Mark N. Christensen, second chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a distinguished professor at UC Berkeley for almost four decades, died today (October 2) at his home in Carmel. He served as chancellor from July 1974 through January 1976.
Services are pending for Christensen, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 73.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor of UCSC at the age of 45, Christensen had served as vice chancellor at Berkeley, the principal aide to then-Chancellor Albert Bowker. A member of the Berkeley faculty since 1959, Christensen had received that campus's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1962.
After serving as chancellor at UCSC, Christensen returned to UC Berkeley as a professor of geology and geophysics. He retired in 1994 as a professor emeritus of energy and resources. Upon returning to Berkeley, his research focused on issues of energy, environment, and development, with a special focus on energy conservation and renewable energy resources.
He received a bachelor's degree in geology in 1952 from the University of Alaska and a Ph.D. in geology in 1959 from Berkeley.
Christensen is survived by his wife, Regine Godfrey of Carmel, and two children, Abe Christensen of Berkeley, and Karen Christensen of Felton.
Santa Cruz Sentinel article on Mark Christensen
