Faculty Stories
Clark Kerr and Dean McHenry made the dream of UCSC a possibility. It was the faculty that made the dream real. The faculty were often young and had chosen to be part of an experiment in undergraduate education, just as we had. Some have passed on, some are still living, and five or six tell us they plan to attend the reunion. We celebrate ALL of them here.
Burney LeBoeuf – Professor Emeritus, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
By Burney Le Boeuf I was playing poker with David Marlowe, the chairman of the Psychology department, and he told me that the department had an opening and he suggested that I apply “if I was good.” During the interview process, Provost Kenneth Thimann, asked if I...
Frank Andrews – Professor Emeritus, Chemistry, and Jeanie Andrews – Preceptor
By Frank Andrews One of the most positive events in my whole 88 years of living was joining the faculty of UCSC's Crown College, and living in Crown's dorm Rutherford House with my wife, Jean, for Crown's first five years. I was a professor of mathematical chemistry,...
Adrienne Zihlman – Professor Emerita, Anthropology
By Adrienne Zihlman Those early days and months at Crown College and UCSC remain vivid in my memory – the landscape, new colleagues, and eager students. I grew up here, learned to teach, established a professional career, and felt lucky to work in this academic...
Paul Lee – Professor of Philosophy
By Paul Lee I must have been the first person recruited by Kenneth Thimann to teach at Crown. I was teaching a seminar at Radcliffe, and he was the House Master. I read about his appointment in the NY Times, called him, went over for tea, and it was a done deal. I...
George Baer – Professor of History
By George Baer Those were Glory Days. We learned to be pioneers, to create a College, to value our creation, to sustain a fledgling University, to share a mission, and a success. I hope those experiences stood us well in after-years. They did...
Robert F. Adams – Professor Emeritus, Economics
By Robert Adams Not a Failed Experiment Congratulations to the Crown Classes of 70’ and ’71. At most universities, including UCSC, the “publish or perish” incentive linked to pay increases of faculty has had a negative impact on teaching and research. However, I think...
Edward Landesman-Professor Emeritus, Mathematics
By Edward Landesman In 1965, the year UCSC began, I obtained my Ph.D. in mathematics at UCLA. I was invited to remain at UCLA as a Visiting Assistant Professor for the 1965-66 academic year. While at UCLA that year, I was offered a position at Bell...