Request for Nominations for Interim Vice Provost for International Studies

UCLA Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

To:  Administrative Officers, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Faculty and Vice Chancellors

Dear Colleagues:

As you might recall, Chancellor Block and I initiated last fall a search for vice provost for international affairs at UCLA. Although the search committee conducted a comprehensive and rigorous search and recommended an outstanding pool of distinguished candidates, the process ultimately illuminated a lack of consensus about UCLA’s goals and objectives related to international education, activities and engagement. As a result, the chancellor and I have decided not to fill the position at this time.

I want to thank the members of the search committee for their role in cultivating an exceptional pool of candidates and for gathering critical information and insights that have brought us to this juncture. I also want to thank Randal Johnson, who has served as interim vice provost for international studies since July 1, 2010, and who plans to step down on January 1, 2012, to return to his scholarly work. Chancellor Block and I are grateful for Randal’s dedicated service and appreciate that he has served in this role longer than planned.

At this time, I invite you to send me your recommendations for potential candidates for interim vice provost for international studies. This position includes primary responsibility for the leadership of the International Institute, including a variety of organizational, operational, educational and scholarly matters.

In carrying out his/her responsibilities, the interim vice provost will engage Institute leadership in developing educational programs, facilitating cross-cutting scholarly activities, and making recommendations regarding areas (geographic, institutional and/or thematic) for strategic investment. He/she will engage center directors and faculty in broad strategic and academic planning to chart a course for the International Institute for the next five to 10 years and will be a critical voice in the campus dialogue regarding UCLA’s international strategy. He/she will participate actively in development initiatives and fundraising for the International Institute and engage Institute and External Affairs leadership in developing and clarifying priorities for the upcoming centennial campaign. He/she will serve on the executive vice chancellor’s deans council and the chancellor’s executive committee, collaborating with campus leadership at UCLA and across the University of California system.

Please send your suggestions and nominations to me at evc@conet.ucla.edu. Please consider faculty with administrative experience, demonstrated intellectual leadership in the broad areas of international and area studies, and knowledge of the International Institute. As I would like to appoint an interim vice provost in January, I would be grateful if you contact me no later than November 15. This is an important appointment and I want to make sure that the interim vice provost will have your support.

To provide faculty input into this process, I have asked Sherry Ortner, distinguished professor of anthropology, to chair a small advisory committee that will review nominations on my behalf. Other members of the committee include: John Agnew, distinguished professor of geography; Andrew Apter, professor of history; Susanna Hecht, professor of urban planning; and Min Zhou, professor of sociology and Asian American studies.

As we all recognize that international education and engagement are of paramount importance to UCLA, I would appreciate your involvement in this process, and I look forward to receiving your suggestions and nominations for interim vice provost for international studies.

Sincerely,

Scott L. Waugh
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost