Beverly "Babs" Sandeen, interim vice chancellor for University Relations at UC Davis for the past year, has been named permanently to the post after a national search.

Sandeen will be UC Davis' chief institutional advancement officer, with responsibility for fundraising, alumni affairs, government and community relations, communications and advancement services. She will oversee 130 employees and an annual budget of $15 million, providing strategic leadership in all external relations activities and serving as the president of the UC Davis Foundation.

The appointment is conditional on approval by the UC Board of Regents at its July 20 meeting, after Dateline went to press. It would be effective July 1.

"I've no doubt that university relations will flourish under Beverly's very capable leadership," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "First as our senior alumni relations administrator and then as interim University Relations vice chancellor, she has made a very real difference in the accomplishment of our advancement programs. And, in the process, she has clearly gained the trust of the University Relations staff and the respect of her administrative colleagues across the campus."

Sandeen has been serving as interim vice chancellor for University Relations and acting executive director of the UC Davis Foundation since July 2005. Previously, she served as assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and executive director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association from 2002 to 2005. Under her guidance, the alumni membership grew 9 percent and the association won national accolades including a national gold medal for its life membership campaign from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

During Sandeen's tenure, she also oversaw the launch of the campus's first alumni college program, produced the first campus Alumni Resource Guide, and started a regional contacts program to engage alumni volunteers around the world.

Sandeen came to UC Davis from UC Irvine, where she served as executive director of the alumni association from 1998 to 2002. Her academic expertise is in transportation and human behavior, and she has served as a consultant to the private sector on that topic. She has also long been active in California higher education, serving as a commissioner for the California Postsecondary Education Commission from 1993 to 1995.

"This is an exciting time for UC Davis, and I am honored to serve as vice chancellor leading our critical external relations efforts," Sandeen said. "I've had the opportunity to work with our amazingly talented and professional University Relations team for the past year, and I am privileged to be able to continue to lead this group as we build UC Davis' advancement capacity over the next few years."

Sandeen succeeds Celeste Rose, who departed the vice chancellor post in June 2005 after a seven-year tenure.

Sandeen received her bachelor's degree in political science and doctorate in social ecology from UC Irvine. While at Irvine, she received numerous honors including the UCI Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduate Student award and the campus's distinguished alumna award.

Highly active in the community, Sandeen serves on the city of West Sacramento Planning Commission, the Woodland Opera House board of trustees, and is a member of the Northern California chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists.

As vice chancellor, Sandeen will receive an annual salary of $203,400.