J. Christian Gillin, renowned sleep specialist and professor at UCSD and the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, died of esophageal cancer on Sept. 13 at the age of 61.

Gillin, a La Jolla resident for over 20 years, was internationally recognized for his research on sleep and mood disorders. Born in Columbus, Ohio in 1942, he spent his undergraduate years at Harvard University, from which he graduated magna cum laude, to go on to earn an M.D. at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatric training at Stanford University Medical Center before working for the National Institute of Mental Health from 1971 until 1982, when he joined the UCSD faculty.

Gillin had his psychiatric research published in over 500 scientific publications and one book. He explored the use of neuropharmacology, sleep and chronobiology in the treatment of mood disorders.

At the time of his death, Gillin was co-director of the Laboratory of Sleep and Chronobiology, which he helped establish as part of the UCSD General Clinical Research Center. He was also director of the UCSD Mental Health Clinical Research Center and adjunct professor of psychiatry at San Diego State University. In addition, he was past-president of the Sleep Research Society, a U.S. Naval Reserve captain, editor in chief of NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY and on the board of nine journals.

Geisel donates $1 million to faculty club

Audrey S. Geisel donated a gift of $1 million toward the expansion of the Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club on Aug. 4.

The university plans to raise a total of $3.64 million from private donations to go toward the expansion of the faculty club’s kitchen and dining room and the addition of a new conference room and a reading room/library, which will be named the Seuss library in recognition of Geisel’s donation.

Geisel, who is president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, is currently honorary co-chair of the UCSD Campaign Cabinet, which is working to raise $1 billion for UCSD, so far raising $485.8 million. The Geisel Library was also named in recognition of her gift of the library endowment.

Student Regent appointed

The University of California Board of Regents officially appointed UCLA graduate student Jody Lynette Anderson as the 2004-05 student regent. Anderson was first chosen to be nominated for the position last spring out of 70 students who applied. A second-year graduate student seeking her doctoral in education, Anderson will be the 30th person to serve in the position.

Until her term begins in July 2004, Anderson will be able to participate in meetings as a student regent-designate, but will not be able to vote.

After completing her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara in psychology, Anderson went on to receive her master’s degree in social policy and administration at the University of Nottingham in England and a master’s in education at UCLA.

Currently working on her doctorate degree, Anderson has worked as a teaching assistant in the education department. She is also a student researcher for the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute.

Anderson has also received several academic awards including the 2002 UCLA Women for Change award and the UCSB Chancellor’s University Service Award.

UCOP guide goes bilingual

The University of California Office of the President released a new bilingual guide consisting of information about the UC system, including admissions requirements and options for financial aid. The booklet, “”Great futures start here,”” or “”Un futuro brilliante comienza aqui”” is an expansion of a previous publication and now includes information on the Dual Admissions Program, which provides students with other options for UC eligibility. The new version also updates students and their families about current fee levels.

According to studies, many Latino parents, especially those who are in the lower-income bracket and are non-English speakers, lack vital information about what their children need to get into college. According to the UCOP, the new bilingual guide tries to address the lack of knowledge about college within the Latino community. It is expected that by 2008, the largest group of high school graduates will be Latinos. The booklet aims to provide a way for parents and children alike to gather more information regarding the UC application criteria.