Who’s James B. Milliken? College of Texas chancellor tapped as subsequent president of College of California
James B. Milliken, who has led main public college techniques in New York and Texas, was named president of the College of California on Friday.
Milliken involves the position from the College of Texas, the place he has served as chancellor since 2018. He has additionally held management roles at The Metropolis College of New York, the College of Nebraska and the College of North Carolina.
The UC system has 10 campuses, together with Berkeley, Los Angeles and Davis. Milliken begins on Aug. 1. He can be paid almost $1.5 million a 12 months.
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“The College of California is universally thought to be the preeminent public analysis college on the planet, and I’m deeply honored to have a chance to affix the various proficient college, employees, and campus leaders of their important work,” Milliken stated in a UC press launch. “It’s extra essential than ever that we broaden the training, analysis, well being care, and public service for which UC is so broadly admired and which has benefited so many Californians.”
UC names new president as Trump administration targets universities over funding
The announcement comes at a time when the Trump administration is focusing on federal funding at universities in an try and get them to adjust to the Republican president’s political agenda.
The College of California, Berkeley, is amongst dozens of faculties underneath investigation by the U.S. Schooling Division over its ties to The PhD Venture, a gaggle geared toward diversifying the enterprise world and better training college. The Trump administration can be investigating Berkeley over allegations of antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian protests towards the warfare in Gaza that broke out final 12 months throughout campuses nationwide.
In response, Berkeley stated it has “an unwavering dedication” to combating antisemitism.
The Trump administration additionally launched probes into three College of California campuses over their admissions insurance policies to find out whether or not they adjust to the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s choice to overturn affirmative motion in faculty admissions.
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Milliken takes over as UC president amid campus unrest
Milliken succeeds Michael V. Drake as UC president. Drake was the primary Black individual to serve within the position within the system’s greater than 150-year historical past. Drake introduced final 12 months that he would step down after serving as president since 2020, main the system by way of the coronavirus pandemic, a graduate scholar strike and varied campus protests.
His announcement final July that he deliberate to step down adopted a very tumultuous spring. Over a number of days final April and early Might, counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA that had grown on campus and regulation enforcement waited hours to step in. The subsequent day, authorities in riot gear dispersed greater than 1,000 individuals who had gathered to assist the encampment.
Drake stated Milliken “has the depth of knowledge and expertise” to take care of the challenges that include main one of many nation’s largest public college techniques.
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“I’ve nice confidence in each his management and his dedication to the College’s enduring values,” he stated in an announcement. “I’m enthusiastic about his appointment and stay up for seeing all that he’ll accomplish on the College.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated in an announcement that he was excited to see Milliken chosen for the position to “drive the following chapter of innovation, expertise, and progress that may form California and the nation for generations to come back.”
