January 15, 2015

Dear Members of our Campus Community,

As I announced to our campus on August 29, Dr. Michael Young has decided to retire at the end of this month, following 25 years of exceptional leadership and devoted service as our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

The search for our next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is well underway. I am grateful to the members of our search advisory committee, chaired by Professor Cynthia Stohl, for their dedicated efforts.

Following wide consultation with our Academic Senate, administrative colleagues, and other members of our campus community, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Mary Jacob, Senior Associate Dean of Enrollment Services, has graciously agreed to serve as our Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, effective February 2, 2015, pending approval by President Napolitano.

Since first joining UC Santa Barbara in 1996, Dr. Jacob has provided exemplary leadership within our Division of Student Affairs in multiple roles, including Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, Senior Associate Dean and Executive Director of Student Academic Support Services, and now Senior Associate Dean for Enrollment Services. She has served on a broad range of campus committees, including participating as a member of the Student Affairs Executive Group and Computer Policy Team responsible for long-range planning, fiscal management, and policy development for the Division of Student Affairs.

Dr. Jacob has been deeply engaged in educationrelated activities at the national and international levels as well. She has been recognized with a UCSB Staff Citation for Excellence Award, and a Margaret T. Getman Service to Students Award. Dr. Jacob holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Syracuse University. Before coming to UC Santa Barbara, she was a faculty member at Mount Holyoke College, where she taught courses on global, human, and urban geography. She went on to serve as Associate Dean of International Affairs, Acting Director of Admissions, and Dean of International Affairs at Mount Holyoke.

We appreciate Dr. Jacob’s longstanding dedication to our campus and especially our students. Please join me in thanking her for her willingness to help ensure a smooth transition for our Division of Student Affairs and our campus. Please also join me in extending our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Vice Chancellor Young. A campus reception in his honor will be held on Friday, January 23, at Corwin Pavilion from 3 to 6 p.m., with the formal program beginning at 4 p.m.

Sincerely,

Henry T. Yang
Chancellor