The Division of Undergraduate Education is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Matt O’Hara as interim provost of Cowell College and Professor Katia Obraczka as interim provost of Crown College for the 2025-26 academic year, beginning July 1, 2025.
The college provost plays a key role in UC Santa Cruz’s college system, overseeing academic programs, supporting student success, and contributing to the residential learning environment. Provosts collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to guide academic initiatives and connect students with opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement Richard Hughey expressed enthusiasm for the appointments, stating, “I’m excited to work with Matt and Katia in their new roles. Their leadership and dedication to students will strengthen Cowell and Crown, and I look forward to seeing their contributions to the college communities.”
We extend our deep appreciation to Professors Alan Christy and Manel Camps for their long and dedicated service as provosts of Cowell and Crown, respectively. Both have been outstanding leaders, leaving a lasting mark on their colleges and the students they have supported. We will be honoring their service in various ways this spring.
Cowell College Interim Provost Matt O’Hara
Professor Matt O’Hara, former chair of the Department of History, has been a faculty member at UC Santa Cruz since 2006. A dedicated advocate for undergraduate education, he has twice served as Faculty Director of Undergraduate Honors (2014-2019, 2023-2025) and has been provost of Stevenson College since 2020.
O’Hara’s previous research examined early Mexican political culture, religion, and the history of time, including the books, A Flock Divided: Race, Religion and Politics in Mexico (Duke University Press, 2010) and The History of the Future in Colonial Mexico (Yale University Press, 2018). A new book project unearths a twentieth-century history of Amazonian exploration, botany, and U.S. pharmaceutical development (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, forthcoming).
"I’m thrilled about this opportunity, especially the chance to work closely with students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Provosts play a unique role in helping students transition academically, discover resources and opportunities, and stay engaged with the college beyond graduation. It’s a privilege to be part of that process," said O’Hara.
"Serving as provost for both Cowell and Stevenson Colleges is an exciting opportunity. The two colleges already collaborate extensively, and I look forward to strengthening that partnership while maintaining their distinct identities and traditions."
Crown College Interim Provost Katia Obraczka
Professor Katia Obraczka, a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Baskin Engineering, has been at UC Santa Cruz since 2001. She has held several leadership roles, including Graduate Director for Computer Engineering (2009-2018) and Undergraduate Director for Computer Science (2022-2023), where she oversaw the largest undergraduate program on campus.
A Fellow of the IEEE, Obraczka leads the Internetwork Research Group (i-NRG), which explores topics such as wireless computer networks, edge intelligence — the confluence of AI and edge computing — and the Internet of Things (IoT). She has been a dedicated mentor to undergraduate researchers, helping many pursue graduate studies and careers in technology.
As UCSC CITRIS Campus Director, Obraczka connects students and faculty to interdisciplinary research opportunities through the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), which focuses on applying emerging technologies to address critical societal challenges.
Obraczka sees her role as interim provost as an opportunity to strengthen connections between Crown College and the broader engineering, research, and innovation communities.
“Crown has always been a place of intellectual curiosity and innovation,” said Obraczka. “I’m excited to collaborate with students, colleagues, and alumni to create new opportunities for engagement—whether through research, experiential learning, or interdisciplinary collaboration. I look forward to building on Crown’s legacy as a hub for exploration and discovery.”
