Briefly in the News

UCI professor publishes awaited novel

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, an acclaimed Kenyan author and UC Irvine professor, has published his first new work of fiction in two decades, “Wizard of the Crow.”

The novel, which Thiong’o first published in 2004 in the native Kenyan language of Gikuyu, is a satirical epic about an African despot who vows to build the world’s tallest building in his country, then finds himself inexplicably growing larger instead. The work has already won praise from Bookforum, Foreign Policy and other publications.

Thiong’o, a UCI faculty member since 2002, heads the campus’ International Center for Writing and Translation. A controversial writer in his homeland, he frequently suffered persecution and went into exile in 1982.

More than $15,000 raised for Surfrider

The Living Room Salon & Art Gallery raised more than $15,000 for the Surfrider Foundation at its Third Annual Evening Extravaganza Sunday.

Paris Hilton, Kevin and Christine Costner, Jillian Barberie-Reynolds, Caroline D’Amore and Kim Kardashian were among the guests who went to the Costa Mesa salon to show their support.

The fund-raiser featured a Jennifer Croll and Vitamin A swimwear fashion show, a celebrity poker tournament, live entertainment, and food and drinks for hundreds of guests who mingled both in and behind the salon outside.

For more information about Surfrider, visit www.surfrider. org.

Hoag hospital names new executive

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach announced Monday the appointment of Jack L. Cox as the chief quality officer for the hospital.

Cox will begin his term in September and will be responsible for the quality of care, measurement, performance and patient safety, working with the board of directors and the medical and senior administrative staff.

The Huntington Beach resident has more than 20 years of experience in the medical and corporate leadership fields, and most recently served as group vice president and chief medical officer of a nationwide healthcare alliance for nonprofit hospitals.