March 29, 2012
TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Dear Colleagues:
After 12 years of distinguished leadership of our Admissions Office, and nearly 38 years of dedicated service to the University of California, Director of Admissions Christine Van Gieson has expressed her wish to retire, effective June 30, 2012.
I will be consulting with our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic Senate, administrative colleagues, and other members of our campus community on the appointment of an Acting Director and the formation of a search committee for our next Director of Admissions. I look forward to announcing these in the near future.
Chris has served as our Director of Admissions since 2002, and as Acting Director for the prior two years. In 2009 she took on the additional role of Associate Dean and Executive Director of Enrollment Services. Previously she was Associate Director of Relations with Schools from 1984 to 1995, and Associate Director of Admissions from 1995 to 2000. Before joining UC Santa Barbara in 1984, she was an administrative coordinator in the Department of Biology at UCLA for ten years. Chris is a proud UCSB alumna, with a degree in Art History.
Chris has been a wonderful ambassador and representative of UC Santa Barbara in her frequent interactions with prospective students, parents, guidance counselors, and schools. While overseeing Admissions, the Registrar's Office, Financial Aid, and Early Academic Outreach, Chris has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, guided and mentored staff, and led collaborative campus and UC efforts to improve the recruitment and evaluation of incoming students at both the freshman and transfer levels. She has served as Co-President of our Professional Women's Association and participated in numerous campus committees, including the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women and many others. At the systemwide level, she is chair of the UC International Evaluation Specialists, and has been an active member of various workgroups and committees, including the UC Admissions Processing Task Force and the UC/California Community Colleges Transfer Advisory Board. Nationally, she has served as President of the Association of Chief Admissions Officers of Public Universities and as a member of the Association of American Universities Enrollment Managers Group.
I am honored to have this opportunity to thank Director Van Gieson for her contributions to our academic community; for her steadfast commitment to excellence, diversity, and accessibility; and especially for the leadership and support she has provided to our collaborative campus efforts to steadily improve the quality and diversity of our student body while meeting our enrollment objectives.
Please join me in congratulating Chris, and in extending our heartfelt thanks for her deep and sustained devotion to our university. We wish her the very best in all that lies ahead.
Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor