The system of the University of California announced on Friday that its new president will be James B. Milliken, a long -term public university leader who currently serves the University of Texas system and previously ran to the University of New York.
In a full season in higher education, Mr Milliken, 68, is regarded as an experienced and relatively safe choice to lead the nation’s most famous public university system.
Mr Milliken, known as JB, will take over the system of about 300,000 students at a time when Trump’s administration is targeting the nation’s elite universities – and has the UC system on cross -hairs. All 10 campuses of the University of California are under investigation by the administration for various reasons, including import practices and allegations of anti -Semitism.
So far, the California system has escaped some of the deep federal funding cuts that the White House has announced that it is imposing on other universities. However, the system faces a proposed cut of about 8 % in its state budget, as California seeks to manage a predicted long -term deficit.
Announcing Mr Milliken’s choice, the Council of California’s Regents of the University of California said the new president “understands how critical the UC contributions to the state and the country and has decades of experience leading public institutions in periods of unprecedented changes in higher education”.
Underlining Mr Milliken’s commitment to low -income students, the Regents referred to the management of the University of New York City System, where he served from 2014 to 2018.
He was known for improving Cuny graduation rates, even when state funding cuts led to a deterioration in facilities. He saw the opening of the Cuny Medical School, which focused on communities not covered by New York.
When he announced that he resigned in 2017, he was treated for throat cancer. He stayed at the Cuny School before joining the University of Texas system as Chancellor in 2018.
In the UT, Mr Milliken was known for promoting an effort to offer free tuition to students whose family incomes were less than $ 100,000. He also oversees the implementation of a state law that abolishes the offices of diversity, justice and integration, testify to the Texas legislative that 21 offices in the system had been closed and that 311 posts had been eliminated.
In a statement, California’s Gavin Newsom Governor said the new president “brings years of experience and stable, strategic leadership needed to expand the impact of the UC”.
“The future of California depends on the power of our institutions and few are more vital than the University of California,” Mr Newsom said.
Mr Milliken, who was introduced to the Board of Directors of Regents who met in San Francisco on Friday, noted that “we are facing unprecedented times in higher education for many reasons and I think we all recognize what it is, in terms of funding from the federal government.”
“We have to do everything we can to do this ship properly,” he said.
At the same time, he added, universities must be in line with the progress of artificial intelligence and other technological developments.
“We know that higher education is facing challenges and changes,” he said. “What will not change is the historical mission, teaching, research, health care and public service of the University of California.” He took his observations with the university slogan, “Fiat Lux”, which means “let it be light”.
Mr. Milliken was born in Fremont, Neb., And received his degree from the University of Nebraska in 1979 and a law degree from the University of New York in 1983.
His choice follows Michael V. Drake’s decision to leave work in July. Mr Milliken will take over the leadership of the University of California on August 1st with a salary of $ 1,475,000.
