University of California president Janet Napolitano announced today her choice for the 10th chancellor of UC San Francisco, ending a search for a successor to former chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann.
Sam Hawgood, 61, a UCSF Medical School dean and the university’s current interim chancellor, was chosen by Napolitano and reacted by saying in a statement, “I am honored, excited, and humbled.”
Since April 1, Hawgood, a native of Australia, has overseen UCSF as the interim chancellor. As the Medical School dean, he led an organization with a budget of over $1.7 billion, nearly 8,000 faculty and staff and about 3,655 students and residents.
Under Hawgood’s leadership, UCSF received the most research funding in the nation from the National Institutes of Health. It also became the only medical school in the nation to rank in the top five in both research and primary-care education as assessed by the U.S. News & World Report.
“He has demonstrated that he possesses the mix of vision, curiosity and empathy essential to the dynamic leadership required to move this already stellar UC institution to even greater heights,” Napolitano said in a statement.
The search advisory committee responsible for recruiting, screening and interviewing for the position reviewed more than 375 prospective candidates before conducting interviews with seven finalists.
“The field of candidates was impressive,” UC Board of Regents chairman Bruce Varner said. “No candidate was more impressive, however, than Dr. Hawgood.”
The regents will vote on Napolitano’s selection as well as the terms of Hawgood’s appointment on July 17 at the conclusion of the their regular board meeting.
Andrew Dickey, Bay City News
