UC Merced Chancellor Steps Down to Write

The chancellor who oversaw the building of the University of California’s newest campus in Merced announced Wednesday that she will step down this summer and return to writing and teaching.

Carol Tomlinson-Keasey was appointed founding chancellor of UC Merced in 1999 and overcame formidable political, fiscal and environmental challenges to establish the 10th campus in the University of California system -- the first in the San Joaquin Valley. The campus, developed as a research facility, opened Sept. 5, 2005 with 900 students.

“I’m stepping down from chancellor, but I’m not retiring,” Tomlinson-Keasey, 63, said at a news conference.

She said she will take a leave of absence to write a book chronicling the rocky early history of UC Merced and return in the fall of 2007 to teach psychology. The school will mount a national search for a new chancellor and hopes to fill the position by fall, she said.

Tomlinson-Keasey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and underwent treatment. But she said health concerns did not factor in her decision.

“This is a very intense and demanding position and over the years one tends to put family priorities down the list,” she said. “I’m looking forward to having my family move up the list a couple of notches.”

Tomlinson-Keasey won praise for her tenure from UC officials.

“Carol’s vision for the university’s 10th campus and her commitment to expanding opportunity for the youth of the San Joaquin Valley are largely responsible for UC Merced coming into being,” UC President Robert C. Dynes said in a statement.