College to be led by female for first time
By Jamie Hsiung
April 1, 2003 9:00 p.m.
UCLA’s College of Letters & Science has found a new
leader to oversee the biggest academic division in the University
of California system.
Judith Smith, head of undergraduate programs, was appointed
interim executive dean of the College. She is scheduled to take
over the position July 1.
Smith will be the interim executive dean until a new one is
appointed. She will be serving concurrently as the interim
executive dean and the vice provost of Honors and Undergraduate
Programs.
Though Smith considers herself “well-prepared” for
the job, she has already acknowledged the “budgetary
distress” ahead of her when she becomes the head of the
College.
“Interim isn’t a position to make major changes, but
basically the idea is to continue the things that are good and
assess those that need to be changed,” Smith said.
Currently, she is shadowing Provost Brian Copenhaver, the
current head of the College ““Â the administration renamed
the College’s top position, calling it executive dean, after
Copenhaver announced he would step down. Transition team meetings
that involve the deans of the college and the provost are also held
weekly to prepare for the change.
“I’m well-prepared. … I feel that I have the
experience and the knowledge,” Smith said. “I’ve
been here a long time, and it needs strong leadership in this
difficult period.”
The enormity of the appointment goes beyond leading the division
that contains nearly all of UCLA’s academic departments
““ Smith is also the first woman who will head the
College.
“Women always bring special things to leadership
decisions,” Smith said. “Most … would understand that
there’s been a gender gap in leadership positions, and
UCLA’s been no exception.”
In addition to serving as the vice provost of the Honors and
Undergraduate Programs, Smith began her career at UCLA in 1969 as a
physiological sciences assistant professor.
After receiving the UCLA Distinguished Award in 1973, she became
chairwoman of the neuroscience department as well as a member of
the Academic Senate in the mid-1990s.
Smith’s colleagues say her tremendous involvement with
undergraduate education for over 30 years makes her a worthy
candidate for the job.
“She’s very dedicated to the educational interests
of the students on campus,” said John Sandbrook, assistant
vice provost of the College.
“I may have to explain to her what a quarterback is in
football, but she’s a wonderful person, very pleasant, very
dedicated,” Sandbrook said.
Copenhaver resigned from the post to return to research and
teaching.
Copenhaver, who is involved in medieval and renaissance studies,
said Smith has been essential in improving undergraduate
education.
Copenhaver pointed out that Smith helped implement seminars
after Sept. 11, 2001 and new General Education classes.
“Judith Smith, in the last six or seven years, has been
one of the most important people on campus,” he said.
“Judi and the people that she’s worked with have done a
wonderful job.”
