William Parker, long-time associate executive vice chancellor for UC Irvine, will vault into the position of vice chancellor for research and dean of graduate studies on July 1.
Mathematician Frederic Yui-Ming Wan, who holds the position now, announced last year that he wanted to return to teaching full-time.
After a three-to-four month nationwide search, Parker, a 20-year UCI veteran, was chosen for the job.
“People say I know where all the skeletons are hidden,” he said.
But more importantly, he said, he knows how the system works and knows how to get things done.
Parker’s responsibilities will include overseeing the solicitation of research grants and managing the university’s 12 organizational research units such as The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. The dual title also encompasses assisting the graduate studies’ academic center and overseeing the administration of the graduate studies department.
Parker, a physics professor, intends to carry on teaching once he assumes his new position.
