Darnell Hunt begins his tenure as UCLA’s interim chancellor
Dear Bruin Community:
Today, I have the honor of beginning my service as UCLA’s interim chancellor, charged with stewarding the university as we prepare for the arrival of our next chancellor, Julio Frenk, in January of 2025.
I take up this position with great humility, with recognition of the significant responsibility entrusted to me, and with gratitude for the opportunity to continue giving back to an institution that has shaped my own life as well as the lives of countless others. I have seen this campus from a number of vantage points — that of a student, alum, faculty member, dean, and most recently executive vice chancellor and provost — and these varied experiences have shown me that UCLA, while not without flaws, is one of the most extraordinary educational institutions ever created.
I believe deeply in the power and promise of this place.
After a spring that challenged our community significantly, one of my central priorities as interim chancellor will be helping Bruins rebuild connections to one another; promoting engagement across lines of difference; and strengthening our internal policies and practices as they relate to safety, belonging and free expression.