As Judy Sakaki sat in a chair opposite Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef it became clear that she would have some explaining to do to her teen-age son.
During the past seven months, a committee of faculty, staff and students had screened more than 75 applications and nominations from across the nation for the position of vice chancellor for student affairs at UC Davis. Sakaki was selected, and Vanderhoef was letting her know in person.
"I was excited and very honored," Sakaki recalls. At the same time, she was thinking back to a conversation she'd had with her youngest son, Gary, a high school senior who has long considered studying veterinary medicine at UC Davis.
When Sakaki was first considering interviewing for the UC Davis position she sat down with Gary. "I told him I won't apply if that would be a negative thing for you."
In a business-like tone, Gary asked what the odds were of her getting the job and the family moving -- "50/50?"
"Oh, less," Sakaki said.
"40/60?" came Gary.
Again, Sakaki told him she figured even that was optimistic; Gary's blessing followed.
So as the chancellor's conversation started segueing into a job offer, Sakaki said mixed in with her excitement as a professional was a little motherly concern. "I was thinking about how I was going to tell my 17-year-old at home that my projections were wrong."
Sakaki, the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at California State University, Fresno, was officially named new vice chancellor for student affairs last week.
The good news -- Gary and Dennis, her oldest son who is a junior in the seven-year BioMedical Sciences Program at UC Riverside, were both almost as excited as Sakaki was. The bad news, she said, smiling: "It does throw your life into a bit of chaos -- a good chaos though."
During the last week messages from around the world have been pouring into Sakaki's e-mail in box -- well wishes and offers of congratulations from friends, colleagues and many people she has yet to meet. One was particularly straightforward. "The whole thing just said 'Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap,' recalls Sakaki with a smile in her voice.
"I've been overwhelmed and touched by the hundreds of e-mails. I've been just totally surprised," she said. "I'm really humbled by it, and so honored. It's been hard to get away from my computer."
Many have come from the UC Davis community and have included the offer: "I'm here to help you."
"Which I just love," Sakaki said. "I've told them, 'Thank you. I probably will take you up on that.'"
Fostering 'teachable moments'
Sakaki's appointment, approved by the UC Board of Regents, is effective July 1. In her new post, she will be responsible for programs and services that contribute to the campus's learning environment and enhance the academic and personal development of students.
"Judy brings to UC Davis an understanding of the importance of creating linkages between student services and the academic programs and substantial experience with diverse student populations," said Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "Her expertise, insights and passion for providing an optimal learning environment will serve our students and our broader campus community very well."
Indeed, Sakaki, 49, said she looks forward to being a part of fostering opportunities for learning well beyond that which takes place in the classroom. "It could happen at any time of the day -- going to and from classes, in the hallways of the residences, or having a cup of coffee -- it's that teachable moment when a light bulb can go off in a student's head. I think that's one of the things that is so exciting about a university."
Sakaki was attracted to UC Davis in part because of its large population of on-campus student residents. While some freshmen do live at CSU Fresno, many more students drive to the regional university each morning and more or less leave the campus culture behind them as they leave each night.
A large population of on-campus student residents allows better integration of learning with living. "It creates a sense of community for students. The university becomes their life," Sakaki said. "Otherwise, their attention is often divided between school, family responsibilities, friends who are not university students, other interests and work."
Two-day visit taught her a lot
During her two day campus visit as a finalist for the position, Sakaki made an unscheduled stop at a campus residence hall. She got in an elevator with three freshmen, grungy from just finishing a game of basketball at the Rec Hall. Sakaki introduced herself and struck up a conversation, hoping to ascertain first-hand a sense of what life was like as a UC Davis student.
"We talked a little, and I asked if I could see their rooms. They were hesitant at first, saying they were a little messy." As the mother of two teenage boys, Sakaki reassured the students that if their rooms weren't somewhat messy she'd be surprised.
During her visit, Sakaki also met with student leaders and visited various programs on campus including the First Resort and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center. The positive exchanges with students really impressed her. "I just had a good feeling for everyone and everything. The students were very outgoing, very open, bright, engaged and involved" Sakaki said. "They said they were having a great time and learning a lot."
Music to Sakaki's ears as both an administrator and a mom.
Big shoes to fill
Sakaki succeeds Carol Wall, who retired Jan. 1. Associate Vice Chancellor Robert Franks has been acting vice chancellor since Wall's departure. Among those many e-mails she has been receiving and responding to, Sakaki has been corresponding with both Wall and Franks.
Sakaki noted that over the course of her two day campus visit with various members of the campus community, it became more and more clear how difficult it would be to fill Wall's shoes. "It's wonderful to be coming to a place where the former vice chancellor was so well liked and effective."
Her early days on campus, Sakaki said, will likely include visits to various offices and meetings with groups and individuals. "I'm really interested in getting to know the campus -- the programs and people - sponging up information," she said.
A veteran in her field
A veteran higher education administrator with more than 25 years of experience, Sakaki was an American Council on Education Fellow, a California State University Executive Fellow and completed executive leadership development programs at Harvard University and through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
She has served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at CSU-Fresno since 1997, providing leadership to more than 35 student support programs and services. She was dean of student affairs from 1995 to 1997.
Previously, she held several posts at CSU-Hayward, including executive director of student academic services, 1989-94; special assistant to the president for educational equity, 1993-94; adjunct faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology, 1981-94; associate director of the Educational Opportunity Program, 1983-88; counselor coordinator of the Educational Opportunity Program, 1980-83; and outreach and retention counselor, 1976-80. She also served as a counselor at a Hayward emergency shelter for battered women and children, 1975-76, and as assistant to the editor of the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly.
Her professional acknowledgments include Phi Kappa Phi Administrator Honors, Top Ten Business/Professional Woman of the Year award and a Friend of Summer Bridge Lifetime Award.
She is co-chair of the CSU Council of Vice Presidents for Student Affairs, was co-president of Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, a member of the executive committee of the Northern California chapter of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and chaired a systemwide CSU subcommittee on alcohol policies.
Sakaki received a bachelor's degree in human development in 1975 and a master's degree in educational psychology in 1977, both from CSU-Hayward. In 1991, she received a doctoral degree from UC Berkeley in counseling psychology and higher education administration, with an emphasis in student affairs administration.
"Student affairs is really my passion. I'm just really fortunate to be able to have an opportunity to do exactly what I love doing."
Making her move
Sakaki is selling her house, preparing for Gary's high school graduation, organizing for her departure from Fresno State and working on securing a new home in Davis. "It's a very exciting time but very busy..it's a good thing that I don't need much sleep," Sakaki said.
Meanwhile, Gary has received offers of admission from several universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Davis.
Sakaki said with a smile: " I will be happy and supportive of whatever Gary chooses to do…but I'm steering from the side. I would love for him to become an Aggie."