Nearly six months ago, Chancellor Linda Katehi announced that she would fortify the leadership structure of campus fundraising by appointing an executive director who would report directly to the chancellor.

Now, on the advice of the recruitment advisory committee and the search consultant, and with the approval of the Board of Regents, the person who fills this job will have the title of vice chancellor. This person’s first major assignment: lead the campus’s $1 billion comprehensive campaign, which is scheduled to move into the public phase this fall.

“We cannot hope to recruit the kind of development leader we need, with the experience and capabilities to lead a $1 billion campaign, without according the title of vice chancellor,” Katehi wrote in a letter today (May 21) to the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors.

“This has been made clear to me by our own search committee for the development leadership position, and by the national search firm we have retained to assist with this critical effort.”

They pointed out, Katehi said, that the chief development executives at similar institutions within and outside the UC system all have the title of vice president or vice chancellor.

“I have not taken this decision lightly, or without careful analysis,” said Katehi, acknowledging that the creation of a vice chancellor position is always a sensitive matter, particularly given the campus’s stated goal of streamlining the administration.

She wrote: “We have taken and will continue to take steps to reduce the number of senior administrator positions on campus.”

Nevertheless, she said, “I have committed to the campus that this development position will pay for itself from the revenue our central development office receives from gift fees.

“I am confident that this critical investment in the second century for UC Davis will more than pay for itself by enhancing the campus’s return on its fundraising efforts.”

The development leader is one of four major administrative posts for which the campus is now recruiting. The others: provost and executive vice chancellor, research vice chancellor and university librarian.

For all but the librarian search, the university has contracted with the executive search consultants firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates of Monterey Park (Los Angeles County). Associate Chancellor Emerita Sally Springer is serving as consultant to the recruitment advisory committee for the university librarian’s position.

The recruitment advisory committees comprise representatives from all campus constituencies, and each has a faculty co-chair.

Here is a status report on each recruitment:

Development vice chancellor

At a May 17 forum, the recruitment advisory committee invited various constituencies in the campus community to talk about the qualities that the development leader should possess. Now that the title issue has been addressed, Katehi said, the committee will accelerate its search for a vice chancellor of development.

Provost and executive vice chancellor

The recruitment advisory committee held open forums April 1 and 2 with the campus community, as part of the process to choose a successor to Enrique Lavernia, who is stepping down to return to his post as dean of the College of Engineering. The committee has been meeting frequently this month to review applications

Research vice chancellor

The committee for this recruitment also has met several times this month to review applications. The new vice chancellor will succeed Barry Klein, who is stepping down to return to his position as a professor of physics.

University librarian

Two candidates are confirmed to visit soon for campus forums and formal interviews.

• Denise Stephens — Open forum, 4:10-5:30 p.m. May 26, courtyard, Shields Library. Stephens is vice provost for Information Services and chief information officer at the University of Kansas. More about Stephens.

• Steven Gass — Open forum, 4:10-5:30 p.m. June 1, courtyard, Shields Library. Gass is associate director for Public Services, MIT Libraries. More about Gass.

Open forum dates have been reserved for one or two more candidates, not yet identified: June 3 and 7, same time and place as the other two forums.

The new university librarian will succeed Marilyn Sharrow, who retired March 1.

On the Net

Chancellor Katehi’s letter regarding the recruitment of a vice chancellor of development.

Earlier coverage: “Major campus changes” (Dec. 11, 2009)

Earlier coverage: “Recruitment advisers listed for 4 administrative posts” (March 5, 2010)

Executive Recruitments 2010