Margaret Klawunn
Former Brown University Administrator to take over Michael Young’s job as Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services at Brown University Margaret Klawunn will take on the position of UC Santa Barbara’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs effective Sept. 1.
Klawunn will replace Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Mary Jacob, who has served the last six months following Michael Young’s retirement, who held the office for 25 years. A search advisory committee of UCSB faculty, students and alumni chose Klawunn after a nationwide search. Klawuun oversees 590 employees and a $95 million budget and serves on the President’s Cabinet at Brown University where she has served since 1996 in various administrative positions. Klawunn attended Colby College and Rutgers University, but her husband and many family members attended UCs including UCSB.
Senior Associate Dean for Student Life Debbie Fleming said Klawunn is “down-to-earth, approachable, accessible and principled” and her experience will serve UCSB well.
“She has extensive experience with all of the important and difficult issues that are facing our division, our campus, and our students right now,” Fleming said in an email. “She is also a well-respected faculty member at Brown and will bring that perspective to her work and leadership here at UCSB.”
Yang said in a statement he appreciates Young and Jacob’s service in the office Klawunn will take over.
“We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Dr. Michael Young for the extraordinary leadership and service he has provided for the past 25 years and the timely leadership Dr. Mary Jacob has provided the last six months,” Yang said.
UCSB alumnus and search advisory committee member Jonathan Abboud said Klawunn has strong connections to UCSB but will add a unique perspective as she comes from a different educational and administrative background herself.
„I‘m excited we‘ve selected a vice chancellor from an institution with strong alumni ties,” Abboud said. “I am hopeful Dr. Klawunn will bring new ideas to that end within Student Affairs. I’m also glad she brings needed diversity to UCSB‘s administration.”
A version of this story appeared on page 3 of the Thursday, June 25, 2015 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
