March 6, 2025
Dear Members of Our Campus Community,
I am writing to share the news that Dr. Margaret Klawunn, our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, has informed me of her plans to retire at the end of this academic year after 10 years of dedicated service to our students and campus community.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Vice Chancellor Klawunn’s countless contributions to our campus community and her deep commitment to our students. She has worked tirelessly to inspire our colleagues in our Division of Student Affairs, and worked closely with our students and with colleagues across the campus and UC system to grow and enhance the services available to our students.
During Dr. Klawunn’s tenure, the Division of Student Affairs, in collaboration with our students, has launched numerous initiatives that have improved student life and contributed to academic success and well-being. When Margaret arrived on campus in 2015, she quickly demonstrated her commitment to an inclusive campus climate, working with faculty and staff on such efforts as the Campus Community Council and the Resilient Love social justice speaker series at the MultiCultural Center. She has worked with students to renovate and provide much needed cultural spaces for student organizations, and has worked hard to ensure that our students have a supportive learning and living environment.
Dr. Klawunn has integrated a commitment of accessibility for all students. She worked with Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Enrollment and Success Dr. Michael Miller to steadily expand the Promise Scholars program for talented high-need students. Under her leadership, Student Affairs increased the provision of Basic Needs to more adequately address food and housing insecurity for students. Last year, with the sponsorship of the Student Fee Advisory Committee and support from the Veterans and Military Services Resource Center, Margaret endeavored to get a Mobility Transportation Program up and running for students who need assistance getting around campus because of mobility impairment. Dr. Klawunn and our Student Affairs colleagues have demonstrated great commitment and dedication in responding to emerging student needs, voices, and advocacy.
Margaret has completed a divisional reorganization with the goal of addressing the evolving needs of our diverse student body, listening to the student voice to adapt and enhance our supportive student resources and academic learning community. She has proven herself a committed advocate and champion of our students and the accessibility of the educational experience at UC Santa Barbara. We are especially grateful for her dedicated leadership and caring support of our students throughout the challenging pandemic period and beyond.
Dr. Klawunn has served on numerous campus and systemwide committees. She is currently chairing the UC Education Finance Committee, and serving on the Academic Planning Council (APC) regarding a systemwide academic calendar, as well as the President’s Task Force on UC Black Thriving. She previously chaired the Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs Council and the Anti-Discrimination Policy Task Force.
Dr. Klawunn joined our UC Santa Barbara campus in 2015. Previously, she was the Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services at Brown University. She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree from Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College.
I will move quickly to consult with our campus community to form a search advisory committee to search for our next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
Please join me in extending our warm congratulations to Margaret, and thanking her for her commitment and myriad contributions to our campus community.
Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor