Appointment of Associate Chancellor

June 30, 2008

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ramona Agrela to the position of associate chancellor, effective Aug. 1, 2008.

Ramona brings a wide range of skills and experience to the associate chancellor position. She has served since 2006 as the assistant dean for the Claire Trevor School of the Arts with responsibility for the entire scope of planning, operations and resource management for the school involving its administrative, instructional and research functions. Before assuming the assistant dean position, Ramona was the assistant director and compensation manager for UCI Human Resources, where she provided leadership to the staff compensation program, created innovative human resources programs and was responsible for oversight of financial matters. Ramona’s professional experience prior to coming to UC Irvine in 2000 includes 10 years in human resources management positions with the Santa Margarita Water District and the South East Regional Reclamation Authority. She currently represents UCI at the systemwide Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA), is completing her term as staff co-chair for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Staff, and has served as the chair of UCI Staff Assembly. Ramona also teaches courses in compensation and benefits theory for UC Irvine Extension and as adjunct faculty at Chapman University. She has a B.A. in economics and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton.

As associate chancellor, Ramona will be involved in implementing the vision and goals for the campus; work in close collaboration with the executive vice chancellor and provost, associate executive vice chancellor, vice chancellors, deans and other senior campus officials on matters including policy, programs, personnel, and community and legislative relations; serve as a member of the chancellor’s cabinet and other advisory groups; and play a critical support role in strategic planning, decision-making and execution of decisions.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the search committee chair, Diane Fields Geocaris, and to committee members Michael Arias, Roy Dormaier, Matthew Foreman, Susan Menning, Kirsten Quanbeck, Linda Williams and Maureen Zehntner for their efforts in the recruitment of this important position. I also wish to especially thank Diane Geocaris for serving in the role of interim associate chancellor over the past year. She will return to her full-time position as chief campus counsel Aug. 1.

Please join me in congratulating Ramona Agrela and welcoming her to her new role in the Office of the Chancellor.

Michael V. Drake, M.D.
Chancellor