Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef
Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef
Larry N. Vanderhoef, one of the nation’s longest-serving university leaders, transitioned to chancellor emeritus on Aug. 17, 2009, after serving as UC Davis’ chancellor for 15 years. In his inauguration speech in 1994 he announced that we would build a center for the performing arts. The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2002. It was the beginning of the transformation of UC Davis into the highly ranked university that it is today. The south entrance to the campus was developed, including Gallagher Hall (the Graduate School of Management), the Conference Center, the Hyatt Hotel, the Robert Mondavi Institute (Food Science and Technology, Viticulture & Enology), and the vineyard that graces the view upon first entrance to the campus. And so much more: A re-creation of the School of Veterinary Medicine, several academic buildings, and perhaps most dramatic of all, the transformation of the relatively small former county hospital in Sacramento into the prestigious UC Davis Academic Medical Center we know today.
In his current role, Vanderhoef is developing a biology course for non-science majors and a freshman seminar, and continuing his work on the national and international level promoting interactions in the Middle East and Far East.
He also is writing a book about UC Davis’ past quarter-century, observed through his eyes as chancellor and provost.
Since stepping down as Chancellor, Vanderhoef was appointed to two major committees, the first by Senator Diane Feinstein, a six-year term on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, advisory to the Secretary of Education, and the second by Michael Peevey, President of the California Public Utilities Commission, to chair a five-member panel to investigate and make recommendations regarding the September 9, 2010, explosion and fire in San Bruno, California.
“I’m looking forward to teaching again, to writing, to continuing to build bridges internationally — and otherwise supporting the university I love and have been fortunate to serve for more than a quarter-century,” the chancellor emeritus says.