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IRVINE

Undergraduate Studies Dean Named

James Danziger, a professor of social science and chairman of UC Irvine’s Academic Senate, has been named dean of undergraduate studies, university officials announced this week.

Danziger, who will oversee all undergraduate programs and develop new policies and programs, replaces Michael Butler, who retired last year.

“Jim Danziger’s qualifications as both teacher and Senate chair, combined with his consensus-building skills, offer the ideal combination of qualities for UCI’s dean of undergraduate studies,” Chancellor Laurel L. Wilkening said. “UCI’s goal of further enhancing our undergraduate programs will be well-served by this appointment.”

Danziger, who will report to Executive Vice Chancellor Sidney Golub, said he hopes to develop programs that would expose freshmen and students with undeclared majors to a variety of different classes. He also is interested in offering research courses to seniors.

Despite his new responsibilities, Danziger plans to continue teaching.

“I don’t want to become an administrator who’s out of touch with the classroom,” he said. “I have some ambivalence about this job because I love teaching and this will take me out of the classroom more. But the idea of attempting to make campuswide improvements is extremely appealing to me.”

Danziger joined the UCI faculty in 1972 and has served as chair of the Department of Politics and Society and as associate dean of the School of Social Sciences. He has received various teaching awards from the university.

He was named dean after an internal search that began in March and involved 26 candidates, said Meredith Lee, a German professor who chaired the undergraduate dean’s search committee.

“He’s clearly committed to undergraduate education,” Lee said. “He has demonstrated in his teaching that educating undergraduates is very important to him as a professor and researcher.”

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IRVINE

Arts Patrons Give $25,000 to Production

Aghast to learn that UC Irvine canceled its annual musical production last year due to a lack of funds, arts patron Elizabeth Tierney took action.

She and her husband, Thomas, contributed $25,000 to underwrite the school’s fall production this year of “City of Angels.” University officials say the Tony award-winning play will be the most ambitious production yet for the School of the Arts.

“We decided to step forward with our support in the hope that others will do the same,” Elizabeth Tierney said.

The Newport Beach couple have also agreed to help raise additional funds to cover the estimated $50,000 cost of producing the play, which calls for more than 100 costumes and a 25-piece orchestra. The show will run from Nov. 9 to Nov. 19 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

complied by DIANE SEO AND RUSS LOAR