January 13, 2006
Deans, Directors, Department Chairs and Administrative Officers
As you know, Dean Robert Lapiner has accepted a position as professor and Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at NYU and will be leaving UCLA on January 31. As we conduct a search for a new Dean of Continuing Education and UCLA Extension, David Menninger, who is currently Associate Dean for Continuing Education and UCLA Extension, will serve as Interim Dean.
David Menninger received his Ph.D. degree in political science from UC Riverside, and began his career in higher education as a faculty member at the University of Texas at Dallas, and then at Fordham University in New York City, where he earned tenure. After several years on the east coast, he returned to California, where he worked as a business administrator at TRW, Inc. before taking the position of management assistant in the UCLA Business Operations Division. He subsequently served as Assistant Director of Contract and Grant Administration at UCLA and then as Sponsored Projects Manager at UC Santa Barbara. David joined the UCLA Division of Continuing Education in 1995 as Director of Budget and Planning.
Please join me in thanking Associate Dean Menninger for accepting this interim position.
I would also like to take this opportunity to announce the appointment of a search committee charged with assisting the Chancellor and me in identifying candidates for the next Dean. University Librarian Gary Strong has agreed to chair the committee. Other members are: Chair of the Italian Department, Professor Massimo Ciavolella; Professor Sebastian Edwards, The Anderson School; Professor Jan DeLeeuw, Department of Statistics; Nick Hernandez, Assistant Executive Dean, The College; Sam Morabito, Vice Chancellor, Business & Administrative Services; Professor William McDonald, Department of Film & Television; Margaret Leal-Sotelo, Assistant Director, Center for community Partnerships; and Karim Cherif, Director, UNEX Business and Management. In addition, Mr. Maurice Salter from the UCLA Foundation Board of Directors has also agreed to serve on the committee.
More specific information about the job announcement will be forwarded in the near future, with an opportunity for you to help in identifying suitable candidates.
Sincerely,
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost