UC Berkeley Press Release
Vice Chancellor McQuade announces plans to step down
 |
 Vice Chancellor for University Relations Donald A. McQuade. |
"Don McQuade's outstanding leadership has earned UC Berkeley a record amount of private philanthropic support -- approximately $2 billion over the course of his seven-year service. He greatly enhanced and expanded our ability to secure support for the campus through both fundraising and improved external relations. His efforts have helped to ensure that Berkeley will be able to maintain its preeminence as a great public institution for future students and scholars," said Birgeneau.
"I am personally grateful for his wise counsel. I will continue to rely on his expertise and seek his advice as the university prepares to embark on even more ambitious objectives," said Birgeneau. McQuade has agreed to remain in the post until a successor is named. A nationwide search is planned.
McQuade, 64, assumed the leadership of University Relations in 1999. He also served as president of the UC Berkeley Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation that raises, invests and administers private gifts for the campus. He was pivotal in helping the campus double the assets of the foundation. Most notably, he led the successful conclusion of the seven-year Campaign for the New Century in 2001, which raised $1.44 billion -- at the time the most successful fundraising campaign ever completed by a public university.
In addition to building a stronger foundation of philanthropic support during a period of economic downturn and state budget cuts, he strengthened and expanded the role of public affairs as well as government and community relations and improved external relations with alumni, parents, legislators and other friends and neighbors of the university.
"I am grateful to former Chancellor Berdahl for the opportunity to serve UC Berkeley at this important time in the development of its external relations and to have had the privilege of working with Chancellor Birgeneau. I am most thankful to have been able to work with -- and learn from --talented and dedicated colleagues in University Relations," said McQuade.
"The skills of outstanding staff, the spirited cooperation of the Council of Deans and the principled leadership of Chancellor Birgeneau have made it possible to integrate the work of fundraising and public affairs into the strategic and financial planning of the campus," he said.
"The generosity, wisdom and ardor of the campus's volunteer leadership within and beyond the UC Berkeley Foundation will continue to help the chancellor strengthen and broaden Berkeley's achievements," said McQuade. "My original goals were to create architecture as well as to build an infrastructure for success at Berkeley by adapting to the work of University Relations the same high standards we maintain for Berkeley's academic excellence. That design and groundwork are now in place, and I look forward to returning to the work that attracted me to UC Berkeley -- teaching, research and writing."
Highlights of McQuade's administration include completing the fundraising campaign for the Chang-Lin Tien Center for East Asian Studies and the new Stanley Biosciences and Bioengineering Facility, both now under construction. He was also instrumental in securing two of the largest gifts ever made to UC Berkeley -- a $50 million bequest from the late William V. Power for faculty, student and academic support, and a $40 million gift from the Li Ka-shing Foundation to support a new research center in the health sciences.
"Over the past seven years, Don has dramatically enhanced the professionalism of Cal's philanthropic efforts. In addition, he has been instrumental in bringing about a closer working relationship between the campus and the UC Berkeley Foundation. I know that I speak for all our trustees in expressing our profound gratitude for what Don has accomplished," said Robert G. O'Donnell, chair of the foundation's board of trustees.
A highly respected member of the English department since 1986, McQuade held several senior administrative posts at UC Berkeley prior to assuming the vice chancellorship, including dean of undergraduate and interdisciplinary studies in the College of Letters & Science, where he conceived and developed the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program. He was the founding dean and a member of the faculty of the American Studies program. An ardent advocate of the arts, McQuade also served as acting chair of the Department of Dramatic Art.
McQuade has published numerous books and articles on writing as well as on American literature and culture. Most recently, he edited volume nine of "The Correspondence of William James" and published the third edition of his influential book, "Seeing and Writing."
The search for a new vice chancellor for university relations will begin immediately with the appointment by the chancellor of an advisory committee.