Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that associate professor of music John Schechter has accepted the position of provost of Merrill College. His appointment is effective July 1.

John's 15-year tenure at UCSC has been marked by his dedication to his students and his work in generating an interest in and understanding of world cultures. An ethnomusicologist, John also teaches music theory and directs two UCSC Latin American music ensembles, Taki Ñan and Voces. His recent research activities have been in the areas of Andean Quechua music and culture. He is the editor of and a contributor to the just-published book, Music in Latin American Culture: Regional Traditions (Schirmer Books, 1999) and, in 1997, he co-organized (with Guillermo Delgado, lecturer in Latin American and Latino studies) the international symposium, "The Quechua Expressive Art: Creativity, Analysis and Performance."

John served on the Senate Committee on Teaching (COT) during 1991-95, chairing the committee in 1993-95. In 1995, during John's tenure as chair, the COT conceived and launched the annual Chancellor's Convocation on Teaching. At Porter College, John has served on the Executive Committee and as a member of the Academic Standing Committee. In 1990-91, he received the Porter College Faculty Adviser of the Year award.

As an Arts Division faculty member, John has been affiliated with Porter College since his arrival on campus, but he has long-standing connections to Merrill College as well, working on a regular basis with faculty in the Latin American and Latino studies program, located at Merrill.

John Schechter succeeds economics professor John Isbister, who has served as provost for the past 15 years. One of the original fellows of Merrill College, John Isbister is well respected for his work both at Merrill College and across the campus. John has given of his time tirelessly over the years, from his service on the LRDP committee to his current role as chair of the Colleges Nine and Ten Planning Advisory Committee. At Merrill he has been a valued teacher, mentor, colleague and supervisor.

Please join me in congratulating John Schechter on this important appointment.

Sincerely,

John B. Simpson
Executive Vice Chancellor