New UCLA Chancellor: Julio Frenk

Julio Frenk, currently president of the University of Miami, has been chosen as the next UCLA chancellor, to take office in January 2025. EVC Darnell Hunt will serve as interim chancellor after Gene Block retires at the end of July.

Frenk attended the Regents meeting this morning along with Hunt and Block. The fact that he will not arrive until January means that much of the current controversies at UCLA will be dealt with by Hunt. There is no particular reason to believe that current policies regarding policing, etc., as administered by AVC Braziel will be altered in that period. 

In his remarks to the Board after the appointment, Frenk made only passing reference to an erosion of trust in higher ed and did not speak directly about recent demonstrations. He referred to UCLA's contributions to the City of LA, social mobility, research, health care, athletics, and arts and culture. Hunt's remarks did refer to UCLA having a difficult period, but did not go into more detail. Block made no remarks.

Frenk will receive a base salary of $978,000 of which $250,000 will come from non-state funds, presumably donations. He will also receive a hiring bonus of $195,000. Hunt will receive $700,000.  

Frenk's Wikipedia bio can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Frenk.

Official UCLA news release is at https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-names-new-chancellor-2024.