IRVINE : UCI Names Acting Vice Chancellor

A search committee at UC Irvine has appointed faculty member Spencer Olin, 56, acting executive vice chancellor of the university, beginning March 1.

Olin, dean of the School of Humanities since 1992, will begin his new job when Executive Vice Chancellor L. Dennis Smith leaves for his new job as president of the University of Nebraska.

“I was functioning very happily as dean of humanities and was indeed surprised,” he said. “ But having contemplated it for some time, I decided it was a challenging opportunity and one I would welcome.”

Olin, one of UCI’s founding members in 1965, will fill the job until the search committee, formed after Smith’s announcement in November, finds a replacement.

“I think he’ll do an excellent job,” said Smith, who has been at UCI since 1990. “He has extensive experience as chair of the senate and he’s worked on major academic issues.”

Smith added that the major problem his successor will deal with is budget cutbacks.

Olin will lead two task forces Smith has appointed to make recommendations on dealing with budget cuts and academic programs.

“We discussed (the budget issues) extensively. . . . He’s very well prepared to accept the responsibilities,” Smith said. “The campus is in good hands.”