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UCLA gets a new chancellor ...

By Nestor

Well sort of. UCLA has a new "acting" chancellor in place.

Today the UC President appointed Norman Abrams as acting chancellor UCLA, while the school is looking for the permanent one:

University of California President Robert C. Dynes announced today (June 15) the appointment of Norman Abrams as acting chancellor of the UCLA campus, effective July 1. Abrams, a professor emeritus of law at UCLA, will return to active status to accept the appointment.

Dynes made the interim appointment in accordance with UC policy and after consulting with several UC regents, including Gerald L. Parsky, board chairman, and Judith L. Hopkinson, the current chair of the regents' special compensation committee. Dynes is expected to bring a recommendation for confirmation of Abrams' interim appointment to the regents at their July meeting.

Albert Carnesale, UCLA's chancellor since July 1, 1997, announced last September that he would retire on June 30, 2006. Following a sabbatical leave, Carnesale - nationally known for his expertise in international affairs and national security policy - intends to return to his teaching, scholarship and engagement in public policy issues.

A search for a permanent chancellor continues, and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

Note Mr. Norman is not a UCLA alum. But to give him points he has been around the UCLA community for a while originally coming into Westwood when Ike was in the White House. From the release:
Abrams, 73, joined the UCLA law faculty in 1959. He teaches and writes in the areas of federal criminal law, anti-terrorism law and evidence. Abrams served as UCLA's vice chancellor of academic personnel from 1991 to 2001, overseeing faculty appointments and promotions as well as the campus faculty grievance and disciplinary process on the campus.

[...]

Abrams holds both an undergraduate degree and J.D. from the University of Chicago.
Well that's OK. One doesn't have to be an alum to be an effective UCLA leader, who understands and appreciate the tradition of Bruin Athletics (i.e. Ben Howland).

What we hope though that this guy is not as clueless as Carnesale was when it comes to making important decisions regarding major revenue UCLA sports. We sure hope a new chancellor will be in place before the end of this year. We hope the Mr. Abrams or whoever is in charge will not get in Dan Guerrero's way if DG has to make decisions on Karl Dorrell (you know like having to fire him if he fails to beat SC and win 9 games) during or after the end of this football season. We will find out in few months.

GO BRUINS.

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