
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost