It is with both excitement and sadness that I share news that Martin Berger, associate vice provost for Academic Affairs and a professor in the history of art and visual culture, has accepted an offer to join the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to serve as the dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs. He starts Aug. 1.
Berger, who joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 2005, has been a driving force in our strategic academic planning initiative and has served as a leader in many capacities, including as acting vice provost for Academic Affairs in 2016–17, acting dean of the Arts Division from 2014–15, and associate dean of the Arts Division from 2012–14.
His departure from UC Santa Cruz in June will align with the release of the first draft of the strategic academic plan, providing Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Herbert Lee with the opportunity to oversee its finalization and—in the 2018–19 academic year–its implementation.
Additionally, Berger's leadership as co-chair of Beyond Compliance has led to several initiatives that will serve our campus for years to come. Academic Affairs will continue to play an instrumental role in engaging with faculty to reshape campus culture with the goal of creating an environment free from sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Berger's thoughtful and collaborative approach to leadership will no doubt serve him well as he begins this next chapter in his career. I wish him the best.
