I write to inform you that following the recommendation of the search committee for the Vice Provost, Silicon Valley Initiatives, Chancellor Blumenthal and I have extended an offer of appointment to Professor Joseph Miller. Professor Miller has accepted the offer; however, final approval of the appointment is pending action by the Office of the President. We are very excited at the prospect of working with Professor Miller in this capacity.
Joseph Miller is a long-standing Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He joined the UCSC faculty in 1968 and served as Director of UCO/Lick from 1991 to 2005. His research interests include quasars and active galactic nuclei, focusing on their relationships with the surrounding environment and the nature of their host galaxies. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1994 and served as founding chair of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) Coordinating Council of Observatory Research Directors from 1997 to 1999. Professor Miller received the Outstanding Faculty Award for the 1996-97 academic year from the Natural Sciences (now Physical and Biological Sciences) Division.
In October of 2006 Professor Miller received UC Berkeley's highest honor, the Berkeley Medal, as well as the UC Citation of Excellence for his many years contributing to the fulfillment of the UC Mission of teaching, research and service. Previous recipients of the Berkeley Medal include Herman Wouk, Francois Mitterrand, Glenn Seaborg, Gordon Moore, and President Bill Clinton.
Professor Miller earned his B.A. in astronomy and physics from UCLA and his M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin.
In his role of Vice Provost, Silicon Valley Initiatives, Professor Miller will be responsible for providing a leadership role in all aspects of the conception, development, and implementation of research and educational programs in Silicon Valley. This includes providing oversight of the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), the Bio-Info-Nano Research and Development Institute (BINRDI), the Collaborative for Higher Education and the Systems Teaching Institute of the UARC, the Aligned Research Grants Program, and the development of the Advanced Studies Laboratories at the NASA Research Park.
Additional information can be found in a press release distributed today by our Public Information office:
http://press.ucsc.edu/text.asp?pid=1789
Please join us in welcoming Professor Miller to his new role.
