°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â

Two seasoned campus administrators have been tapped to provide leadership and continuity to the offices of research and academic personnel at the University of California, Davis. Barry M. Klein, currently vice provost for academic personnel, will become vice chancellor for research, and Barbara A. Horwitz, professor of physiology, will assume Klein's post. Pending approval by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Board of Regents, each will serve a three-year term, beginning July 1. "The person who sits in Barry Klein's chair as vice provost for academic personnel can uniquely comprehend the full importance of the Office of Research, the impact it can have on an individual career and the true value of quick, responsive service to the faculty," said Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. "Barry will have the important experience of his current office, as well as a recently completed review of the Office of Research, chaired by Dean Steve Sheffrin, to guide him as he assumes the responsibilities of vice chancellor." Kevin M. Smith announced last June he would step down July 1 as research vice chancellor to maintain the momentum of his research program in the Department of Chemistry. Klein, who had not been a candidate in the search for Smith's successor, was tapped after biological sciences Dean Mark McNamee declined the research post in favor of becoming provost of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. McNamee departs °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis July 1 after 26 years of service. The vice chancellor for research has responsibility for facilitating, promoting and overseeing campuswide research and scholarship; increasing extramural financial support; furthering relationships with government and industry; and accelerating the campus's technology transfer program. "I am very enthusiastic about working with the campus community on ways we can continue to promote the upward trajectory of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis' research programs and research support," Klein said. "Although I will miss working with the dedicated staff in the Office of Academic Personnel, I look forward to working with my new staff colleagues in the Office of Research to develop new programs and services that will enhance our campus's research enterprise. I leave my current position knowing that the office will be in the good hands of Professor Barbara Horwitz." Chancellor Vanderhoef noted that Horwitz "has been a university leader for her entire career" at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis. "The highest recognition of this came with the awarding of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement to her several years ago, but Barbara has always been there for the toughest of service roles, as well -- for example, as chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Personnel," Vanderhoef said. "In short, Professor Horwitz has always been devoted to the entire range and depth of her faculty responsibilities. We are delighted that she has now agreed to put this vast store of knowledge and experience to work as she assumes the position of vice provost for academic personnel." As vice provost, Horwitz will be responsible for academic personnel policy and process, grievance procedures, affirmative action, faculty development and management training for academic leaders and supervisors. "This position is especially challenging because of the unique opportunities that we have to attract outstanding faculty to the campus over the next few years," said Horwitz. "My recent experience with several faculty searches has clearly shown that this campus is highly regarded for its existing and emerging strengths in numerous disciplines as well as its collegial environment. I look forward to working with the chairs and deans in their recruitment efforts and, on a broader scale, in facilitating faculty development at all levels." Horwitz joined °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis in 1968 as an assistant research physiologist and moved through the ranks to become full professor in 1978. She chaired the Department of Animal Physiology from 1991 to 1993 and the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from 1993 to 1998. Her professional and university service is extensive; she is currently president-elect of the American Physiological Society, president of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, and member of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis' Academic Planning Council. Her research program centers on the genetic, neural and hormonal regulation of energy balance. Klein, who was recruited to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿â Davis in 1992 to chair the physics department, became vice provost for academic personnel in 1998. Previously he had spent 23 years at the Naval Research Laboratory, located in Washington, D.C., where he served as a researcher, instructor and administrator in many roles, culminating as the head of the Complex Systems Theory Branch. He has also acted as section head for several National Science Foundation programs, including those in condensed-matter theory, solid-state chemistry and low-temperature physics. "Both Vice Provost Klein and Professor Horwitz are supremely well-suited for these new responsibilities," said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Robert D. Grey. "The campus will benefit greatly from their insightful leadership these next three years."