Steven M. Sheffrin is stepping down after 10 years as the dean of the Division of Social Sciences in the College of Letters and Science.

Sheffrin, an economics professor known for his expertise in both macroeconomics and tax policy and its impacts on the economy, became dean at a time when the division faced a great deal of change. In 1998, the campus planned to grow in undergraduate students, and 70 percent of those undergraduates would eventually go through the Division of Social Sciences. As a result, Sheffrin was charged with growing his 10 departments, in the number of faculty and in graduate students, to cope with the increase in students.

Now, the Division of Social Sciences educates the most undergraduate students on campus, with most of the top 10 majors in that division.

Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef says of Sheffrin: "I particularly remember one letter of evaluation when Steve was considered for dean. It was short: 'He has the highest standards. He's smarter than all of us. Hire him.' We did appoint him, and he never let that evaluator, or us, down."

For his part, Sheffrin is more humble. "I was in the right place at the right time," he said. "When I became dean, the campus was investing in the social sciences, especially, and it was fortuitous that the increased student base was interested in majoring in the social sciences. As the campus emerged from its agricultural heritage, it recognized the need for the College of Letters and Science to be broadened. And it has been exciting to watch the university move in this direction."

In Sheffrin's tenure, almost 150 faculty members were hired — nearly 60 percent of the current faculty in Social Sciences — allowing him and his team to shape the division's future. "The size and complexity of the division has changed the most," he said. "So many more things are going on, and faculty members are active in so many different ways. It is a busy, more dynamic place now than it was 10 years ago."

And a successful place too — in the 10 years since Sheffrin became dean, places such the Center for Mind and Brain formed, putting UC Davis on the map for cognitive psychology. Sheffrin helped modernize departments and research, with an emphasis on a broadly internationalized curriculum. And he helped to create and expand programs such as the highly popular Middle East/South Asian studies and Jewish studies.

Even broad departments such as history, economics, and political science took on an international aspect in education. Sheffrin feels this type of education is reflective of the diverse and globally focused student body of today. And the numbers have backed up his theory — since 1998 when Sheffrin began his term, there has been a 56 percent increase in undergraduate majors in the division, and majors in departments such as psychology and economics have grown exponentially.

In the past 10 years, the university saw another shift, too, toward larger philanthropic gifts. Sheffrin, while dean, accepted the largest gift to his division made by an individual — $1 million from businessman Bryan Cameron '80 to create the C. Bryan Cameron Distinguished Chair in International Economics. The college, with Sheffrin as one of the primary advocates, also created a board of volunteers, the College of Letters and Science Deans' Advisory Council, as well as an unrestricted giving club called the Herbert A. Young Society.

'As a dean you have a vision'

Sheffrin feels that his tenure as dean has allowed him to collaborate with a variety of people: "I learned to rely on other people to accomplish goals, and give others room to maneuver. As a dean you have a vision, but you need to make concrete decisions and rely on people to help make that framework happen. Communicating, and investing in those talented people, has helped bring up the entire division."

Indeed, Barbara Horwitz, interim provost and executive vice chancellor, describes Sheffrin as "a wonderful colleague and campus citizen."

"He has hired high-quality faculty and raised the visibility of the Division of Social Sciences," Horwitz said, "and he has always been willing to 'step up to the plate' and contribute meaningfully to resolving campus issues that went well beyond the division."

One colleague who worked closely with Sheffrin in the past 10 years is Barry Klein, the vice chancellor for research at UC Davis. (Social Sciences research funding increased from about $1 million in 1998 to more than $15 million in 2007, the last time this data was reported).

"Steve always has insightful views on important issues," said Klein, "and presents them with vigor and often a keen and stimulating sense of humor. We will miss him very much on our administrative councils."

After Sheffrin steps down in June, he is taking a sabbatical next year to focus on several projects. He has authored 10 books, including Economics: Principles, Applications, and Tools which is used in a large number of economics courses in universities throughout the U.S.

And what will he miss the most about being dean?

"Working with people," he said. "As dean, you get to see so much about the entire campus, broadening your perspective. I will miss working with folks across the university."

Amanda Price is the director of marketing and communications for the College of Letters and Science.