Dennis Pendleton, associate dean of University Extension at UC Davis, will become its next dean.

Pendleton, 55, succeeds Charles Lacy, who will retire Dec. 31 after a nearly 30-year association with this lifelong-learning program.

University Extension, with more than 80,000 enrollments annually, is a self-supporting continuing and professional education enterprise that offers more than 3,500 courses, ranging from professional seminars to on-line education. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

"In his role as associate dean of University Extension, Dennis has provided solid leadership, vision and insightful analysis of the evolving educational needs of the region," said William B. Lacy, vice provost for university outreach and international programs.

"He has helped to guide this large and complex continuing educational unit as it has emerged as one of the most respected and effective lifelong-learning organizations in the nation. I am confident that Dennis will serve the campus well in the years to come and excel in his new leadership position."

"University Extension is a dynamic and effective contributor to the educational outreach of UC Davis," Pendleton said. "We look forward to many exciting opportunities and challenges for the organization in the years ahead, and I am delighted to be asked to serve as dean."

Pendleton began work with University Extension in 1982. He has served as associate dean and as director of the UC Davis Public Service Research Program since 1992. He has also served as coordinator of campus cooperative resource management projects in Northern California and the central Sierra since 1989.

Earlier appointments include that of associate director of the California Genetic Resources Conservation Program, 1980-81; co-director of the American Association for the Advancement of Science task force study of global climate change in world grazing lands, 1980; and environmental consultant to such entities as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the firm Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd, 1972-76.

He has also held teaching and research positions in natural resources administration, environmental assessment and ecological systems modeling at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Colorado State University at Fort Collins and at UC Davis.

He is the author of several monographs and conference proceedings, and has made presentations and served as moderator for numerous conferences and workshops.

His honors include a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Bronze Medal of Commendable Service, and a citation from the California Board of Forestry for coordination of a French Creek Watershed project that later won a national award of excellence from the Conservation Foundation Industries.

Pendleton is a member of such groups as the Tahoe-Baikal Institute Board of Directors, the Watershed Management Council Board of Directors, the Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, the Putah Creek Council Steering Committee, the Regional Action Partnership/Valley Vision Quality of Life and Green Valley action teams, and of the technical advisory committee of the Cache Creek Stakeholders Group.

Pendleton received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colorado College in 1967, a master’s degree in ecology from Colorado State University in 1972 and a doctoral degree in regional resource planning from Colorado State University in 1975.

He was a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley from 1975 to 1977, researching computer simulation of ecological systems.