Kang stepping down as UC Merced chancellor

UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang said Thursday that he will resign next June and return to a research and teaching position with the University of California.

Kang, 65, is the university's second chancellor since the school opened in 2005. He took the helm as the leader of the school in March 2007.

His final day will be June 30.

"It has been a singular honor and the highlight of my administrative career to serve as chancellor of the newest University of California campus during its critical development years," Kang said in a news release. "Despite extremely challenging economic conditions, we have managed to establish a very strong foundation, attract top-level faculty and staff, and provide an innovative learning environment for our rapidly growing student body."

Prior to working at UC Merced, Kang served as a university faculty member and administrator for 25 years, six of which included working as a professor of electrical engineering and dean of the Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Kang is also an internationally recognized electrical engineer and holds more than a dozen patents in integrated-circuit design, UC Merced officials said.

Before returning to the classroom, Kang will take a year of paid leave, a University of California policy, said UC Merced spokeswoman Patti Waid Istas.

During his time as chancellor, UC Merced increased its size to roughly 4,000 students this fall from less than 1,300 in 2007.

Kang also oversaw the revision of the campus' Long Range Development Plan and helped complete the school's first Strategic Academic Vision.

"Chancellor Kang assumed office during a very difficult time and has put UC Merced on course to become the next great research university in the UC system," UC President Mark G. Yudof said. "I look forward to working with him over the next 10 months to sustain the momentum he's created and prepare for a smooth handoff next summer."

Congressman Dennis Cardoza said the campus has progressed in a very exciting way under Kang's leadership.

"The enrollment growth is exceeding expectations," he said. "I think (UC Merced) is going to be an economic engine that the community can be proud of."

Josh Franco, former UC Merced class president in 2006-2007, was part of the selection committee that appointed Kang. He was surprised when he learned of the news.

"I felt like (Kang) understood what a new campus meant to the Central Valley and I felt like he would do a good job of the coming of age of the campus," said Franco, recalling his thoughts when he helped select the chancellor.

Kang had a different leadership style from the founding chancellor, Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, Franco also noted.

Tomlinson-Keasey, who died in 2009 from cancer, fought for the school with passion and charisma.

"Kang was more of a consensus builder," Franco said. "Her objective was to build a university and ensure it would be there forever. Kang was to ensure that the long-term plans were cemented."

"People were expecting someone who would fight for the campus the way Keasey did," Franco added. "The way Kang fought for the campus was different. That's two different approaches but (Kang) provided a level of energy and stability for a campus that is growing."

In a 2007 Sun-Star article about Kang accepting the chancellor position, Kang referred to the job as a five-year term.

Kang will be leaving after serving only four-and-a-half years.

According to Kang, after five years, chancellors have a performance review. Kang decided to leave before his, choosing to return to the classroom.

Ricardo Vasquez, spokesman for the the University of California Office of the President, said chancellors are at-will employees, meaning that there is no fixed amount of time they have to serve.

When asked if Kang left on his own accord he said yes, and that his departure was part of his long-term plan.

"From the beginning I thought four to five years would be good for the development of the university and then I would return to the classroom," Kang said. "When things are going well it's a good time to leave."

He will be missed by many.

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani said she enjoyed her time working closely with Kang on the on-going development of UC Merced and wishes him luck on his future endeavors in research.

"I could not help being a little saddened when he told me that he would finish his term as chancellor next June as he and his wife, Mia, have become personal friends and a part of our community," she said. "I know that he is eager to return to his research, and I am thankful for his contributions to our dream of UC Merced."

A new faculty appointment will be announced later in the year, according to the school's release.

Reporter Jamie Oppenheim can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or joppenheim@mercedsun-star.com.