July 7, 2011

TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
 
Dear Colleagues:
 
It is with great sadness that I write to share with you the news that our colleague Clyde Woods, Associate Professor of Black Studies, passed away yesterday.
 
Professor Woods received his Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA, and taught at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maryland before joining our faculty in 2006. His research focused on the regional organization of poverty, power, race, and culture in the United States, as well as on the philosophical and analytic contributions of blues music, jazz, and hip hop. He authored a number of scholarly works examining these issues, including his well-regarded book Development Arrested, focusing on the rural Mississippi Delta, and In the Wake of Hurricane Katrina: New Paradigms and Social Visions, published by Johns Hopkins University Press just last year; he was also co-editor of Black Geographies and the Politics of Place.
 
He was engaged in two long-term research projects within our Department of Black Studies, one focusing on rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and the other on creating a network of community members and scholars studying race and policy issues in the Los Angeles area. He was also actively involved in Haiti relief efforts; the recent earthquake in Haiti touched him deeply, and he was passionate about helping the people of Haiti. Dr. Woods also served as Acting Director of our Center for Black Studies Research, and was affiliated with our Center for New Racial Studies.
 
Clyde was an admired colleague, professor, and student mentor, and he will be deeply missed by all the members of our UCSB family. Our hearts go out especially to his son, Malik, who took such wonderful care of his father during his illness. Dilling and I were honored to have the opportunity to visit with Clyde and Malik at Cottage Hospital two weeks ago, and to thank Clyde for his many contributions to our campus and community.
 
Our campus flag will be lowered to half staff in honor of Professor Woods on July 12.
 
Sincerely,
 
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor