Administrative Vice Chancellor Sam J. Morabito to Retire
UCLA Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Administrative Officers, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Vice Chancellors and Vice Provosts
Dear Colleagues:
Sam J. Morabito, administrative vice chancellor, has informed Chancellor Block and me that he plans to retire at the end of the 2010-11 academic year.
During his 39 years at UCLA, Sam has held a variety of leadership positions on campus, culminating in his appointment in 2004 as vice chancellor, business and administrative services, which was changed to administrative vice chancellor in 2007. In this role, Vice Chancellor Morabito serves as the senior campus official responsible for Administrative Information Systems; Campus Human Resources; Campus Service Enterprises; Communications Technology Services; Corporate Financial Services; General Services (which includes Facilities Management, Transportation Services, and the UCLA Police Department); Housing & Hospitality Services; Ticketing & Events Management; and the Administration division (which includes Financial Management Services, and Research, Training & Development).
During his long tenure, Sam has been responsible for implementing a number of major initiatives that have benefited UCLA as well as the University of California system as a whole. He led efforts to transform UCLA from a commuter to a residential campus, involving significant expansion of housing on or near the campus for students and faculty. Sam has been instrumental in UCLA’s efforts to develop model business systems and implement best practices, which now include many services applicable not only to UCLA but also the UC Office of the President and UC Merced, and some services to be available soon at UC Santa Barbara.
His accomplishments at UCLA include innovations related to strategic sourcing and electronic purchasing systems (now adopted by the UC system); creation of a common e-mail system for the campus; establishment of loan programs and rental and for-sale housing to support faculty recruitment and retention; purchase of critical real estate (such as the Wilshire Center), which allowed administrative units to move off campus to make space for academic purposes; and development of a consolidated billing system which, for the first time in UCLA history, will provide parents and students with a common bill for almost all campus services. Under Sam’s leadership, UCLA developed and built the Guest House and Tiverton House and modernized the Conference Center at Lake Arrowhead. Sam also is actively involved in current efforts to create a residential conference center on campus to support international academic conferences, and in the design of a new faculty center to replace the existing facility.
Vice Chancellor Morabito is a member of the Chancellor’s Executive Committee and numerous other standing and ad hoc committees at UCLA. In addition, he serves on a number of key systemwide committees, representing the campus to the UC Office of the President. He led the development of the 2008 report, “Building Administrative Efficiency for the University of California,” which was presented to President Yudof and the UC Regents, and he chairs the systemwide sponsor group for the UC Payroll/Personnel System Initiative. On behalf of UCLA, he also is senior executive liaison with the Westwood community on issues such as business, transportation and homeowner associations. In this capacity, he serves on the organizing committee for the Westwood Village Business Improvement District.
As we continue our work with Vice Chancellor Morabito throughout the academic year, we will have ample time and opportunity to thank him for his commitment, leadership and dedicated service to UCLA. The significance of his role in creating the UCLA we know and appreciate today cannot be overstated. We wish Sam well as he embarks on the next phase of his life, and we will always consider him a part of the Bruin family.
In the coming months, I will keep you informed about the steps we will be taking to identify Sam’s successor.
Sincerely,
Scott L. Waugh
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost