Regents Approve Ralph Cicerone as UC Irvine's Next Chancellor
APPOINTMENT: Cicerone worked as a chemist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

UCSD Guardian News
April 20, 1998

The UC Board of Regents chose UC Irvine scientist Ralph Cicerone to serve as the next chancellor of the Irvine campus. Cicerone, a nationally acclaimed atmospheric scientist who worked as a research chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography from 1978 to 1981, is currently dean of the UCI School of Physical Sciences.

UC President Richard Atkinson recommended Cicerone to the post, and the regents unanimously approved the appointment at a teleconference on Thursday.

"Ralph Cicerone is a scientist of great distinction who has been active on issues of science policy at the national and international levels," Atkinson said. "Dr. Cicerone is committed to continuing to build the quality of the UCI campus.

"He is a seasoned, effective manager and an accomplished fund-raiser," he continued. "As a recognized leader on the Irvine campus, he is well positioned to lead the campus as it enters the next century."

Meredith Khachigian, chair of the UC Board of Regents, said Cicerone is an ideal candidate to lead UCI into the next century.

"I am especially familiar with UCI, and I know Dr. Cicerone will be a strong leader for the campus," Khachigian said. "He will provide the skill and experience necessary to add to the many successes achieved by UCI under Chancellor Wilkening's leadership."

Cicerone will take over as chancellor on July 1. He will succeed Laurel Wilkening, who announced last September that she would step down to pursue her other interests such as population growth, the global environment and women's issues.

Under Wilkening's leadership, UCI has prospered. The university recently admitted its most qualified undergraduate class ever.

Cicerone said that he hopes UCI will continue to grow under his stewardship.

"It has taken the sustained efforts of many people to bring UC Irvine to its current position," Cicerone said. "I am committed to build upon this foundation and to make our programs ever more attractive for students, our research activities ever more distinguished and our contributions to this region even more positive."

Cicerone joined UCI in 1989 as the Daniel G. Aldrich professor in the department of earth-system science and served as department chairman from 1989-94.

His research centers on atmospheric chemistry and climate change.

Last year, Cicerone was one of six American scientists to receive a United Nations award for research on protecting the ozone layer.

Cicerone has written and edited numerous professional publications and is a member of many academic and professional organizations. In addition, he has served as president of the American Geophysical Union.

Cicerone received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received both his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

Cicerone's annual salary as chancellor will be $202,500.