June 28, 2006
TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Dear Colleagues:
Our university community is united in sorrow at the tragic death of UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Denice Denton. A message from UC President Robert Dynes has been distributed campuswide, and can be read online at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2006/jun24.html.
I first got to know Denice in the early ’90s while we were both serving on national committees working on behalf of engineering education. From the very beginning, Denice impressed me with her intelligence, her dedication, her perseverance, and her strong work ethic.
Denice was a role model and strong advocate for women in science and the value of diversity. It was an honor to get to know her and work with her, especially as a fellow UC chancellor.
Denice provided dynamic leadership and vision for the future of UC Santa Cruz, and she worked very hard on behalf of the campus. She was passionate in her pursuit of excellence and diversity, and had a deep insight into how those twin goals support and complement each other.
Chancellor Denton will be dearly missed by our UC family. Our hearts go out to her partner, Gretchen Kalonji, and to all of her other family members and friends who have suffered such a terrible loss. A university memorial for Chancellor Denton is being held on the Santa Cruz campus tomorrow. I have also been talking with Gretchen and with the other chancellors and colleagues at UCOP about a national symposium to be held in the fall to celebrate Chancellor Denton’s life, to honor her accomplishments, and to ponder a fitting way to memorialize her vision and convictions.
Denice was a higher education leader with a legacy that will not be forgotten. She was a mentor and role model to so many. She was, most of all, our colleague and our friend. This week, and through July 3, our campus flag is lowered in honor and memory of Chancellor Denton.
Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor